though they had scars on their necks they appeared healthy and they heard many inter- esting tales of their sojourn in the United States. After this, tnere was less apprehension about going. There were usuaily several Marshallese in the group going to the United States for hospitalization. In one group there werefive patients. They were taken to Kwajalein, where they would meet the plane taking them to the United States. Meanwhile, we took them to the one departmentstore on Kwajalein, and necessary clothing, including warm winterclothes, toilet articles, and suitcases were purchased for them. The patients usually were taken to the Hospital of the Medical Department of BNL for one to two weeksfor preliminary examinations before surgery at the New England Deaconess During their stay in the United States. we took our Marshailese visitors on a numberof sightseeing excursions, including automobile tours around the countryside and villages. as well as visits to our homes. Sightseeing visits to New York City included a boat trip around the harbor. They were greatly impressed with the big city and were awe-struck by the towering buildings, the streets crowded with bustling people and the congested traffic with cavernous sounds of honking horns and screeching brakes. They marveled at the view atop the Chrysler Building and enjoyed guided tours of the United Nations Building. The Marshallese were most grateful for these excursions and took back tales of their adventures to their fellow isianders. Hospital in Boston in the first years, and later. to the Cleveland Metropolitan Generai Hospital. The hospital rooms were warm, but the Marshallese were sleeping under several blankets and compiaining of being cold. We had to turn the heat up to a level which was uncomfortably warm for us. At first, they were apprehensive about sleeping on the high hospital beds since they had been used to sleeping on the floor. By putting up the side bars on the beds, they were less afraid of falfing out of bed. TheHospital at Brookhaven was stall! arid the nurses and hospital'staffwere friendly and“ solicitous ofthe patientswhotradcortefrom so far. In this informal milieu, the people became at ease with thé hospital surroundings and the* many examinations being performed of them. Following the preliminary examinations at es retge waver esaminai.. wa ae Marshallese patientsafriveai thé*toupital-st~- Brookhaven Nationai Laboratory for examina- ° tions prior to thyroid surgery. the Brookhaven Hospital, the patients were then taken to Boston or Cleveland hospitals for surgery.** At these large hospitais, the Marshallese patients were on wards with many other patients and, although they were given as much consideration as possible, they could not receive the personal attention that they had been given at our small hospital. As the time of surgery approached, they were naturally apprehensive. We stayed with them to reassure them during the surgical procedures. It was gratifying to see the rapid recovery of | the patients with only slight discomfort and, on healing, the surgical scar was usually hardly discernible. 13 As of 1989, 77 Marshailese had thyroid surgery. 26 TOU ETT Marshallese enjoy a boat trip around New York Harborafter visiting the United Nations Building.