‘on board requested imperative they have frequencies of USS Estes, They
were unable to contact on 126.18 Navy 1902 queried should Rongerik be evacuated at once, Navy 1902 then requested PBH for evacuation and stated
they were going in to pick up eight (8) persons. Chrestenson advised that
readings at one inch 3.2 r. Navy 1902 landed 1349M, $ people have been
evaciated. Twenty people still to be evacuated. Chrestenson insists
remaining personnel must be evacuated immediately. Hughes sends,"
i, On the basis of the above TWX Crosby and Houghton ordered
immediate evacuation and a TWX was sent to Commander , Naval Air Station,
Kwajalein at 1445, D41, requesting their assistance in the removal of
personnel from Rongerik as soon as possible.
j.
Chrestensen arrived at Kwajalein with the eight (8) evacuees
at about 1400 and the last 20 evacuees arrived about 1900, 2 March.
Shortly after arrival, Chrestenson sent via JIF SEVEN LNO, Kwajalein, to
CTG 7.4, info to JIF SEVEN, the following message: "Suggest immediate
survey of inhabited islands of Rongelap., High possibility exists that
imediate steps must be taken to evacuate natives, Signed Chrestenson,"
k. Upon their arrival to Kwajalein, the evacuees were decontam
inated and placed under care of the Station Medical
“2
1 Inel:
Msg list.
~ eG
RL H. HOU
GHTON
a Colonel, USAF (i)
Technical Advisor to the
Commander
s
ec:
ec:
Col Houghton
Col Crosby
Declassified
DOD DIR 5200.10
Declassified
DOD DIR 5200.19