Ao 1 44 DRAFT: TAPE SMarks: gab 5/16/73 REPORT OF CONVERSATION WITH COLONEL HOWELL ON MAY 15, 1973, HIS PHONE NUMBER IS 693-5799 He stated that there were 27 service men that were exposed to fallout in the Marshall Islands in 1954 who were on his list to be investigated. Three were in active service at the time he conducted this investigation and he advised them to go to the nearest medical facility for an examination especially with reference to the thyroid gland. AI1l proved to be negative although one had had a gland that aroused some suspicion a lesion being present temporarily. negative in the final report. That particular one also was was He also recommended to these people that they have follow-up examinations at intervals. Two of the group had died sine 1954, one of cirrhosis of the liver due to alcoholism and the other from a automobile accident. He sent letters to the other 22 recomnending that they go the either a service hospital, VA hospital or their private physician to have examinations and recomnended certain articles or Dr. Conards that could be consulted by the physicians. However, he did not request any response as to whether they did have the examinations or not and what the findings might be if the examinations were conducted. Of the group of 22, 8 were retirees who were receiving a payment from the government and had reliable addresses. Of the other 14 who were discharged from the service,3 had addresses that were believed to be good and 1l had poor addresses. He has had no fdllow-up or inquiries from any of these people and has no idea whether they were examined or not, 9008 787