HEADQUARTERS JOINT TASK FORCE SEVEN APO 187 (HOW) c/o POSTMASTER SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA COMPT SUBJECT: TO: 8 March 1954 Report on Soil and Water Sampling Mission Commander Joint Task Force SEVEN APO 187 (HOW) ¢Y¥o Postmaster San Francisco, California 1; In compliance with your oral instructions, the undersigned visited LIKIE 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 ar. measuring level of gamma radiation present at these places in connection with BRAVO. The mission, consisting of the undersigned and a Marshallese interpreter, Lan Lakapun, embarked on the USS HENSHAW (DDE499) at Kwajalein, visited the four sites and returned to Bikini, where the remainder of the trip to Eniwetok was per formed by PEM, tion: a. There follows a detailed discussion of the findings at each loca, LIKIEP ATOLL. largest native population. The samples were taken on Likiep Island, which had tt. 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 Likfep Island. Trip in was made by whaleboat the following Moming. A water sample was taken froma 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 0600 M 6, March 1954. Radiation readings were taln with a MX-5 instrument between O600 M and OW M and showed a maximum of 3 millircentgens 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 ws 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. b. JEMD Island. This location was reached at 1100 M, 6 Mareh 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, persannc and equipment were transferred from the whaleboat to the reef by a one man rubber raft. The undersigned transferred himself by swimming. The island 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 samplos 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 L:: ing area via the beach, in order to verify its uninhabited state. SA D-2/3-S54¢-1€ Samplos wre