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MOVING DAY, BIKINI TO RONSERIK. On 



March 7, 1946, the population of Bikini was moved 

 to Rongerik in LST 1108, a total of 161 persons 

 making the trip. Rongerik had been the first choice 

 of nine of the eleven family heads, called alaps, 

 as the new home for the evacuees. The island is 

 roughly triangular in shape with good topsoil and 

 relatively heavy growth of coconuts, pandanus, 



breadfruit, and arrowroot. Beaching facilities were 

 good. The Bikini church and community house 

 were dismantled and transported to Rongerik. 

 Pandanus thatching for the new village on Ron- 

 gerik was prefabricated. OPPOSITE. Seabees and 

 Marshallese at work installing temporary canvas 

 roofs on the new houses. Later, thatch replaced 

 the canvas. 



