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 ~" stv -~""~ f# 1 1/"17 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, ~ 0404735.txt[9/1/2014 8:27:49 PM]