409574 THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE REPOSITORY College NARA A - Colley Parke conection R B26 BOx No, 23 WASHINGTON 46 -5/ Secrvlary 18 June 1948 (nw3- 32 6-93-00?) R FOLDER G71. & (4-21-47) Sands tence vole FL Mr, David E, Lilienthal Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission Washington 25, D. C. Dear Mr. Lilienthal: TI am forwarding to you herewith a list by name of certain members of the Scientific Group participating in Operation Sandstone who did outstanding work in the view of the Task Force Commander, In the case of personnel of the Military Services there are standard and easily applied methods of recognition in- cluding decorations, if warranted, for those individuals who perform especially outstanding services in operations of the nature of Sandstone. However, there appears to be no method available to the military in peacetime of providing comparable recognition to the civilian scientists who served in the Task Force under the auspices of the Atomic Energy Commission. The Task Force Commander has recommended that I forward this list of names to you for whatever action the Atomic Energy Commission may wish to take in recognizing the services they have performed. I am happy to do this and I feel that it is especially fitting tnat the outstanding work performed by these individuals during the atomic bomb tests at Eniwetok be recog~ nized. These gentlemen have performed in an outstanding manner an important service to our Nation. The Military Services have been privileged to be associated with them and on behalf of the Department of Defense I wish to extend to each of them a "well done." Sincerely, /s/ James Forrestal James Forrestal NOTE: The list mentioned above contains a total of 26 personnel from the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory and other laboratories who participated in Operation Sandstone.