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Transcription
Lehner P.
1964
102
Oct. 30 - continued
on Cagan, the ninth island south along
the east reef from Roi-Namur; Mr. Hitchcock
then took on a tour of the island - we
pointed out birds and he pointed out old
Japanese bunkers and gun placements; two
points of interest about the Japanese occupation
and following invasion: we saw British artillery
which had been taken at Singapore and brought
to Roi-Namur and used - only recently residents
skindiving over a Japanese wreck offshore recovered live
shells in watertight containers that had been made
for the guns; previous to the U.S. invasion the
islands of Roi and Namur were separated by
submerged reef - after the invasion there were
5000 dead Japanese to bury - this was accomplished
by mixing them in with the dredgings used in
building a causeway connecting the two islands -
in actuality the causeway is also a Japanese
grave yard; we saw the following bird species during
our stay on the island: Golden Plover, Ruddy Turnstone,
Bristle-thighed Curlew, Wandering Fattler, & Godwits (sp?),
another unknown species of Curlew, Crested Tern, Hawaiian
Noddy, mottled and black phases of Reef Heron, Great
Frigatebird, Red-footed Boobies and an unknown species
of duck; we returned to Kwajalein on the 4:40
flight arriving at 5:05; just before sunset George
and I set out the Sherman traps around the
buildings north of the runway; the rest of the
evening was spent at Ocean View Club.