=8her,
After the child was delivered, the grandmother took charge of the baby
until she became seasick,
Both of the physicians who delivered the baby had
previously become seasick and at this point in time, I suggested to Mr. Brown
that the ship alter course since we were running downwind in a quartering sea,
to head for Roi Namur.
This course change would have put us on a course
almost dead ahead of the wind and given both the patients and the medical team
a much smoother ride.
in course was ordered.
ship's crew.
Mr. Brown apparently considered the idea but no change
I don't know if any recommendation was passed to the
Thereafter, the ship followed the longest approach route to
Kwajalein, estimated to be 4 hours longer than entry. through Bigej channel pass.
One of the most distressing problems concerning the administrative/public
relations aspect of this survey occurred during our stay at Rongelap.
For
some unexplained reason, the ship carried a cannon; a close replica of the old
boarding cannons used on sailing ships to protect the gangway.
mounted just forward of the gangway on the starboard side.
The cannon was
On February 6th,
1979, sometime after 2100, the cannon was fired twice (I understand with a half
pound of black powder).
The cannon,
I was informed, was loaded with "toilet
paper and tin foil” and was fired aft.
Since the starboard side of the ship
was parallel with the shore, the flash must have been directed towards some part
of the island.
I was asleep in hold #2 at the time and didn't perceive the
noise as a cannon shot.
On February 7th, 1979, the cannon was fired once, again
after 2100, with the same load.
However, on this occasion, immediately after
the boom, a seven year old child on Rongelap cried out and stated that he was
struck by a projectile from the cannon.
(Please see enclosure 2.)
that he continued to cry for some time.
Again, I was below deck and asleep and
was unaware of what was going on.
The boy's father was very upset that the
Department of Energy's ship would injure his son.
8096 [93
I understand
When I was informed of this