197 
June 20, 1972 
Dear Solomon and New Hebrides Participant: 
The R/V Alpha Helix Is presently en route from Dutch Harbor, Alaska with 
arlval In Honolulu, Hawaii estimated for June 21. Members of the crew will be 
rotated from Honolulu, general maintenance will be carried out and the ship's 
laboratories will be set In readiness for the first human medical program In the 
Solomons. The supporting scientific equipment and supplies for your work will 
be secured essentially In a containerized van In the hold of the ship. 
It gives me particular pleasure to welcome your participation In the 
upcoming Alpha Helix Solomon and New Hebrides expeditionary program. The 
extensive preparations which have taken place should greatly facilitate your 
research work and significantly Increase Its scientific return. 
Walter Schneider will serve as resident technician throughout the Solomon 
and New Hebrides program. You will find him most knowledgeable about the 
scientific equipment and supplies as well as the supporting facilities of the 
ship. Mr. Schneider has primary responsibilities to the total research program 
of the Alpha Helix ; however, as time permits he will happily assist the ongoing 
scientific effort at the discretion of chief scientist Gajdusek. 
You will find enclosed the booklet, " Alpha Helix Research Program 1971". 
Please read It, noting especially the scientific responsibilities attending your 
participation as outlined on the last page. 
Paul Brown, a qualified medical doctor and your research associate to be, 
will function as the ship's physician during the Solomon and New Hebrides 
program. It Is necessary that you have completed the enclosed medical 
exmlnatlon form and return It to Wm. Orris, M.D. of the Scrlpps Institutions of 
Oceanography. A copy will remain at this Institution and the original will be 
available on the ship during your period of participation. Regretfully, we 
cannot reimburse you for any costs attending the medical examination. Perhaps 
you can obtain such an examination at your Institution at little or no cost to 
yourself . 
Recently a new policy has been adopted regarding the consumption of 
alcoholic beverages on vessels of the Scrlpps Institution of Oceanography. It 
permits the consumption of liquor and alcoholic drinks, by crew and scientific 
party alike, while the ship Is In port (Vila). But beer, and wine (with meals), 
are the only alcoholic beverages to be during the course of the research 
program. It Is planned that beer, for purchase, will be available on the ship. 
Your research program Is to begin on September 18 with the sailing of the 
Alpha Helix from Vila, New Hebrides. During the preceding week of September 11 
the ship will arrive In Vila, be refueled and have Its laboratories re-arranged 
for the support of your work. You should plan to come aboard anytime after 
September 13 for familiarization with the facility and for pre-program 
preparations. 
The research work will be carried out at a number of sites In the New 
Hebrides and the Solomons, with the Alpha Helix reaching Ponape on or about 22 
