253 
R/V Melville 
At sea 
University of California, San Diego 
Scripps Institution of Oceanography 
Marine Facilities Division P-005 
La Jolla, California 92093 
14 April 1976 
D. Carleton Gajdusek, M.D. 
Chief, Chronic Disease Studies Section 
National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke 
National Institute of Health 
Bethesda, Maryland 20014 
Dear Dr. Gajdusek: 
To you who accomplishes such prodigious and valuable amounts of work with 
such awesome energy it would seem totally unreasonable that a letter could be 
years late; yet this is the letter and I am the delinquent. 
Ever since the South Pacific expedition in the Helix I have wanted you to 
know how much I enjoyed working with you and your staff. I am as sure now as I 
was then that it was the most pleasant and rewarding experience of my twenty 
years with the Institution. I was profoundly impressed with your dedication, 
energy and unquenchable enthusiasm. There were times when I felt I might be 
pushing a bit too hard, but the clock was running and I knew how much you wanted 
to do in such a short time. We just had to keep moving and cut corners wherever 
we could. I hope it was a help and not an irritation. I was very appreciative 
of your concern about my abscessed tooth and your generous suggestion that we go 
to Honiara prematurely just for that. I wouldn't have accepted if the tooth had 
come out of the top of my head (and it almost did). The dentist in Honiara 
drilled a relief hole and later a root canal was done so it was saved. 
I have had the Melville since then so the Helix is just a pleasant memory. 
The Melville is more demanding and a different side of our work but I enjoy it 
too and we can't be everywhere at once. We are now at sea and will return on 
the 21st, leave again on the 27th and return late in Sept. So you see why I 
must get these few words to you before any more time goes by. 
I was saddened to learn that Dr. Damon had passed on. He must have felt 
pretty bad while in the Helix . I have also often wondered about the 
pediatrician (an Aussie I believe) we took in to Honiara one night with severe 
abdominal or stomach pain. He was a fine fellow and really hurting. As I recall 
he was on the staff of a hospital in Port Moresby or near there. 
I want to thank you also for your kind comments about the Helix cruise in a 
letter to Dr. Nierenberg. It is wonderful (and important) to know that what 
little we contributed was so well received. We are most appreciative. 
Please give my best to those of your Helix group that you may see from time 
to time. I hope this finds you in the best of health. 
Warmest regards 
Capt. Alan W. Phinney 
