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-