Editors Note: Dunlap has received some nice e-mail from his writing. Cliff has written a couple of interesting things about later happenings on our rock. Here is one that brings back some memories.

From: DDunlap2@aol.com
To: hrw@dcr.net
Subject: Fwd: Japtan
Date: Monday, June 14, 1999

Harold,

Thought you might find this one interesting. Cliff was at Redwing in '56 & '57. This is the first time I heard about the dogs being gone. It's kind of disturbing and sad.

Dick Dunlap

Date: Sun, 13 Jun 1999
From: Cliff Brooks cbrooks@gvtc.com
To: DDunlap2@aol.com
Subject: Japtan

Hi again Dick,

Just read with great interest your article on the freighter that ran aground over on Japtan. Just have to tell you my story about that freighter.

I spent a two week stretch over on Japtan at one time while I was out there and myself and another guy decided to go out on that ship. At the time that we went, the tide was out and we were able to climb up inside from the huge hole in the bow where it had run aground. We were able to climb up inside on the steel rungs that were on the inside and made it all the way to the top deck. At the time that we were there, there were fire hoses strung out all over the decks and no sign of any fire so I guess they had just done that as a precaution when they ran aground or maybe someone had done it that was on there before we were.

Anyway, we fooled with the guns and looked everything over and without realizing it, had spent about 4 or 5 hours on there and the tide had come in while we were fooling around. We couldn't get back off the ship the way that we had climbed up through the bow because of the tremendous rush of water coming in from the tide. Panic set in because we had to get off or we were sure to get in some serious trouble because everyone had been told to stay off that ship.

We ended up stringing some firehoses over the side and dropped into the ocean and swam back to shore to get off. Seems like we had to drop about 30-50 feet into the water but it was the only way we could get off. What an experience, and yes, I will remember that the rest of my life. Thanks for writing the article, that certainly brought back a memory.

P.S. Remember the giant lizards on Japtan and their trails thru the jungle ? Had quite an experience with them also, I will tell you about another time. Also, wanted to let you know, that there were no dogs on Eniwetok when I was out there. I had heard about them and was told they originally had them out there for the tests but had to get rid of them because of other problems, so the "rock commander" ordered them removed from the atoll.

Cliff Brooks
Operation Redwing 1956

Email: cbrooks@gvtc.com

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