(04 Jan. 87) The Soviets have stepped up activity around Kwajalein Atoll lately, including surface ships and submarines. Flying south along the west reef, I spotted the Soviet spy ship Brand X about two miles off the atoll. It was anchored between Carlson Island and the western end of Kwajalein Island with its bow facing the communication building on Kwaj. We have been advised to be careful in our phone conversations. Our land lines are supposed to be changed to optic fibers but I don’t think the job has been completed. Anyway, they can hear our conversations person to person from several miles at sea with a “bionic ear.”
(09 Jan. 87) I observed Brand X cruising by the country club at 1600 hours and got a photo but it was several miles away so the details won’t be there. We have several missile tests over the next month or so, depending on the weather.
(10 Jan. 87) The Army believes the Soviets may have put some men or devices on some of the uninhabited islands around the atoll. To counter this, a contingent of our force will make a sweep of twelve suspect islands. The mission will take about two weeks to complete.
(13 Jan. 87) The security sweep began early in the morning. That night we were getting reports that an electronic device had been discovered on the reef during low tide. I couldn’t get the exact location but I think it must be on one of the two heavily forested islands south of Illeginni, the target island which will no doubt be hit on some of the tests. Otherwise the RVs (warheads) will end up in the lagoon. The search team is transported by a converted Miami drug runner, towing an inflatable landing craft.
(14 Jan. 87) One of the officers showed me a Polaroid of a beige metal box that was found secured to the reef on the lagoon side of the island. Its dimensions are about ten inches by eight inches and has the letters CCCP on one side. It stands for the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
Meanwhile, the team leader and the others were being debriefed by the Army. The Army estimated that the device was placed there in the last three weeks by Soviet Spetsnaz troops who were camped on one of the islands. This might get interesting.
Filed under: Almost Paradise Volume 2
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