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whee len ate
Perr es eetenn etyTeeny
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Tt was felt by Keith Coberly and the Chicf Engineer, Monroe Wrightwman, that the
severe pounding and vibration that the ship was taking would be wuch improved by
allernate tacks.
his proved to be the case.
steaming time from Rongelap to Utirik.
Hovever, it greatly prolonged the
It appeared for a number of hours that
yo would be unable to reach the Utirtk pass during daylight: and would have tu
remain of f Utirik duriug Che night.
However, by skillful seamanship they reached
the pass while the sun was still high cnough to make a safe entry.
We then
steamed across the lageon and were greeted by the officials of Utirik.,
again relrbleved two ofl drum rafts Jeft there from previous visits.
The ship
One was placed
under the accomuodattun Ladder, the other wag secured at the vaterline ashore.
However, because of the preaduvl shelving of the beach and the heleht of the tida,
the single
raft ashore was partially effective dm achieving easy access to the
whalcboats by the patients golug to the ship.
the boats and climb over the pumnets.
Im many cases they bad te wade to
i would strongly recomaend that tyvo or three
extensions to this platform be Pabxicated and that spuds be driven iuto the hottom
to stabilize these floats so that we have an adequate Floating dock for, future
operations.
The medical work at Ubtirik wot extremely well.
The people were very friendly
and cooperative and we were invited to two banquets given by the people.
departed from Utdrik on 4 October in the iid-afternuoon.,
The ship
Tn the process of exiting
the harbor, the ship seraped the bottom dightly but proceeded on through the pass.
dimediately thereafter Monroe Wriphtman and Jan Kosetian put on diving gear and
dngspecled the bettom carefully to ensure that no damage had been done.
No evidence
of grounding was noted and the ship continued on course, arriving in Kwajalein
early in the morning of 5 October.