LOS ALAMOSSCIENTIFIC LABORATORY (CONTRACT W-7405-ENG-36)
P. 0. Box 1663 Los Alamos, New Mexico, )
: LASSIFICATION CANCELLED,I:)0C S'C ~O. C..., OL-1 'L. { f9 b111 IA. BY AUTHORITY OF DOE/OC
IN REPLY
REFER TO:
H JD$~019y 'ff <of tt ay 26, 1953
REVIE,1 f:. BY DA TE
Wtilbvf A. 'tY~i.J.Sfir ct+/t/ f1
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Dr. John C. Bugher
Division of Biology and Medicine
U.S. Ato.mic Energy Commission
Washington 25, D.C.
Dear John:
John Servis told me that he spoke to you briefly in Nevada concerning a .sontinuation at a forthcoming Entyetoktest
of the telemetering progr~which has been
going on in Nevada. Actually, our thinking processes along this line have been rather devious. Dick Houseis anxious to
sign up someone as Surgeon to the Task Force, a job comparable to the one held by Major Lifton at Ivy. "We
recommezxied Capt. Woodward whois currently assigned to Los Alamos. Unfortunately, it seems that he does not have
quite enough rank for the job -there ought to be at least a major. Payne Harris would be an excellent man for the job but
I know very definitely that he would not wish to go out there for the third time without more work to do than this job
alone would involve. Remembering the interest which he showedin thelittle telemetering project which hehadat Ivy, I
asked him whether he would be interested in taking a larger program under his wing, in addition to the position of Task
Force Surgeon. He assured methat he wouldfizxi the job most acceptable.
It also occurred to me that a Task Force Surgeon with responsibilities in two
atolls should probably have a deputy, which wouldbe a very satisfactory way of
getting Capt. Woodwardinto the act. Kent Woodward is a very competent yoUDg
physician and could take muchofthe routine, pemitting Harris to devote his
major activities to the telemetering work.
Noneofushere is quite certain how to get such a ball rolling although there are many very good argumentsin favor of
such a program, not the least of whichis the fact that we now apparently have instruments which are pretty reliable. The
next test at Enivetok, it seems to me, will certainly involve a numberofsituations where people on shipboard would
like to know the radiation level on someparticular island without the necessity of sending a helicopter and a monitor to
that island to find out. A chain of telemetering stations could in this way cut down considerably on the personnel
requirements of a Rad-Safe unit. The same or similar instruments could subsequently be used in Nevada, thereby saving
monitors much unnecessary exposure.
I personally think that this matter is of sufficient interest and importance to the Task Force for them to sponsorit. As
your Division, however, has already been in theact, I feel that probably you should be heard from first.
Dr. John C. Bugher -2-
May 26, 195.3
Perhaps a recolmllendation from you to General Clarkson would be enoughtostart things moving. It might be advisable
to place the project actually under the wing of the Rad-Safe unit in order to avoid establishing an additional numbered
project.
Your
thoughts on this matter will be greatly appreciated.
Very
sincerely yours,
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