one copy was sent to HiComTerPacls and the other retained on
ship. All data collected by the WHIDBEYwas centralied and
tematized by the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery.”
The medical survey took much longer than originally planned.
first estimate considered that it could be accomplished in one year
the
sysA
but
CinCPacFlt was forced to ask for an extension for each succeeding
fiscal year.’ As the period of naval administration drewto a close,
CinCPacFlt requested that the ship be transferred to the Western
Pacific.” The Chief of Naval Operations approved the request ‘* and
in May 1951 the WHIDBEYwas withdrawnfrom the Trust Territory,
The civilian High Commissioner, who had succeeded Admiral Radford in January 1951, protested the withdrawal noting that he had not
Mecheal Personnel at USS WI HWOBRY bxamuin
e Natives of Tinian
been given the opportunity to comment on her deployment and re-
quested that CNO transfer the WHIDBEYorasimilar ship to the De-
partment of Interior in order that a continuing follow up medical
program could be carried on under the new administration.“’ Because
of the hostilities in Korea the Navy needed all availableshipping and
the request wasrefused.
The WHIDBEYhadoneof the most unusual and worthwhile voyages of any ship of the United States Navy. Thestatistics gathered were
of inestimable value for evaluation of the health problems of the Trust
Territory that remainedto be attacked and solved. The Navy, unfortunately, was unable to make use of the information it had gathered
but the records, deposited at each dispensary, provided a composite
picture of health conditions for the district and hitherto unavailable
knowledge for an exact approach to the problem by the Department
of the Interior.
” Directed by HiComTerPacls ltr ser 35 dtd + Apr 4g.
1, CinCPacF lt msg of 5 Nov 49: CinCPacF ttEhComTerPacls msg of 9 Apr 5:
y CanCPacFit msg of 14 Mar 51.
© CNO msg of 15 Mar 51.
© HiComTerPacls ltr ser a73.dtd 5 Aprsr.
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