te crocacd at once @s best we could until the trast officitis arrived or if necessary without them, it was roped taat we cigat find 2 missisocary, a pidgin English native or even a trust representative asnore. Consequently at about O740 the gig (26 ft. iB) wes leunched and a czach party was embarked with the executive Officer, LCDR V. kh. Easton, USN, in charge. Hewas to try to gét ashore as soon as possible, orzgenize the metives for evacuation and determine the best location and means for the evacuation. Included in this party were the Fadseafe Officer, monitor, hos“ainan signalman, etc. «#8 soon as tnis carty shoved off, &@ second hi.B s launched with ths Gunnery Officer in charge, who was to search along the reef for a breax or a more favorable spot for sate boat handling in the . 2 - . ol. - wa Now, as the boats left the ship, we commenced exscution of our plens for receiving the natives on board. Awnings were rigzg q on the fantail with side strips from the deck to the redge ropes, additional life lines were rigged for the safety of children. Fore and aft and vertical accesses to tre fantail were closed or roped off and aynings rigged where necessary to ensure privacy for tne natives. The entire crew's wasaroom and head aft (largest on toard) were set 2side for the natdves and for their decontamin- avicn inasmuch as this is the ship's main stntion for this nurpose. An outside salt water snower was rigged, a recertaclse was provided for their clothes and sufficient clean dungerée snirts, trousers, ¢€tc., were raised by appeal to tne crew, to tnus clsotne all the natives. cy closing off access to a 3" gun tub. «a plg-pen was fasnioned We planned to tether chickens to iife lines on the O1 deck and lst the dogs roam free amongst tne cvopulace. (b pV wR ter picking up a bailed-out jet pilot 13st fall), which had a line ned to it from the boat. 4iter some prvueress towaras the beach he ared to experience aifficulity witn tne surf and some unseen force resultin ry MW - woe Og "Goch ch ky by ‘a a eee Meanwnile, the Executive Officer and party aorcroeached the soutn snor of the island at = point acout 1500 yds west of tne eastem tip. The isian mere and elsewnere has 2 continucus outer osrimeter cf tasle reefs exteniing some 40 yds. out into the water over whicn tne waves produced a surf of cidiun size and presented considerable small boat hazard. Having selected a point the surf was slight and appeared to offer the best spot, whe ixecutive r commenced paddling ashore in a small, one-man rubber raft (we nec- in no progress. Considerable hucor and soms consém were evoked at sign of tne Executive Officer furiously paddling, cach stroke whirling the raft 150 formal wy ry wu around but making no progress. It was later determined thet the line fron toat to tne raft nad fouled in the coral, securely ancnorrs him to seaward. sy this tinc a few of tne nat:LV rod ond seme of them swam out and réiped him ashore anidst friend 225 a — A — ’ 2 54 beeen ey Re ON ee Navy JAF 912 seaplane errived from Kwajal V NA ci O he At about this time, rm tné westem mart