~~
“
Demobilization
ROLLUP BEGINS
The departure of the Service elements reduced the Enewetak
population to approximately 250, including 37 military, 99 base s
contractor, and 98 rehabilitation contractor personnel, and per
H&N-PTD to begin the final rollup of base support and life s
facitities. On 28-29 February 1980, HQ JTG offices were relocate;
the trailers to the three-story barracks, Building 462. The three
trailers, plus three latrine trailers andeightbillet trailers, were burn
the residue dumped atsite Alpha.
The first day of March wasthefirst official day of rollup, and au
became the watchword. Thetactical switchboard andfield telephone
into operation. On 6 March 1980, the Tradewinds Club (Building 72
converted to a temporary messingfacility and the dining hall (Buildi
was removed. Building 24, which had served as an officers quarte
Army element headquarters, was vacated and dismantled to p
materials for the rehabilitation effort. H&N-PTD maintenanc
warehouse functions were relocated to Building 679, which tt
Enewetak had selected to remain. The former shop and storage fz
.
were razed to permit construction of homes. *§
On 15 March, as scheduled, the power and waterdistillation plan!
shut down. From this point on, all electric power was generated by
generators located near the billeting, office, and other work fe
requiring power. Two distillation units were installed on a covere
and fresh water production continued on a smaller scale.
Roliup continued at a rapid pace through March 1980 with there
and disposal of buildings, slabs, power poles, and equipment, and v
ever decreasing work force requiring fewer and fewerfacilities. T]
remaining constraint was the need to retain sufficient faciliti
temporary support of over 500 dri-Enewetak and 65 other \
expected to attend the Enewetak Return Ceremony on 8 April
described in the next chapter.
Rollup activities increased rapidly after the return ceremony.
April 1980, the U.S. Air Force satellite communications tear
equipment redeployed from Enewetak. The Army Aviation Detac
prepared the two helicopters and other equipmentfor retrograde a
11 Aprif 1980, departed with the helicopters for Hickam AFB via
channelairlift. On 11 April 1980, a team from TTPIarrived at Enew
dismantle the telephone exchange. The same day, the AFCS team
preparing the remaining Air Force communications equipme
Shipment or local disposal. On-atoll communications capabilit
teduced to hand-held radios and off-atoll capability was limited
provided by the MPRL and MARSstations.