CHAPTER XV
PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED
ENGEBI ISLAND
The construction on Engebi Island commenced with the arrival
of the survey party, the foundation crew of the MK-PK Company
and fourteen (14) Enlisted Men from the 18th Engineer Construction
Company.
Work was immediately started on the excavation for the
Zero tower footings and clearing and initial grading for the main
control line between the Zero tower and the timing station sites.
Until 24 December, all conatruction personnel, civilian and
military, lived aboard the LST 45 or the IST 219 which were
alternately anchored offshore to serve as "floating hotels", Pending the arrival of the remainder of the 18th Engineers from Eniwetok,
the Resident Engineer, JTF 7 directed the activities of the advance
party from this unit.
When the entire Company arrived at Engebi,
Captain MMe, Company Commander, was in direct charge of
construction operations.
From the start of construction, and practically up to its
completion, one of the major activities, from a standpoint of manhours required, was the off-loading of small boats which brought material
ami equipment to the ielani.
This was necessitated by the fact that
numerous large coral heads on the lagoon side and the reef on the ocean
side prevented beaching or docking of larger vessels.
By 16 December, the Zero tower footings were completed, survey
and layout for the remainder of the structure was well advanced and a
SECTION VIb
88
PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED
a