OPERATION CROSSROADS
53RD. NAVAL CONSTRUCTION BATTALION
BIKINI ATOLL, MARSHALL ISLANDS
6 MAY,1946
On the morning of March 6th, the 53rd Battallon boarded the USS Randall (APA-224) and departed from Guam, bound for Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands. The Battalion arrived at Blkini on March 13th, thereupon the men and supplies were transferred to the USS St. Croix (APA 231), which became Battallon Headquarters.
Work began immediately, since these Seabees were determined to carry on the well established "Can Do" attitude of their predecessors. More men and supplies were sent from Pearl Harbor and Port Hueneme. Heavy equipment including bulldozers, trucks, cranes, and DUKW's were brought in by LST's, the first of which arrived March 14th, Stovedores and Pontoon men worked rapidly and dilligently for they knew that the supplies and equipment were needed ashore in order that the construction men could begin work.
The task was extremely difficult as it had to be accomplished on nine of the thirty islands comprising the atoll, all of which islands are separated by many miles of water. Those islands are: Rokar, Enyu, Eman, Erik, Cherry, Namu, Yuro, Amen, and the main one, Bikini. Demolition crews worked untiringly to remove obstructions such as coralheads, thus enabling the LST's and small craft to land on the beaches. On shore, black, sandy soil made transportation rather tedious with its ever-present tendency to be churned into choking dust clouds. Hordes of flies hindered the workers until DDT was repeatedly sprayed over the land by low-flying planes.
Ninety-foot steel towers and protected steel huts were the main construction assignments. The towers were built to house instruments for the purpose of recording the action and results of the atom bomb. Another job for the Seabees was to build recreational facilities for nearly 35,000 men who will be stationed here prior to the dropping of the first bomb. Included in the recreation project were ball diamonds, concrete basketball and volleyball courts, and an archery range.
The original date for the initial test was May 15th. This was later changed to July 1st. In spite of this delay the 53rd Battalion adhered as much as was possible to its original constructlon schedule.
The officers and men or the 53rd Battalion were well on their way to the completion of their task as this was written. When the atomic bomb is dropped the "53rd" can be justly proud of its part in the success of Operation Crossroads.