Editors Note: Here's another Atoll Tale from Cliff Brooks. Good reading for all Wetokers.

From: DDunlap2@aol.com
To: hrw@dcr.net
Subject: Fwd: Stingray Hunt
Date: Monday, June 21, 1999

Harold,
This guy wasn't "Ivy" but he sure brings back the memories. Dick Dunlap

Date: Mon, 21 Jun 1999
From: Cliff Brooks cbrooks@gvtc.com
To: Dick Dunlap ddunlap2@AOL.com
Subject: Stingray Hunt

Hi Dick,

Really enjoyed reading about your stingray escapades. You mentioned stingrays and I kept thinking Manta rays because that was all I ever got to see out there. There was a small cove on the south end of the island where Manta's were almost always in there except when we drove them out diving down over them while they were feeding on the bottom. Myself and 3 other guys that I hung out with would try and trap them in there but those things could escape over the coral rock in about a foot of water and make it to the ocean. So graceful when they were just going along the bottom feeding, but believe me, a few hard thrusts with those wing like fins and they could really boogie. What a blast they were.

Don't recall if I mentioned this to you or not but remember how we used to get a supply ship in about once a month ? Well, a few of us thought we would rig up a line to try and catch one of the sharks that always followed those ships for the garbage so we rigged up a cable spool down on the garbage pier and put some heavy rope (about 1" diameter) and a wooden float on it and threw it out while a supply ship was there with a big hunk of meat on it and sure enough we caught an 11 1/2 foot shark. What a thrill. I took a 3,000 lb. forklift down there from the warehouse and hoisted it up so everyone could see it real good. Kept it down there until it started to smell and then put it back in the ocean. Only shark I have ever seen close up that I could examine. That thing had a double row of teeth, top and bottom, and I mean to tell you, it was wicked looking. I don't think you would have went in to save someone from that on your lifeguard duties.

How many guys were on the "rock" when you were out there Dick ? There were about 320 while I was there. Of course, we had guys rotating all the time but that was about average. It was all Army and Air Force on the rock along with some AEC personnel and a few guys from Scripps Institute out of California. Scripps furnished all our diving equipment so I thought they were pretty good guys. That is how I managed to go down to that Japanese sub that was out in the lagoon. Of course, we weren't supposed to do that but it was just to inviting. Just like the freighter over at Japtan. We were told to not go on it, but, oh well, you know how young people are. HaHa

Boy, am I reliving some old times corresponding with you. For the last month I have been trying to find the 3 guys that shipped over there with me but haven't had any luck locating any of them. I knew where they all lived while we were in the service together but sure can't find any trace of them now. I have just about exhausted all leads at this point but haven't given up completely yet. Wanted to let them know about the web site and see how they were doing. Have you found any of the guys that were there while you were there ? It sure would be good to come up with some of them.

Well Dick, will close for now. Keep the memories coming, I really enjoy hearing from you. Take Care.

Cliff Brooks
Operation Redwing 1956

Email: cbrooks@gvtc.com

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