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RADIOLOGICAL CLEANUP OF ENEWETAK ATOLL
FIRST LOGISTICS CONFERENCE: 18-19 APRIL 1977
Field Command wasresponsible for coordinating mobilization efforts by
the Defense Agencies, the Military Services, and other government
agencies and contractors. On 18-19 April 1977, their representatives metat
Headquarters, Military Traffic Management Command, Western Area
(MTMCWA) in Oakland, California, to coordinate supply and
transportation actions. The conference was called and chaired by Field
Command’s chief logistician and was hosted by the Commander,
MTMCWA. The goal of the conference was to identify what cargo was
available, when it was needed, and the most effective, economical means
of getting it to Enewetak.
Primary concerns were acquisition and delivery of equipment and
supplies for the U.S. Army Element (USAE) to begin Lojwa Camp site
preparation on 17 May 1977 and Lojwa Campconstruction on IS June 1977,
The Military Sealift Command (MSC) ship American Racer, which was
dueto call at Enewetak on 31 May 1977, could deliver most of the material.
Almost 5,000 measurement tons of cargo were identified which would be
available to ship on the American Racer. This ship was one of the deep-
draft vessels which MSC used to deliver cargo between ports in the Pacific.
It could not be offloaded directly at the Enewetak cargo pier, where the
water was only 8 feet deep, but would have to be anchoredin the lagoon
and offloadedinto lighters which could, in turn, be offloaded on the piers
or beaches. The COMNAVSURFPAC representative agreed to expedite
deploymentof crews for the landing craft which were scheduled to arrive
at Enewetak on 8 May 1977 so that they could be used to offload the
American Racer. Field Command, U.S. Army Forces Command, and
H&N-PTD representatives began developing plans for stevedores to
offload the ship and for shallow-draft barge service for future resupply of
the atoll.39
It was determined that items required prior to the ship’s arrival could be
provided by loan of somebase support contractor equipmentandbyairlift
of other critical items via scheduled MACflights. Field Commandalso
agreed to finance a special C-5 airlift to deliver four helicopters and other
critical items from Hickam AFB in time to meet 17 May 1977 materiel
requirements. The conferees also identified four landing craft, three Army
LARCs (amphibiouslighters), two other boats, explosives, and a variety
of general cargo which would be available for a special Navysealift in June
1977. The conference not only solved many mobilization problems but
reinforced the momentum andpositive working relationships generated in
developing the OPLAN, and extended them to the supply and
transportation agencies which would be supporting the project from the
West Coast.
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