At this time, about 1015M, the ship was advised by the X.0. that the evacuation would commence about 1100 and a life raft was requested for use in shuttling the natives over the reef and through the surf to the boats standing off about 50 yards. At approximately 1lO4OM the boat arrived with the raft and the evacuation commenced at 1050. By this time the majority of the natives were gathered on the beach and ready to go. Women, children and old people were shuttled out to the boats first, with their possessions, followed by the men. Much cooperation and assistance were realized from the able native men whose alertness, willingness and ability to swim proved invaluable during the evacuation and reduced the number of ship's personnel required. At about 1200 the evacuation was about half completed but the wind was freshening, the tide was flooding and the surf was kicking up. The operation became increasingly hazardous and two raft loads of evacuees were very nearly upset in the surf. The coral was chew-~ ing up the suspension ropes and lattice work of the raft and in a radio consultation between the X.0. and C.0., serious consideration was given to ceasing the operation and trying again from the lagoon side. Since this would delay the operation several hours and also was fraught with danger as already indicated, and sincé we could see the end in sight, it was decided to continue. Most of the women, children and aged were al-~ ready gone and no one had been hurt other than a few coral cuts. Another raft was dispatched and the pace was stepped up, though less people were loaded on each raft and extreme care was exercised. Ten LTB loads of about 15 people each were required to complete the evacuation of the 154 natives. ‘fhe last raft load left the beach at about 1245 leaving as forlorn a set of dogs as you have ever seen. At 1251K all the natives were on board and none too soon because the wind and surf con~ tinued to increase, The native chief named Compass, has been repeatedly asked how many natives were on the atoll and if we had them all. He was insistent that all were on Utirik Islend, none were on other islands of tne atoll, and none were on Taka Atoll, 4 ~ 5 miles away. He first said there were 161 natives present and proudly brought out a card index file to prove it. Careful questioning however indicated that at least two infants had died a day or two before and that the ola boy didn't have this PALIT records up to date. The next figure we got was 157 but further questioning indi~ cated he was counting two or three imminent but as yet unbom babies. The last figure of 154 was arrived at after a count on board and was concurred in by the chief and Trust official. «a breakdown was as follows: men 47, women 55, children under 16, boys and girls, 26 each. At about 1300M when rafts were secured and boats were hoisted, course was set for Kwajalein to arrive at dawn on the Sth. At about 1345 we met the D.a. itunro (DE-422) coming up from Kwajalein to assist us but there was nothing further for her to do but fall in astern end returm to Kwajalcin. Daclassified DOD DIR 5 200.10 Declassified DOD DIR 5200.10) & D R> ENCLOSURE (1)