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TFOrLaAL MARRATIVE Cr BVaCUaATiON CF Dalivss :
UTIRIK ATOLL,
MARSFALL ISLANDS
i
Having received orders at just before dawn on 2 csarcn 1954, to proceed
to Utirix natol., tne Kenshaw, imnediately departed from the patrol area north
o* Eniwetok Atoll and set course eastward to péss south of Bikini enroute.
Speed was adjusted to arrive at daylignt tne next day and the 400 mile voyage
vas completed without incident.
Charts, sailing direc-
a
an
igzanwhile, new activity was evident in Renshaw.
ad and avidly studied,
Although the decision that the natives would
suated was not mown on board until late in the night of the 3rd, plans)
irmed up for handling the people. Saveral schemes were put forward but
ue mt
“pe My iB ae
ions a tables and all possible sources of information on the Atoll were
1al plan was made with tne innvaluable knowledge and assistance of E.
~
K.
¢ "cy
a
(VD
iled to assist Renshaw,
_Plans were made for ths
corted 180 natives of
oH
a
ct WO
a
O55 oeidityor receiving on beard
Ne
Abtrough the Douglas aA. Lunro (DE-
Wop
oO
et
cic, USi. fe had served a tour of duty in trust territories west of
warstails and had experience in evacuation of natives.
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toll,
Tre approach to the target atoll was made from the westward and rorth of
taka Atoll wnica is only 4K miles Si of Utirik.
It was sighted at about 04301
r tne morming of 4 Larch and course was set southeastward to pass between
rn
s shaped Utirik atoll,
Une two atolls,
<inroute to the south side of triangular
‘passed cise to the reef on the western side in order t to get a loox at
There was no thought of entering this cnannel inasmucn as
Diecee icns were very definite that no ship larger tnan a PC sneuld
the attenpt. Levertneless, 2 look was desired to determine if cnamed
ns were present (they weren't“) and to determine the feasibility of our
entering the lagoon or perhaps even the De should it be found too danon the south side for the evacuation, Theoretically, it would have
én possible for Renshaw to enter at high tide about 1600when our
Grag aft would clear the channel about 3 ft. if tne charted depth
orrect and if the sun at our backs made tne charncl qiu coral heads
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tne resr along the soutnerm
‘
° f the Atoll, course was set eastward to skirt
e g wnich appeared to offer the best lee fron
wing and surf for tre evacuation.
er erst
ke
Fortunately the weather wes exceptionally
goce with Light NE winds and only moderate swells. At O735 tne ship hove
79 at about 500 yds just south of Utirik Is., the largest of the Atoli anc
en whien all the natives were reported to Live. At this tine trust terri-~-
tory officials end interpreters had not arrived nor had an ETA been received.
in view of our directive to co:mance evacuation at daylignt it was decide
Pe
E.CLOSUAS (2)
“Quy
Upon rounding the SW
ussian roulette.
Bi
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thrill of entering this channel for the
ible.
it was reckoned tha
- Would be about
like that
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