FUTURE RELEASE PLEASE NOTE DATE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OFFICE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION 408668 Washington 25, D.C, HOLD FOR RELEASE UNTIL 12 NOON, EST TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1950 No. 248-50 RE 6700, Ext, 3201 - 3176 ARMY CONSTRUCTION FORCE DESIGNATED FOR ENIWETOK PROVING GROUNDS The Department of Defense and the Atomic Energy Commissien announced today that an Army construction force has becn designated to assist in the construction program now in progress at the Eniwetok Proving Grounds in the Marshall Islands, Central Pacific, wey =. ‘ <1 a wo ae . o os The Atomic Energy Commission previously announced 2 contract with Holmes and Narver, Los Angeles engineering firm for work on various technical facilities including repairs, replacement of certain structures and utilitics and the installa- tion of more durable facilitics .t the proving grounds. It is expected thet elements of the construction force will embark within the immediate future. This force consists of the He :dguorters of the 7th Engineer Brigade, the 79th Engineer Construction Battalion ind supper rting Quartermaster, Medical, Signal, Transportation anda Finance units. In conjunction with Holmes and Narver these troops will verform military construction consisting of cormmunications fucilitics, quarters, mess halls, and utilities and tne improvement of iirbase facilities on Eniwetok Island, Brig idier General Frederick B. Butler has been appointed commanding general of these troops, General Butler’s force will be part of Joint Task Force, THREE, which is commanded by Licutenant Genernl Elwood R. Quesada as previously announced, Details cf proving ground operations are sub/ect to the security restrictions of the Atomic Energy Act of 1946, 3 ks , —. END oy : i hy | . ~ C pk 4 -3) COLLECTION «BOX No. - tho REPOSITORY oa . 4 ae FOLDER 082 Ctl. fe (n-/-7) wo a Lk atte ah tie + “\t Cae ee ae BEST COPYAVAILA3LE