10
Organization
THE 1965 SURVEY

The survey team consisted of 12 physicians and
technicians from the United States and 6 from the

Trust Territory (Figure 3). Examinations were

carried out on 71 Rongelap people in the exposed
group, 48 children of exposed parent(s), and 191
unexposed Rongelap people (adults and children)
comprising the comparison population. A Trust
Territory cargo ship was used to transport part of
the team and equipment between Rongelap and
Kwajalein. In addition, air support was furnished
by the Search and Rescue Detachment, U.S.

Navy, stationed at Kwajalein. The team lived
ashore at Rongelap Island during the period of the
examination. Two new air-conditioned trailers
were recently installed on Rongelap for examination purposes (see Figure 4). Smaller groups of
Rongelap people were also examined at Ebeye
(Kwajalein Atoll) and Majuro, with local hospital
facilities used for the examinations.

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“

THE 1966 SURVEY
The 12-year medical survey was of a more lim-

ited scope than the previous one, with only the ex-

' posed groups being examined. A total of 177 exam-

inations were carried out on 72 exposed Rongelap
people and 105 exposed Utirik people. Personnel
and equipmentwere transported between islands
by a ship operated by a Marshall Island trading
company.
Prior to each survey, meetings were held with

the people to explain the survey procedures and
particularly to discuss why the thyroid cases need

hospitalization, surgery, and treatment. They seem

to have accepted thesituation in regard to the thyroid lesions calmly, and there has been no expression of great concern.
In February 1966, the exposed people of Rongelap received compassionate payment for effects of
fallout radiation. Each person received nearly
$11,000 and some an additional amountasinheri-

tance from those exposed people that had died.

They were quite happy about this, and on our ar-’

eo.
a

Figure 4. Newly installed air-conditioned trailer used for examinations at Rongelap.

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