monotonous hours of overtime work, the personnel of the Army Task
Group with the aid of H&N personnel performed an invaluable service
for the Task Force.

In short, the year of 1953 was in itself the

problem confronting Task Group 7.2 and the achievements of the garrison force during that time reflect great credit upon all those
military personnel who were stationed in the forward area during the

interim period between IVY and CASTLE.
Navy Task Group
As with the other task groups, active planning for Navy par-

ticipation in Operation CASTLE did not begin until the early months
of 1953.

Captain J. R. Pahl, USN, the Navy Deputy to CJTF SEVEN,

assumed command of Task Group 7.3 early in February and served in

that capacity until Rear Admiral H. C. Bruton, USN, reported on
1 June 1953.

The scope of Navy Task Group planning is best indi-

cated by the summary of Task Group 7.3 tasks as they were formalized in CJTF SEVEN Operation Plan No. 3-53.
1.

They were as follows:

Provide for the security of the Eniwetok-Bikini danger area,

2.

Operate a boat pool at Bikini,

3.

Provide an inter-atoll surface transportation system
to support Task Force elements in the forward area.

4.

Control harbor operations at Eniwetok and Bikini.

5.

Detail two PEM's and required personnel to the opera-

tional control of CTG 7.4 to augment the Eniwetok-Bikini airlift system and provide amphibious airlift service!

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