AOR 4 BROOKHAVEN NATIONAL LABORATORY ASSOCIATED UNIVERSITIES, INC. REFER UPTON, L.1I.. N.Y. TEL. YAPHANK p_ 4-6262 May 25, 1961 Capt. Gordon Smith USN Commanding Officer Naval Support Activity Pacific Missile Range Facility _ BEST COPYAVAILASBic: Navy 824, ¢/o FPO San Prancisco, California Dear Capt. Smith: The purpose of my letter is twofold. First, I would Like to thank you for your help in carry out our recent medical survey at Rongelap. Your assistance these surveys is greatly appreciated by those of us carrying out the survey, as weil as the Atomic Energy Commission, was sorry I did not have an opportunity to thank you personally while at Kwajalein but you were indisposed while I was there. Hope that you have recovered from your attack of bronchitis, second reason for writing is in regard to our desire of maint as close contact as possible with the Rongelap people during the intervais between the annual surveys and the Trust Territory field trips, in order that medical matters of importance may be Closely followed. You will remember that I had discussed this with you previously. It would be greatly appreciated if you could arrange for a monthiy plane trip to ho1zsil Rongelap, so that Dr. Bera Riklion (Trust Territory medical practitioner at Bbeye) would have the opportunity of checking up on the situation at Rongelap at such times. - S H. Shippey at the Kwajalein Hospital has sugsestee that he would be willing, when possible, to send ome their doctors along, if they could be spared from their duties at such time. routine field trip by the Trust Territory ship about every 3 months with Dr. Rikion thus no flight would be necessary for the month of the field trip. You have been most obliging in arranging Navy flights to Rongelap to evacuate medical emergency cases, and I hope this request will not in - pose too great an additional burden, I feel sure that Mr. William White would be willing to talk this over with you and keep in contact with you about arrangements for the flight. REPOSITORY lashch Netosr/ Kecortdle Conhog COLLECTION S26g/ ~6 BOX No ZOoOx — FOLDER A s to Rongelap /