TO THE OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE 53RD.
NAVAL CONSTRUCTION BATTALION
We arrived at Bikini Atoll as a composite battalion of stevedores, pontoon builders and construction men with the assigned mission of accomplishing all required shore construction here for the Crossroads Project. Though advance information was meager and planning had been hurried, you quickly overcame all the resulting difficulties by your energy and perseverance in prosecuting construction work and soon reduced the problem to one of completing facilities as fast as information and materials were received.
Each one of you has contributed a big share to the success of the Crossroads Experiment, and I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your hard work, splendid support, and dogged determination to get the Job done quickly.
I also want to express my appreciation for the support afforded us by the "floating navy", whose help in providing survey informatlon, quarters, supplies, and many other things have made our task easier.
I am proud of you and what you have accomplished and hope this simple record of our Crossroads work will afford you many pleasant hours of reminiscing in the future about your part as a member of the 53rd Battalion in the hlstory-making atomic bomb experiments in which the Battalion is participating. Let us all hope that from these experiments the world will learn a lesson in human behavior that will ensure our peace and prosperity to the years to come.
J.D. BURKY
Commander-CEC-USN
