FUTURE RELEASE
PLEASE NOTE DATE
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
OFFICE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION
408668
Washington 25, D.C,
HOLD FOR RELEASE
UNTIL 12 NOON, EST
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1950
No. 248-50
RE 6700, Ext, 3201 - 3176
ARMY CONSTRUCTION FORCE DESIGNATED
FOR ENIWETOK PROVING GROUNDS
The Department of Defense and the Atomic Energy Commissien announced
today that an Army construction force has becn designated to assist in the construction program now in progress at the Eniwetok Proving Grounds in the
Marshall Islands, Central Pacific,
wey =.
‘
<1
a
wo
ae
.
o
os
The Atomic Energy Commission previously announced 2 contract with Holmes
and Narver, Los Angeles engineering firm for work on various technical facilities
including repairs, replacement of certain structures and utilitics and the installa-
tion of more durable facilitics .t the proving grounds.
It is expected thet elements of the construction force will embark within the
immediate future. This force consists of the He :dguorters of the 7th Engineer
Brigade, the 79th Engineer Construction Battalion ind supper rting Quartermaster,
Medical, Signal, Transportation anda Finance units.
In conjunction with Holmes and Narver these troops will verform military
construction consisting of cormmunications fucilitics, quarters, mess halls, and
utilities and tne improvement of iirbase facilities on Eniwetok Island,
Brig idier General Frederick B. Butler has been appointed commanding
general of these troops, General Butler’s force will be part of Joint Task Force,
THREE, which is commanded by Licutenant Genernl Elwood R. Quesada as previously announced,
Details cf proving ground operations are sub/ect to the security restrictions
of the Atomic Energy Act of 1946,
3
ks
,
—.
END
oy : i
hy
|
.
~
C pk 4
-3)
COLLECTION
«BOX No.
-
tho
REPOSITORY
oa
. 4
ae
FOLDER 082 Ctl. fe (n-/-7)
wo
a
Lk atte
ah tie +
“\t
Cae
ee ae
BEST COPYAVAILA3LE