2.2.7 USS EPPERSON (DDE-719) During the late afternoon and evening of | March, the EPPERSON waspatrolling the waters off Wide Passage and Deep Entrance, Enewetak Atoll. BRAVO hit the residence islands between 1745 and 2300 hours. Fallout from Shot It is assumed the EPPERSON received the same fallout (see Section 2.2.1 and Figure 2-3). Following Shot ROMEO on 27 March, the EPPERSON reentered Bikini Lagoon at 1400 hours prior to returning to patrol duties that took it in a counter-clockwise direction around Bikini Atoll. The ship began receiving very light fallout as it departed the lagoon at 1600 hours. By 1900 hours, when it was approximately 20 miles north of Bikini, intensities suddenly rose to 25 mR/hr (Reference 10). The ship's washdown system was activated at 1933 hours (Reference 8) and, when it was turned off 17 minutes later, topside intensities had been reduced to 10 mR/hr (see Figure 216). Intensities continued to decrease until approximately 0400 hours on 28 March when they began to increase once more, rising to 15 mR/hr at 0800 hours when the ship was northwest of the atoll. No mention is made of any efforts to decontaminate the ship on 28 March. The ship continued around the atoll and reentered the lagoon at approximately 2000 hours. At 0650 hours, 29 March, the EPPERSON departed on another patrol assignment and immediately encountered more fallout. The washdown system was activated from 0708 to 0735 hours. Average topside intensities were 8 mR/hr at 0800 hours (H+50), and a steady decline was noted thereafter (see Figure 216). When Shot NECTAR was detonated on [4 May, the EPPERSON was in the vicinity of Ujelang Atoll to evacuate the natives if it became necessary. approximately 1300 hours, when it became clear that evacuation would not At be necessary, the ship was directed to returm to Enewetak, arriving there at approximately 1820 hours. Fallout on the residence islands of Enewetak began at1330 hours, 14 May; hence, the crew of the EPPERSON would have encountered the same fallout (see Section 2.2.1 and Figure 2-5). No significant fallout was encountered by this ship following Shots KOON, UNION, and YANKEE. 67