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of thanksgiving to God for their safe return to their native land.
The ship beached at 0900 hours that date.
First object to be seen
upon debarking was a huge canvas sign strung up between palm trees. In
Marshallese it proclaimed,
"GREETINGS, RONGELAP PEOPLE.
WE
i
HOPE THAT YOUR RETURN TO YOUR ATOLL IS A THING OF JOY AND
YOUR HEARTS ARE HAPPY,"
By evening the natives, their livestock,
and other personal possessions had been set ashore.
With the exception
of unloadingof materials at AILINGINAE, as previously noted, this marked
beeen
eed
Leb
Le
the completion of Phase IV of the repatriation of the RONGELAP people.
On 11 July the AEC Branch Chief, ENIWETOK, received the followinz
message from the High Commissioner, Trust Territories of the Pacific
Islands:
"Greatly pleased to learn successful completion AEC and Holmes &
Narver phase of Rongelap Repatriation Program.
Our heartiest
return of Rongelapese to their Island."
Vnenemmld
mmc
enema
«harmed
(ammo
Lamm)
thanks and congratulations to you and all those participating in the
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