sufficient quantity of cement. lumber, reinforcing steel and other
items of construction material had been delivered to the island to
permit the maintenance of construction continuity.
By this date
also, three 3000 GPD distillation units were put into operation to
provide water for cooking and drinking purposes; as the average
demand was approximately 4500 GPD, it was never necessary to operate
more than two of these units, with the remainder for standby use.
On 24 December, the remainder of the 18th Engineers arrived
from Eniwetok and on Christmas Day dinner was served in the mess
hall and was proclaimed an overwhelming success by all the participants.
On this day, an inspection of the main generator bank would have
revealed four (4) 50 KW diesel units performing satisfactorily am
providing an ample supply of current to the entire island; the
drinking water was sufficient, it tasted good and it was medically
acceptable; quarters, set up in existing buildings, were airy and
clean with sufficient space per individual for personal comfort; a
motor repair shop was in operation; a dispensary manned by a medical
officer and enlisted corpsman was ready to render first aid and
allied treatment, other cases to be evacuated to Eniwetok.
Other
communal facilities provided during the month of Vecember included
church services which were conducted by an Army chaplain who came up
from Eniwetok each Sunday afternoon for this purpose; motion pictures
were shown every night, using 35mm film provided in the atoll circuit;
a small post exchange which averaged $4500 per month and an enlisted
men's day room were’ located in the same building; mail was handled by
SECTION VIb
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