Mobilization
161
1,578 measurement tons of Armyrolling stock (vehicles, vans, and
construction equipment).
There was concern that expertise was not available on Enewetak to
offload the American Racer; therefore, an Army stevedore team from
Fort Eustis was provided to assist offloading the ship into landing craft.
However, since the team’s previous experience was limited to offloading
ships alongside cargo piers, its value to the Enewetak operation was
limited. Fortunately, H&N-PTD’s riggers and stevedores were well
experienced. They operated the ship’s winches whenit developed that the
ship’s crews could not, and they took charge of the more hazardous and
complex tasks. Because of this experience, the Fort Eustis team was not
requested for subsequentoffloading operations.
Lightering was accomplished with landing craft operated by the U.S.
Navy Element (USNE), whose Officer-in-Charge, Lieutenant
CommanderJ. E. Hopkins, USN, arrived on 7 June [977 with [8 additional
maintenance and operations personnel.56 Everyone on atoll who could be
spared from otherduties, including 40 men of the USAE, was employed in
offloading and storing the cargo. It still required 8 days to complete
offloading the ship.5’ It took even longer to put some of the cargo into
operation. Most of the new vehicles arrived in mothballed condition.
Although manycritical items still had not arrived, enough equipment and
supplies had been received that the USAE could increase its camp
construction force on Lojwa from twoto four platoons.°8
D-DAY, 15 JUNE 1977
The day prior to D-Day was marked by the arrival of the USAE
Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Lee W. Tucker, USA; the interim U.S.
Air Force Element Commander, Major H. Rumzrek, USAF; 50 more
construction troops; and nine more Air Force support personnel. They
were welcomed by Director, DNA, Vice Admiral Robert R. Monroe,
USN, and Commander, Field Command, BG Lacy, who had arrived the
previous day accompanied by Mr. Roger Ray, of ERDA-NV, and Mr. Earl
Gilmore and Mr. Frank Drake, of H&N, (Figure 3-10).
D-Dayarrivals increased the atoll population from 336 to 394. Following
the D-Day ceremony, the Director and his party departed for Johnston
Atoll for an inspection visit. The following day, seven membersof the
news media arrived to cover mobilization activities. Additional troop
arrivals by 17 June 1977 increasedtheatoll population to 536.59
Among the D-Day arrivals were Staff Sergeant Charles H. Freeman,
USA,andhis laundry team from the 613th Field Service Companyat Fort
McClellan, Alabama. They used the washers and dryers ordered forself-