Governments, Navy (IGN). ComMarianas, however, had novessel
that could be spared for such a task ** and DepHiComTerPacls considered the project inadvisable both because the estimated cost had not
been included in the 1948 or 1949 IGN appropriation and because,at
best, the survey would produce onlystatistics.* _DepHiComTerPacls
suggested as an alternative plan that the field trip ships be provided
with portable medical equipmentandthe survey be conducted gradually on regularly scheduledlogistic runs of these ships.” _HiComTerPacls disapproved this suggestion and, finally, on January 30, 1948,
CNOauthorized acceptance of the Army FS 391 for use as a medical
survey ship.” Funds for its conversion and minimalalteration were
authorized in February’ but before the necessary work was directed.”
the FS 395 was substituted for the FS 391 and redesignated the AG—141
(WHIDBEY). In April 1948 Commander Service Force Pacific
(ComServPac) allotted $150,000 for its conversion.”
In directing employmentof the ship CinCPacFlt/HiComTerPacls
stated:
The term, Health Survey, shall be understood to mean the collection of
statistics on the state of health and the incidence of disease among the inhabitants of the Trust Territory.
The term, Sanitation Survey, shal! be understood to mean the collection
of data on the Public Health practices of inhabited islands . . .
Emergency medical and dental care within the capacity of USS WHIDBEY
(AG-141) to provide shall be furnished the inhabitants of the Trust Territory. Scheduled itineraries of the survey ship shall not be changed for this
purpose, except when in the opinion of Commander Marianas emergency
measures, including diversion of the ship, are justified.
Routine medical and dental care of the inhabitants of the Trust Territory
is the responsibility of the Civil Administration and shall not be assumed
by the survey ship. Medical and dental personnel attached to WHIDBEY
may advise and assist Civil Administration personnel in these matters,
provided this service does not interfere with the primary mission of the
ship.
“CNO ltr ser 3300P 414.
"s Jt ltr ComMarianas ser 23269/DepHiComTerPacls ser 642.
DepHiComTerPacls ltr ser 88 dtd 16 Jan 48.
° Ibid.
~CNO msg of 3u Jan 48.
: CNOItrs ser 360P.414 dtd 20 Feb 48 and ser 2038P28 dtd 26 Feb 48.
wy ciCPacFit msg ot 25 Apr 48.
x ComServPac msg of 26 Apr 48.
Jt ler CinCPacFlr ser 2835 HiComTerPacls ser 1972 dtd 23 Jun 4h.
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