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JOINT TASK FORCE SEVEN
&
APO 187 (HOW) c/o POSTMASTER
Location SAN BRUNO FRC
Commander
Joint Task Force SEVEN
APO 187 (HOW)
toss W/W eadDep
ete /o Postmaster
L81- 609A
267 45 an Francisco, California
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Report on Soil and Water Sampling Mission
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Done
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8 March 1954
SUBJECT:
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SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
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CLASSIFICATION CANCELLED
BY AUTHORITY OF COK/OC
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Th compliance with yotr oral instructions, the undersigned visited LIKXIEP
and AILUK Atolls, JEMO Island and MEJIT Island in the Eastern Marshalls between
the period 5-8 March 1954 for the purpose of collecting soil and water samples anc
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 RENSHAl (DDZ499) at Kwajalein, visited the four
sites and returned to Bikini, where thé reminder of the trip to Eniwetok was pc.’
formed by PB.
tion:
There follows a detailed discussion of the findings at each loca-
&- LIKIEP ATOLL. The samples were taken on Likiep Island, which had the
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 Likiep Island. Trip in was made by whaleboat the following
morning.
A water sample was taken from a large cistern fed from the roof of the
Catholic rectory, and earth samples were taken from random spots about the island
which were unsheltered by trees or other growth at approximtely 0800 M 6, March
1954. Radiation readings were takn with a MX~5 instrument between O800 M and 090¢
M and showed a mximum of 3 milliroentgens per hour, No variations from this
reading were noted on clothing or bare feet of individuals, According to accounts
received by Bishop Feeney, S.J., the population was greatly excited by the light
and blast wave, the latter which reportedly arrived about 30 minutes subsequent
to the light flare.
According to Bishop Feeney, church attendance was greatly
stimulated on the day of the test,
be.
JEM Island.
GAN BRENO FRC
This location was reached at 1100 M, 6 March 1954.
It
consists of a small heavily wooded island, surrounded by a line coral reef with
heavy surf on three sides. There being no place for landing a whaleboat, personr and equipment were transferred from the whaleboat to the reef by a one man rubber
raft. The undersigned transferred himself by swimming. The isl«nd proved to be
uninhabited, and reportedly is a sea turtle preserve.
Turtle hunters erected
several houses, a rain barrel of which provided a water sample.
Earth samples
were gathered at random from open areas, including one of beach sand above the
high tide mrk, The party was led straight across the island and back to the linding area via the beach, in order to verify its uninhabited state. Samples were
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