CHAPTER IV, SECTION | their meals in the troop mess, particularly laundry personnel with six Holmes & Narver men, On 9 March, seven of the Laundromat because they could obtain the quantity they desired with the first serving. machines were placed in operation at Tare to The main difficulty encountered in living afloat was the vast difference in comfort be- evacuation for the Koon event, after which Rad- tween cabin and troop class accommodations. Allotment to cabin spaces was made by assign- ment of supervisory and administrative personnel down to and including the foremen level. All remaining spaces were assigned by lottery. The bunks in the troops’ spaces consisted primarily of an aluminum frame to which was laced a piece of canvas. These were set up four high with too little space between bunks. To add to the comfort of those living in these take care of personal and Rad-Safe laundry service. These were kept in operation until the Safe clothing was shipped to Elmer at Eniwetok for laundering. Postal facilities were established immed- iately on embarking on the USNS Ainsworth. A daily mail courier service between Eniwetok and Bikini Atolls by H&N courier provided the quick delivery; postal service was entirely satisfactory. At the commencement of the operations spaces, Holmes & Narver provided mattress pads. The cabin spaces were kept filled insofar as was practicable, and prior to the Yankee event, due to demobilization, all men were billeted in these spaces. afloat, the ship’s store carried a fairly complete stock of essential items with the exception of clothing, candy, cigars and laundry bags; these were soon depleted. According to MSTS regu- MSTSregulations required all passengers to pay for laundry, and therefore it was not possible at first to inaugurate free laundry service on board the USNS Ainsworth. This was later cleared through the vessel’s chain of com- plenishment items in short supply from a private contractor. It was therefore necessary for Holmes & Narver later to establish a Post Exchange to sell those items not carried by the mand, and after the end of March, all personal jJaundry was handled on board. To perform this service it was necessary to augment the ship’s DATE 10 March 15 March 20 March 25 March 30 March 10 April 15 April 20 April 25 April TG 7.5 H&EN AEC 392 2 350 6 330 2 305 3 278 3 143 140 127 116 0 1 2 1 TG 7.4 4 3 2 2 1 0 3 3 5 As a result of blast effects and radioactive contamination of the camp areas on Bikini Atoll, which could not be anticipated and for which, therefore, no preparation had been made, the following losses in camp services occurred. PR oi eeeececeeeeeeeeees $14,350.78 Bar stores .....000000000000... $ 3,082.48 Food 000... $71,918.47 Many PX items were damaged and had to be sold at reduced cost. The loss in bar stores can be attributed, to a minor degree, to pilfering. The loss in food was due primarily to the fact that at site Fox the camp was completely destroyed by the Bravo event, and at both Nan and Tare the generator breakers were opened, thus cutting off power to the reefers. Thawing of food had taken place and spoilage had set in before the generators could be placed back on the line. lations, the ship’s store could not purchase re- ship’s store. The following table indicates the personnel housed and supported on the USNS Ainsworth. TG 7.2 30 33 31 30 30 8 12 6 5 TG 7.1 197 210 153 134 176 42 79 65 67 TOTALS 625 602 518 474 488 193 235 203 194 All money from revenue producing facilities was deposited in the Contract Advance Fund and thereby reverted to the Commission. The total personnel supported by Holmes & Narver at each camp and atoll is shown in Figures 4-1, 4-2, 4-3, 4-4, 4-5, 4-6, 4-7 and 4-8. MESSING Messing facilities were operated at each established camp. The structures for messing at the temporary camps were made as simple and inexpensive as possible since they were considered to be expendable, and were to be operated only until an advanced time prior to a shot. Standard allowance of galley equipment and utensils for a 250, 500, 1,000 and 1,500man camp were formulated. When a camp was authorized, the equipment for it was segregated, allocated and then shipped in time to permit installation during the construction of the mess Page 4-5