RONGERIK -
- in
I had no indications of any but usual operations fram any of my detach-
ments,
Webther reports were caming a little late tut considered excellent
under the conditions, Example: Rongerik - 1 hour late, Ponape - 42 minutes,
Kusaie ~ 1:05 late and Majuro - 11 minutes late,
About 2300 that night I received a message from my detachment at
Rongerik DTG 0103002 as follows:
"FOR JTF SEVEN ENIWETOK SMCLN PASS TO MR,
BRESLIN PD AUTO MONITOR PRESENT READING IS ONE ZERO ZERO PLUS REPEAT ONE
ZERO ZERO PLUS CMA PEN OFF CHART AND HAS BEEN IN THIS POSITION SINCE 0250
ZEBRA REQUEST ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RECEIPT FROM BRESLIN SIGNED COMMDR".
Since
I attended a Radioclogical-Safety course at Keesler AFB in February -March
1949, I realized that serious fall-out might have occured. I ouskened Col.
Hammond, Tost Services Unit Commander, whose quarters are in the next roe
to mine, and explained the possibilities.
The communications center personne’
had explained that they were unable to contact Mr. Breslin at Parry Island
and had called me since they wero unable to obtain the desired acknowledgemen’
of the message.
Since I did not know tho rolationship of the monitor reading
to the radiation value (Roentgens) I could not evaluate the seriousness of
the situation,
However, to preclude any serious effects and to minimize the
danger of axposure, I prepared a message to WOJG Kapral, my Officer in Charge
at Rongerik as follows:
"CEASE ALL OPERATIONS IMMED AND ALL PERS REMAIN
INS IDE METAL BUILDINGS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE PD MAINTAIN ROTATING SHIFT
RADIO COMMUNICATIONS WITH 1DR FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS PD ROBINSON SENDS",
Major Montgemery, Exccutive for Test Services Unit was awakoned and sont to
the communications center to send out the message and wait there for further
instructions from Col. Hammond,
In the meantime we had callod Col. Crosby
and Col, Houghton of TG 7.4 and Captain Chrestenson of the 4930th Test
635£8
4