We enjoyed a brief respite this month as we were fortunate to visit the islands of Roi-Namur with some of our Kwaj friends. We didn't leave the Kwajalein atoll, but we did get to FLY in an airplane! That's the first time we have been above sea level in almost two years, and gone faster than 10 mph! Crazy, I know! Roi-Namur is part of the Kwajalein Army Base, so the only way to get there is with the Army's permission. Our friend, Chris, was kind enough to sponsor us for the weekend and the Sok family rounded out our little group.
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| Waiting to board in the Kwaj terminal with Sarah, Alison, and Megan. |
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| getting ready for the plane to take off, with Chris |
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| a shot of our 18-seater plane with Sarah, Megan and Alison! |
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| Up,Up and away we go! |
Here's a little background info for those of you who have never heard of this place.
Roi-Namur is an island in the north part of the Kwajalein atoll in the Marshall Islands. Germany annexed the Marshall Islands in 1885 but did not put government
officials on the islands until 1906, leaving island affairs to a group
of powerful German trading companies. Japan took over in 1914 and
colonized the Marshalls extensively, developing and fortifying large
bases on many of the islands.
Roi-Namur was the target of the U.S. 4th Marine Division in the bloody Battle of Kwajalein, in February 1944. During the Japanese occupation, the two islands (Roi to the west
and Namur to the east
) were connected by a narrow neck of land and causeway. After the American occupation, US Navy SeaBees filled the area between the islands; the two islands, now joined, are presently called Roi-Namur with a total area of about
one square mile.
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| 20 minutes later and here we are on Roi! |
It is home to about 120 American and Marshallese employees of the Reagan Test Site. The airport has one runway for small planes that commute from Kwajalein bringing additional workers (and visitors, like us!). Additional Marshallese daytime workers come via ferry from the island of Enniburr.
The Roi side is the main housing area, with the retail and recreation
facilities. Activities on Roi-Namur range from a nine-hole golf course,
saltwater swimming pool, scuba club, movie theater, volleyball, and
basketball court.
We primarily took advantage of the swimming pool and the great snorkeling! We enjoyed walks along the beaches and the coral reef. We were mesmerized and enthralled by schools of baby black-fin sharks (can I say awesome?), eels, rays and countless beautiful saltwater fish and other sea life. And we enjoyed the peacefulness and beauty of the island. A 5-star island in my book!
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| We rented carts to navigate around the island. |
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| Tunnel road |
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| Eating cafeteria style where they feed the workers |
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| yum, blueberry ice cream! |
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| We held LDS Sacrament Meeting services under the trees on Sunday for nine of us (those pictured and the one taking the picture!). We had three Priesthood holders in attendance, so they were able to administer the sacrament. Such a beautiful and peaceful setting to partake of the Sacrament and feel of the Holy Spirit! President Sok gave an inspirational message based on King Benjamin's address to his people. |
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| lagoon side |
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| the pool |
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| enjoying a friendly baggo game at the pool side |
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| such beauty! |
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| so green and peaceful! |
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| great form, Mike! |
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| returning from walking the beach |
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| Is he going to jump in? |
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| The corkscrew tree. In the background you can see the housing units where we stayed for a bargain $20 a night. |
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| Some of the radar tracking equipment |
There is a small launch facility on Roi-Namur. Rockets
launched here are usually sounding rockets that ascend beyond the
atmosphere but have short ranges. The Namur side is home to several radar tracking stations. It was cool to see the big satellite dishes suddenly move as they started tracking something way up there in the atmosphere.
And, lastly, we took in a piece of history as we visited in some of the crumbling WWII
remnants of Japanese blockhouses, guns, and pillboxes around Roi-Namur. We were schooled on the invasion of Roi-Namur, part of operation Flintlock, as we visited some of the national landmarks on the battlefield tour. The Marshall islands held great importance to the American supply lines to the territories in Guam and the Philippines. I did not realize the importance the pacific theater played in the battles of WWII before moving here, and the devastation left behind at the end of those battles. It is very sobering to read the stories and see the sites where so many gallant and brave men fought to fight our freedoms. Such bravery is seldom seen today. There were four medal of honor recipients from the battle of Roi-Namur alone.
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| A marine threw a satchel charge inside a structure. Unknown to the Marines, it was filled with high explosives, resulting in an explosion that threw debris hundreds of feet (pictured) |
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| Out in the rain! You can see some of the rebar. |
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| large guns that were recovered out of the lagoon |
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| Stop #9! |
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| The concrete is so thick and has lasted amazingly well because the Japanese created a salt-water formula for the concrete. The US tried to copy the formula, but was not successful. The formula was eventually lost by the Japanese. |
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| if you look real close you can see Japanese writing on the back wall, on the left by the pillar |
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| Air raid shelter |
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| one of the pillboxes along the ocean |
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| Japanese air operations command building |
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| the best remaining example of one of the guns |
Good bye Roi-Namur! We had a wonderful time! Rain and all!
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| loading up |
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| taking off in the wind and raid |
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| Saying good bye to Roi-Namur outside the terminal |
