1", since I wished to make it as impressive as possible in order to get
action as quickly as possible,
This was an error on my part.
However, the evacuation proceeded, unfortunately we heard on the way to
Kwajalein that additional planes were not available, which meant that the
20 people remaining on Rongerik would not be moved as soon as I had given
them to believe.
Actually, the first group arrived at Kwajalein at about
14CO, and the last group shortly after 1900.
I requested that VP29 be
alerted for our arrival with people who would need to be processed
~through their personnel decontamination center,
We were met by monitors
who handled all the ground procedures quite adequately.
The final message I sent was an urgent recommendation that Rongelap
be surveyed as soon as possible with the exception that any habitants
would very likely be subjected to the same degree of fall out that had
occurred at Rongerik.
This recommendation met with approval by CTG 7.4.
:
=~
LOUIS B. CHRESTENSEN
Captain, USAF
A CERTIFIED TRUE COPY:
DANIEL F, GAINEY
Captain, USAF
~
nee
~S-
328.