gj } cl Y UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY 4,CALIFORNIA A. | ncvosromhl. los Hames rt lit-B COLLECTION BOX No AO7 CL _ Y LiJS23/-~/ FOLDER C2Yt Coneke / August 10, 1954 Major John Servis University of California Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory P, 0. Box 1663 Los Alamos, New Mexico Dear Major Servis: A question has arisen in regard to possible radiation exposure of three longshoremen who were working at unloading the M.5.T.S. ship Joe E, Mann at the Oakland Army Base in Oakland, California on July 31, 1954. On the cover of hatch No. 3, and the adjacent deck, were ten or twelve large truck trailers, apparently from the South Pacific Test Area, These trailers apparently were locked and sealed, and labeled "radioactive". The area in which they were secured was labeled "radioactive-—do not approach within 10 or 15 feet", At least one of these men, who became ill while unloading these vans, has raised the question of radiation exposure as a possible cause for his illness, It would be of great assistance to us in putting this picture together if you could supply monitoring information on these vans. I am told by Mr. A. L. Smith of USNRDL that this information, if available, would be had by you. Any information you can give us in this regard would be appreciated—-radiation fields surrounding the vans, possible isotope contamination of the outside, and even potential exposure to isotopes should one of the vans have become unsealed, etc. Thanking you in advance for your assistance in this mtter, Sincerely yours, R. Lowry RLD/mew Debson, M.D.