t 1 | ana Sty epee pe ty pene Ap eels st 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. + 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 @ » yu tn qu a ad 3. a yn yo @ oOo O ur 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 ¢ thrill of entering this channel for the ible. it was reckoned tha - Would be about like that ma {4 o i wy a hy +o) Jc ctr 10% O4 WwW Ow ry wD yh 04 Oo 4 wh O ro w py WD, de ch be Wwean ow et a a2