INFORMAL NARRATIVE OF =VACUATION OF NATIVsS FROM UTIRIK ATOLL, MARSHALL ISLANDS Having received orders at just before dawn on 2? warch 1¥54, to proceed to Utirix atol1, tne Henshaw, immediately departed from the patrol area north of Eniwetok Atoll and set course eastward to pass south of Bikini enroute. Speed was adjusted to arrive at daylight the next day and the 400 mile voyage was completed without incident. Meanwhile, new activity was evident in Renshaw. Charts, sailing directions, tide tables and all possible sources of information on the Atoll were searched and avidly studied. Although the decision that the natives would be evacuated was not known on board until late in the night of the 3rd, plans were firmed up for handling the people. S.weral schemes were put forward but the final plan was made with the invaluable knowledge and assisteace of 5. K, Tryba, BMC, USN. He had served a tour of duty in trust territories west of the Marshalls and had experience in evacuation of natives, - Although the Douglas A. Munro (DE-422) was detailed to assist Renshaw, her estimated arrival was not until 041330M, hence plans were made for the possibility of receiving on board Renshaw all the reported 180 natives of the Atoll. The approach to the target Atoll was made from the westward and north of Taka Atoll which is only 4 miles SW of Utirik. It was sighted at about 0630L on the morning of 4 Larch and course was set southeastward to pass between the two atolls. Enroute to the south side of triangular shaped Utirik Atoll. we passed close to the recf on the western side in order to get a look at Utirik Passage. There was no thought of entering this channel inasmuch as Sailing Directions were very definite that no ship larger than a PC should make the attempt. Nevertheless, a look was desired to determine if charted beacons were present (they weren't) and to determine the feasibility of our boats entering the lagoon or perhaps even the DE should it be found too dangerous on the south side for the evacuation. Theoretically, it would have even been possible for Renshaw to enter at high tide about 1600M when our 18 ft. drag aft would clear the channel about 3 ft. if the charted depths were correct and if the sun at our backs made the channcl anu coral heads visible. It was reckoned that the thrill of entering this channel for the C.Q. would be about like that of Russian roulette. Upon rounding the SW tip of the Atoll, course was set castward to skirt the reef along th: southern leg which appeared to offer the best lee from wind and surf for the evacuation. Fortunately the weather was exceptionally good with light NE winds and only moderate swells. S37 at 0735i the ship hove to at about 500 yds just south of Utirik Is., the largest of the Atoll and 5 ‘egn which all the natives were reported to live. At this time trust territohery officials and interpreters had not arrived nor had an ETA been received. @ view of our directive to commence evacuation at daylight it was decided ely . So oygibeosuns (1) os 8.1 LS