ATTACHMENT 4



                                                   April 23, 1958
K.E. Fields, General Manager
(THRU) Brig. General Alfred D. Starbird
Director, Division of Miliary Application

C.L. Dunham, M.D.
Director, Division of Biology and Medicine

REDETERMINATION OF WHOLE BODY CONTAMINATION OF MARSHALLESE
NATIVES

SYMBOL:  BMM:HDB

As requested in General Luedecke's classified TWX of April 20 to
General Starbird (received April 21/0221Z), staff members of the
Division of Biology and Medicine, and of the Medical Department
of Brookhaven National Laboratory have re-evaluated the
advisability of resurveying the whole body contamination burdens
of the Marshallese Islanders during the month of May 1958.  It
was the consensus of all concerned that the promptest resurvey
possible would be in the best interests of the Commission, and
the Department of State, Interior and Defense.

In the event of any surface contamination of the atolls, a base
line value of the degree and type of internal contamination by
radioisotopes originating from the 1954 incident is almost
mandatory.  It should be possible to evaluate additional body
burdens picked up under such circumstances or alternatively to
prove that the present series has not added to the amount and
composition of their present contamination.

The possible changes induced in the environmental by a few shots
may well not have influenced the natives appreciably by the time
the resurvey can be made.  Alternatively, if beginning changes
are observed (based on memory of the original lost data), it may
turn out to be most important that they be detected and
evaluated.

The desirability of securing an extra year's scientific data for
the purposes of completing the cumulative radiation doses to
these natives is obviously desirable from a purely scientific
point of view, but the above considerations are believed to be
the overriding ones.

It is, therefore, requested that General Luedecke's assistance be
sought in accomplishing this resurvey along the lines suggested
in his TWX of April 20 or by any other way which will expedite
matters.

The teams, consisting of Dr. Robert Conard, Dr. James Robertson,
and Mr. Daniel Potter, can be at Eniwetok with their equipment by
May 7,

REPOSITORY     Washington National Records Center
COLLECTION     32681-6
BOX No.        Box 1
FOLDER
K.E. Fields                   -2-                 April 23, 1958

provided that (a) MATS will be able to transport them and their
equipment from the MATS New Jersey base all the way to Eniwetok;
and (b) information can be quickly secured as to the electric
power supply available on the assigned LCU; the electric
equipment operates on 115 volts A.C. and has accessory equipment
for converting from 240 volts D.C. to 115 volts A.C. with a
maximum power requirement of 5 kw.

If the equipment is shipped via commercial air freight, it must
go via Northwest Airlines who carry freight only when there is a
lack of passenger traffic.  Thus, it may be in order in any case
to request MATS transportation for the equipment and personnel so
as to be assured of arrival at the appointed times.

Dr. Conard has indicated that he and his group would be willing
to arrive at the earliest possible date, May 7, and so be ready
to move to Rongelap if and when any vessel may become available.

Your assistance in carrying out this mission will be greatly
appreciated.

CC:  A. Tammaro, GM
     R.A. Conard, BNL
     Lt. Commander I.V. King, USN
     Lt. Colonel S. Bach, AFSWP


OFFICE    BMM            DIREC. DBM
SURNAME   HDBruner:vl    CLDunham
DATE      4-23-58        4-23-58

Form AEC-318 (Rev. 9-53)      
U.S. Government Printing Office 16--62761-3