E. P. Cronkite
Page Two
,
7. Because of the lack of adequate pilotage, the ship was steered over
the reef approximately 200 yards south of the mouth of the Utirik Pass.
Fortunately, due to extremely high tide and weather conditions, the ship was
able to clear the reef without incident.
In the area of administration/public relations, two of the most distressing problems arose during the Rongelap Survey, they were:
1.
The ship carried a cannon; a close replica of the old boarding cannon
used on sailing ships to protect the gangway.
This cannon was mounted just
forward of the gangway on the starboard side. The cannon was fired twice on
Yollowing the firing
February 6th and again on the evening of February 7th.
on the 7th, a seven-year-vld child on Rongelap stated that he was struck by a
projectile from the cannon. Apparently, another child had thrown a rock at
the time the cannon was fired, striking the boy in the back, and this was interpreted as the injury from the cannon blast. The cannon itself was loaded with
tin foil and other non-hazardous material. The problems generated by this
pseudo—bombardment of the island jeopardize the philosophy of the peaceful
medical evaluation of the people of this island previously injured by the U.S,
weapons test. Mr. Otterman {the owmer of U.S. Oceanographies) made the decision
to fire the cannon and the acceptance of this action by the Department of Energy's
liaison representative, Mr. Brown, I am afraid seriously compromised the
credibility of the survey, even though, apparently, no serious physical damage
was done.
2. It was the decision of the medical team that we would begin a nutritional program aimed at reducing the amount of free sugar consumed in the
islands. We, therefore, purposely refrained from handing out candies and other
sugars.
Contrary to this policy, the owner of the ship along with the DOE
liaison representative went ashore and were passing out candy.
It was difficult
to explain to the people of Rongelap, as well as to the owner of the ship, the
reasons for this medical decision. However, diabetes, exogenous obesity, and
dental caries are probably the three most serious medical problems in these
islands.
In conclusion, a complete review
were serious materiel deficiences, as
the contractor and the medical survey
lization of this ship there should be
of the trip report will reveal that there
well as procedural difficulties, between
team.
I feel that prior to further utia meeting to more closely coordinate the
administrative effort so that these problems do not arise in the field, and
that the material/safety sae. Fully corregted prior to any Further
utilization.
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Hugh Sy Pratt, M.D.
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Director, Marshall Island Studies
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