b , KARSHALL ISLANDS CHRONOLOGY - ERRATUM SHEET Page 12. column 1 and 2. “1955 - March 9 United Xations. .‘I and “May Enewetak . .” This should read. L956 - IMarch 9 United Nations..,“and IMay Enewetak .--*‘ Marshal ACHRONOLOGY: 1944-1981 LISRARY - ~ASHINCTGN, D.C. 2054-5 MICRONESIA SUPPORT COMlITTEE Honolulu, Hawalt F- ‘ifm ti R.EAD TICS ~RO?OLOGY: Weapons Testim--even numbered left hand pages 4-34; destruction of island home- Lands and radioactive wntamination of people, land and food sources. Resettlement of People--odd numbered right hand pages 5-39; the struggle to survive in exile. There is some necessary overlap for clarity; a list of sources used concludes the Chronology on pages 36 and 38. BIKINI ATOLL IN 1946, PRIOR TO THE START OF THE NUCLEAR TESTS. 1st edition publishe'dJuly 1978 2nd edition published August 1981 “?aRTlEGooDoFM ANKlND..~ Marshall Islands people have borne the brunt of U.S. military activity in Micronesia, from nuclear weapons experiments and missile testing to relocations of people and radio- active contamination of people and their environment. All, as an American military com- mder said of the Bikini teats, “for the good of mankind and to end all world wars.” Of eleven United Nations Trusteeships created after World War II, only Micronesia was designated a “strategic” trust, reflecting its military importance to the United States. Ihe U.N. agreement haa allowed the U.S. to use the islands for military purposes, while binding the U.S. to advance the well being of the people of Micronesia. Western nuclear powers have looked on the Pacific, because of its small isolated popu- lations, aa an “ideal” location to conduct nuclear activities unwanted In their own countries. In addition to Bikini and Enewetak, the U.S. has tested nuclear weapons at Johnston and Christmas Islands; the British at Christmas Island and In Australia; and the French con- tinue to test at Moruroa and Fangataufa Atolls in “French” Polynesia. More than 180 atomic and hydrogen bombs have been detonated in the Pacific region since 1946; over 100 by the United States. The health and safety of people, be they Marshallese or American citizens and military personnel, has been a very low priority in the U.S. government’s nuclear testing program. As Commissioner Libby of the Atomic Energy Commission said in 1953: “People have got to learn to live with the facts of life, and part of the facts of life are fallout.” The Marshall Islands Chronology tells the story of U.S. military activities In the Marshall Islands and their effect on Marshallese peoples’ lives and environment. It is a story that has remained untold for too long. ******** TABLE OF m WEAPONSTESTING RESETTLEMENTOF PEOPLE )peration CROSSROADSbegins at Bikini 4 Bikinians’ First Relocation, 1946 5 Bravo H-bomb test at Bikini, 1954 6 Enewetak People Moved to Ujelang, 1947 9 tidioactive Fallout Contaminates People 8 Kwaj alein Landowners Evacuated for Tests 13 ?ongelapese Return Home, 1957 12 Crisis on Ujelang 17 Kwajalein Missile Tests Begin 16 Bikini Declared Safe for Habitation 19 Inadequate Medical Treatment Protested 22 Enewetak Cleanup Planned 23 Enewetakese Force Cancellation of Tests 24 Ebeye: A Biological “Time Bomb” 27 Study Shows Unexpected Cancer Increase 26 Bikini Resettlement Attempt Fails 31 Marshallese Health problems Worsen 32 Kwajalein People Occupy Islands 33 Sources 36 Bikini, A Nuclear Waste Bump? 37 3 1945 AUGUST 6 Japan: The U.S. drops a 13 kiloton atomic bomb on Hiroshima city, killing approximately 100,000 people. Three days later a second atomic bomb is dropped on Nagasaki city, killing approximately 70,000 people. NOVEMBER Washington: American military and political leaders begin planning nuclear experiments for further devel- opment of nuclear weapons. Two tests, . code named Operation CROSSROADS, are planned to demonstrate the effects of 947 DECEMBER Enewetak: The Navy atomic explosions on naval vessels. A decides that Enewetak Atoll will be search is begun for an appropriate used for a second series of nuclear ex- : testing site. periments. I 8 1946 : JANUARY Washington: Navy offi- 1948 APRIL Enewetak: Operation SAND- cials in Washington, D.C. announce that STONE begins and includes three atomic I Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands blasts ranging in strength from 18 && fulfills all climatic, geographical and 49 kilotons, detonated from towers: X- other requirements for Operation CROSS- Ray (April 151, Yoke (May 1) and Zebra ROADS (4',500miles away from the U.S.; WY 15). i. lc- L a small population of 167; a protected -s-s*. anchorage; and under the control of the U.S.). 1951 APRIL Enewetak: Operation JULY Bikir.i:Operation CROSSROADS be- GREENHOUSE begins. This series in- gins and includes two atomic bomb cludes four atomic tests exploded on blasts, Able (July l), an air drop, and towers: Dog (April 8), Easy (April 211, Baker (July 25), an underwater test. George (May 9) and Item (May 25). Easy These bombs 3re about the size of the test is 47 kilotons; information on the atomic bor.3dropped on N(agasaki,Japan. others remains classified. Approsi- About 42,030 military men and scien- mately 3,200 military men participate tists participate in this test series.. in this series. 1947 JULY The Marshall Islands, along with the Caroline and Mariana Islands, formerly under a League of Nations Mandate to the Japanese, become the United Nations Trust Territory of the Pacific, administered by the United States. "Ships remaineq-in the lagoon 1952 NOVEMBER Enewetak: Operation during de'anation and fallout pe- IVY begins. It includes the first riods ad were subjected to mn- thermonuclear (hydrogen) device test, siderabie fallout (during Opera- Mike (November 11, estimated at 10.4 tion Greenhouse)." megatons (750 times greater than rbe Studies of Participants in Nu- Hiroshima bomb). King (November i6) is clear Tests, National Academy described as a "high yield" 500 kiloton of Sciences, September 1980. (continued on page 6)‘ Excerpt from the United Nations and housed by the U.S.Navy on Aomon and Trusteeship Agreement for the Bijire Islads in Enewetak Atoll. United States Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands: 1946 JANUARY Bikini: Washington, D.C. Rrticle 6--"In discharging its ob- officials select Bikini Atoll for the ligations under Article 76(b) of first series of nuclear bomb tests and the Charter, the administering au- its population of 167 must be moved thority (U.S.) shall: immediately. 2. promote the economic advance- ment and self-sufficiencyof the FEBRUARY Bikini: One month after the inhabitants, and to this end shall decision was made in Washington, D.C. regulate the use of the natural to use Bikini Atoll for nuclear'experi- resources; encourage the develop- ments, the military governor of the ment of fisheries, agriculture, Marshalls obtains the consent of Biki- and industries; protect the inha- ni's paramount chief for the relocation bitants against the loss of their of his people. The American military lands and resources; and improve governor informs the Bikinians that the the means of transportation and scientists are experimentingwith communication; nuclear bombs ti. ..for the good of man- 3. promote the social advance- kind and to end all world wars." The ment of the inhabitants, and to Bikinians, with no alternative, agree this end shall protect the rights to leave their home. and fundamental freedoms of all elements of the population without discrimination;protect the health of the inhabitants..." 1944 FEBRUARY Enewetak: United States forces attack and overcome major Japan- ese fortificationson Enewetak Atoll after heavy pre-invasion bombardment in which some Marshallese are killed. FEBRUARY Kwajalein: U.S. forces capture Kwajalein Atoll from the Japanese after heavy fighting. Americans recruit Mar- THE TRUST TERRITORY OF THE PACIFI shallese to remove battle debris and ISLANDS (MICRONESIA) COVERS A LA1 build warehouses, air strips, air craft AND OCEAN AREA OF THREE MILLION hangers and other military facilities SQUARE MILES. on Kwajalein Island. Families join Marshallese workers at Kwajalein labor camp. MARCH Bikini: As the Bikinians prepare to leave, approximately 250 naval ships Kwajalein: The world's largest atoll is 150 aircraft for observation and trans- made up of approximately 93 tiny coral port and thousands of military and sci- islands that encircle an 839 square entific personnel begin arriving for mile ocean lagoon. Total land area of Operation CROSSROADS. 93 islands is only 6.64 square miles. MARCH Bikini: Because the Americans sai 1945 Enewetak: The Americans build a that Bikini would be returned to its runway, barracks, warehouses and other people at the conclusion of the tests, base facilities to carm on the Pacific the Blkinians believe their move ie war. The Enewetak people are fed,clothed (continuedon page 7) 1.: ‘Bjlmllmmlmlmmlm WEAPONS TESTING nmmmmmmmmmmmmm~ 19'52continued : atomic test. The Mike blast vaporizes Elugelab Island leaving a crater one mile in diameter and 175 feet deep in : I the coral reef. : NOVEMBER 16 Enewetak: Ujelang Atoll, 150 miles southwest of "ground zero" is : contaminated with radioactive fallout from the 500 kiloton King test. : m "Prior to ...and for weeks lead- ing up to the blast the prevailing : upper level teughs indicated that wind was blowing to the vicinity : of our island." U.S. MILITARY COMMANDERS ARRIVE IN Gene Curbow, HQ Weather Report- FEBRUARY 1946 TO TELL THE BIKINIANSI : ing Element, iU.S.Air Force) on THEY MUST LEAVE TREIR ATOLL TO MAKE 1 Rongerik Atoll, 1954. WAY FOR THE NUCLEAR TESTS. : : I 1954 at Bikini and Enewetak lasting through : JANUARY Rongerik: 25 Air Force May. The series includes Bravo, a*Q- and 3 Army men arrive on Rongerik Atoll, megaton hydrogen bomb blast, and five 125 miles east of Bikini, to set up a other tests. Koon test (April 7) is z weather monitoring station in prepara- listed at 110 kilotons; information on tion for Operation CASTLE.