As soon as we have fired the first shot on Bikini, we have lost cur camp and air strip, and will have to live on ships. There is also concern about the contamination of the lagoon: we have a feeling that fram the health standpoint the activity will probably not be too bad, but it will be considerably above the normal Navy standards so that the Task Force Camander may have to make an operational decision to let ships go into the lagoon, Be rn | PRETTARY SUPPORT ~ De Curry ,“ “Oar requests to the Task Force include the following: 1. The preposed mmber of Army personnel (to be based on Entwetok Island) is 77 officers, 964 EM. Among the support which they provide is that of the Signal) Company, Port Campany (providing stevedoring at Eniwetok and also DUKis);~and.the MP Company. 2. Maw | We have asked foyan AGC (the Estes), an AV (the Curtiss), and a CVE; attached to the latter! 6 to 8 HRS (helicopters), and 4 TE! (torpedo bombers). In addition, we have requested an LSD (partly to a, transportati dewar traile a boat pool and partly to provide the barges, possibly also for same Emiwetok to Bikini) 2 LST. (one to establish for transportation weather stations and to be available en Eniwetok and Bikini or to support the boat pool when ‘the barges; the other excl Iniwetok and Bikini) is engaged in ferrying dewaz and for transportation between 3 ATF (fleet tugs, for towing and *ppperting DOD and LASL projects) 21 Lat tif 5 LOU | 2 AVR 1 YCN 4 PEM U a: (large barge, to be used as a helicopter“landing, probably in the vicinity of Eniwetok or Bikini) -.. Etat (mainly for transportation between Iniwetok anil) Rilcind , which will obviously be short once we lose our air PUG jstrip). -9-