HEADQUARTERS JOINT TASK FORCE SEVEN APO 187 (HOW) c/o POSTMASTER SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA COMPT 8 Mareh 1954 SUBJECT: “Report on Soil and Water Sampling Mission TO: Commander Joint Task Force SEVEN APO 187 (HOW) c/o Postmaster . ‘ San Francisco, Celifornia 1. In compliance with your oral instrustions, the undersigned visited LIKI and AILUK Atolls, JEMO Island and MEJIT Island in the Eastern Marshalls between the period 5<8 March 195 for the purpose of collecting soil and water samples ; cccsuring level of gamma radiation present at these places in connection with SRAVO. The aission, consisting of the undersiged and a Marshallese interpreter, Lan Lakapun, embarked on the USS BENSHAW (DOEA99) at Kwajalein, visited the four sites and returned to Bilcini, where the reminder of the trip to Eniwetok mas per formed by PEM. t 8 There follows a detailed discuseion of the findings at each loca- & - largest native po tion. The samples were taken on Liclep Island, wich had :. Access to the lagoon was gained through South Pass. Poor light at the end of the day and numerous coral heads necessitated anchoring about 4 miles from Lildlep Island. Trip in was onde by whaleboat the following morning. A water sample was taken from a large cistern fed frem the roof of tha Cathelie rectory, and earth saaples were taken from random spets about the is.which were unsheltered by trees or other growth at approximtely 0800 M6, i-1954. Radiation readings were tam with a Mf-5 instrument betwean O6CO Mand CH. Wf and showed o maxianm of 3 millircentgens per hour. Neo variations from this reading were noted on clothing or bare feet of individuals. According to accounts receive: by Bishep Feeney, S.J., the population was greatly exeited by the Light and blast wave, the latter which reportedly arrived abot 30 airutes subsequent to the light flare, According to Bishep Feeney, church attendance wis greatly stimlated on the day of the test. be e consists of a This location ms reached at 1100 M, 6 March 1954. heavily weeded islrnd, surrounded by a ling coral reef ith heavy surf on three sides. -* Thers being no place for landing a whaleboat, personr and equipmont were transferred froa the whaleboat to the reef by a ono man mubter raft. The undersigned transferred himself by swimming. The island proved ‘o be uninhabited, and reportedly is a sea turtle preserve, Turtle hunters erected several houses, a rain barrel of which provided a wator snaple, Earth sacplcs wero gathered at random fre@ opcn areas, including one pf beach sand above *ho hish tide ark, The party wis lod strnight across the island and back to the L-. ing aron via the beach, in order to verify its uninhabited state, < oT 2 3 Se 4 2 Sanplcs wre