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RADIOLOGICAL CLEANUP OF ENEWETAK ATOLL
the duration of the project. Major (later Lieutenant Colonel) William L.
Spicuzza, USA, was assigned as Commander, Enewetak Atoll by Fieig
Command, effective | April 1976, to manage base operations and to
exercise operational control over H&N-PTDactivities at the atoll. During
the following year, over $600,000 worth of rehabilitation work was
accomplished by H&N-PTD including: repair of dormitories, shops, and
warehouses;repair of petroleum storage and dispensing facilities; repair of
the cargo pier; and activation of maintenance and supplyfacilities. 24
While Enewetak Atoll was being reactivated in 1976, Johnston Atoll was
being phased downto a lesser state of readiness due to President Ford’s
deletion of the ‘“‘prompt”’ requirementfrom the mission of Johnston Ato}|
to maintain ‘‘readiness for resumption of atmospheric nucleartesting.” A
bargeload of supplies and equipment which had become excess to
Johnston Atoli’s reduced requirements was delivered to Enewetakin April
1976. In addition to much needed building materials, it included an
aluminum-hulled landing craft to augment Enewetak’s rusting fleet.25
“Tiger teams’? of H&N employees from Johnston Atoll were used to
augmentthe Enewetak Atoll work force for Enewetak Camp rehabilitation
projects.
The Air Force acknowledged its responsibility for programming and
managing Enewetak Atoll communicationsfacilities in February 1976. On
15 June 1976, seven Air Force enlisted personnel from the 196lst
Communications Group, Clark AFB, Philippine Islands, arrived at
Enewetak and spentthe next 6 weeks rehabilitating the antenna system.26
This was followed by an Air Force Communications Service survey of
communications requirements and resources in September1976.
Anotherreactivation project was establishmentof the Enewetak Camp
exchange by the Hawaiian Regional Exchange. This organization
conducted a survey in October 1976 to determine requirements and
resources for establishing outlets at the Enewetak and Lojwa Camps. The
Enewetak exchange began operating on 8 February 1977 and wasofficially
opened by the Commander, Field Command, DNA,Brigadier General
Thomas E. Lacy, USAF, and the Regional Exchange Commander,
Colonel Robert M. Sullivan, Jr., USAF, on | March 1977, during the
second Enewetak Planning Conference (Figure 3-3).
CONSTRUCTION PROGRESSES: 1977
BG Lacy promised the Services that Enewetak Camp would be readyto
support their mobilization forces by the planned D-Day, 15 June 1977. This
required an accelerated construction effort by H&N-PTD. H&Nalso had
been tasked to assist in design and construction of the Lojwa Camp.