Lehner, Philip N., 1964-1965
Page 103
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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.