4 RADQUARTERS
JOINT TASK ORCE SEVEN
APC 187 (HOW) :/o POSTMASTER
SAN PRAM TTS" CALIFORNIA
COMPT
8 Mareh 1954
SUBJECT:
Repert or Sci)
anc Rater Seamiow Misedor
TO:
Coma nder
Joint Task Foreea 3D VEN
APO 187 (HOW)
cYo Postmaster
San Ferare’sec, Califferr 4
1,
In compliance with your oral instructions, the undersigned visited LIKIE
and AILUK Atolls, JEMC Island and MEJIT Island in the Eastern Marshalls between
the period 5-8 Marct 195. for the purpose of collecting seil and water samples ar.
measuring level of gamma radiation present at those places in connection with
BRAVO. The mission, consisting of the undersigned and a Marshallese interpreter,
Lan Lakapun, embarked on the USS HENSHA? (DDE499, at Kwajalein, visited the four
sites and returned to Bikini, where the rimiinder of the trip to Eniwetok was per
formed by PBM.
ion:
Ther» follows 6 detatiet iLsacussion of the findings at each loca-
a. LIKITEP ATOLL. The samples were taken on Likiep Island, which had tt.
largest native population. Access to the lagoon was gained through South Pass.
Poor light at the end of the day and numerous coral heads necessitated anchoring
about 4 miles from Liktep Island. Trip 4: was made by whaleboat the following
morning.
<A water sample was taken froma large cistern fed from tha roof of the
Catholic rectory, and sarth samples were taken from random spots about the island
which were unsheltered by trees or other ;rowth at approximtely O600 M 6, March
1954. Radiation readings were takn witr
MX-5 instrument between O800 M and 090
M and showed a miximum cf 3 millirventgens per hour, No variations from this
reading were noted o. clothing or xare f-.t of individuals, According to account:
received by Bishop Freeney, S.0., the population wis greatly excited by the Light
and blast wave, vhe
vwatter which reportcitiy
to the light flare,
According to “Visrs.
stimulated on th dat <f the test,
.rrived about 3O minutes subsequent
‘canay,
thurch attendance was greatly
b. JEM) Island. This locatimn wis reached at L100 M, 6 Meareh 1954, It
consists of a smill heavily wooded isl-ni, surrounded by a Line coral reef with
heavy surf on three sides,
There being a place for landing a whaleboat, persanns
and equipment were trinsferrec from th: whilcboat to the reef by a one man rubber
raft.
The undersigned transferred yime.! py swinming. The island proved to be
uninhabited, and repertedly is 4 sea tu’ .: preserve, Turtle hunters erected
several houses, 2 rei:
urrel of whicr ¢°. ided a water sample,
Earth sanplos
were gathered at random from spen areas, . ciudine one of beach sand above the
high tide mrk.
Th warty was led str igm
cross the island and back to the tL:
ing area via the vue, inouriem te 0 1.
“cs minhibited state. Samples wm