t this time, 2bout 1015K, the snip was advised by the X.0. that the
vac uation would commence ebout 1100 and a life raft was requested for
use in shuttling the natives over the reef end through the surf to the
boats standing off about 50 yards.
At approxinately 1O4C the boat arrived
with the raft and tne evacuation commenced at 1050. By this time the majority of the natives were gathered on the beach and ready to go. Women,
children and old psople were shuttled out to the boats first, with their
possessions, followed by the men. Much cooperation and assistance were
ealized from the adle native men whose alertness, willingness and ability
to swim proved invaluable during the evacuation and reduced the nucber of
ship's personnel required. At about 1200 the evacuation was about half
completed but the wind was freshening, the tide was flooding and the surf
7
.
i
was kicking up.
The operation became increasingly hazardous and two raft
lo2ds of evacuess were very nearly upset in the surf. The coral was chewing uD the suspension reces and lattice work of the raft and in a redio
consultation between the X.0. and C.0., serious consideration was given
to ceasing the operation and trying again from the legoon side, Since
nis would delay the operation several hours and also was fraught with
ianzer as already incicaved, and since we cduld see the end in sight, it
was Gecided to continue, “lost of the women, children and aged were already gom2 and no one had been nurt other tnan a few coral cuts. another
refit was dispatened and the pace was stepped up, though less psople were
loaded on each raft and extreme care was exercised,
.
en 144B loads of about 15 people eacn were required to conplete the
tion of the 154 natives.
The last raft lozd left the beach at about
leaving as forlom a set of dogs as you have ever seen, At 125lk all
natives were on board and none too soon because the wind and surf con~
tinued to increase. The native chief named Comsess, has been repeatedly
2sxed how many natives were on the atoll end if we had them all.
He was
insistent that all were eon Utirik Island, none were on other islands of tn
atol, and none were cn Taka Atoll, 4 - 5 miles away.
he first said there
vere 161 natives present and proudly brought out © card index file to prove
it, Careful questioning however indicated chat at least “ nes had
died a dzy or two before and that tne ola boy didn't have
is PALTZ records
ur to date.
The next figure we got was 157 but furtner cuestisni:ng indi~
cated he was counting two or three incinent but as yet unbom babies.
The
last +igure of 154 was arrived at after @ count on board and was concurred
in bythe chief and Trust official.
«A breakdowm was as follows:
men 47,
children under 16, boys and girls, 26 each.
4t about L3COM when rafts were secured end boats were hoisted, course
RPoPA
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ey
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nd
us
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a
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at about 13L5u Wwe cet
was seu for Kwaie + ein to arrive et dewn on the 5th.
tne D.a. afun
(DE- 422) coming up from Kwajalein to assist us but there
r for her to do but fall in aster and returm to-Kwaj2lein.
was nothing
arin
Ae
or
women 55,