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This certainly marks my most exciting trip to Wake! We had only been on the island a few days when fellow meteorologists back on Kwajalein informed us about a small hurricane that had formed off the southern coast of Hawaii. We never would've guessed that we'd be evacuated 7 days later!

I've also posted a small collection of photographs I took while SCUBA diving on this trip.

This shows the placement of "downtown" (cafeteria, bar, bowling ally, barracks, etc.), the terminal building, and the marina. For a sense of perspective, the terminal is 2.5 miles from "downtown" and 3 miles from the marina.
Map of the Atoll
The American flag is proudly flown over the terminal building. Note the new surface on the aircraft parking area.
American Flag
Chester and Clint walk out of a WWII bunker
WWII Bunker
"Serenity now!"
Serenity Now!
Don't forget to take your hat off before walking into Drifter's Reef!
"He who enters covered here..."
Notice all the ceiling tiles...
Drifter's Reef
Free billiards
Free Billiards
These are just some of the stickers that adorn the front doors of the bar.
May Stickers
This is the marina
Marina
This is the Wake Island NOAA tide station.
NOAA Tide Station
This channel links the marina to the ocean.
Channel
Dive Shack
Dive Shack
Low tide
Low Tide
Low tide
Low Tide
I found three eel carcasses near what was left of this bird. I believe this fits the definition of "GNARLY"!
GNARLY!
This WWII pill box seems to be a popular perch for these white-capped noddy terns.
WWII Pill Box
One of the goals of the housekeeping trip was to setup and test the weather RADAR. Here's Scott Swiestal helping us lift the dish and pedestal onto the roof.
Weather RADAR
One of the goals of the housekeeping trip was to setup and test the weather radar. Here the dish and pedestal are being lifted onto the roof.
Weather RADAR
Self portrait
Self Portrait
The Thais really like their karaoke!
Karaoke
Karaoke and a bubble machine on Wake Island: who needs anything else? Oh, right, don't forget the beer!
Karaoke, Dancing, and Bubbles
Sunset with the airfield windsock in the foreground (Hane's certified)
Wind Sock
This is the inside of the cafeteria
Cafeteria
Chester is served a plate of spaghetti
Spaghetti
The library is rather extensive, especially for a community of this size. The power had been turned off before this photograph was taken due to the evacuation.
Library
This monument is dedicated to the gallant defenders of Wake Atoll, 8 Dec - 23 Dec 1941. Close-up views of the plaques found on the four sides of the monument are provided below.
WWII Marine Corps Monument
The plaques on this memorial state: "May the souls of the war dead repose in peace. Transocean Air Lines Japan Air Lines Co., Ltd. Wake Island War Monument Reconstruction Association September 20, 1957 May peace prevail on the waters of the pacific forever."
War Monument
Clint drives through a flock of pigeons
Flock of Pigeons
CNN: The Coconut News Network
Coconut News Network
Preparing sandbags
Preparing Sandbags
The metal boat is still there! (at least it was before the typhoon hit)
Dry Dock
Low Tide
The Lgoon at Low tide
The lagoon is fairly shallow and much of its sandy bottom becomes exposed during low tide.
The Lgoon at Low tide
This is one of the many abandoned buildings on Wake Island.
Abandoned Building
This is one of the many abandoned buildings on Wake Island.
Abandoned Building
Parts of the island are heavily forested with pine trees.
Pine Forest
The fish near the cafeteria are still accustomed to being fed.
Fish Food
As you can see, the bridge that once connected Wake Island to Peale Island has yet to be rebuilt.
Burned Bridge
The bridge was destroyed by fire in late 2002 and rumor has it that it'll cost the Air Force around $2,000,000 to replace it!
Burned Bridge
The fish near the cafeteria are still accustomed to being fed.
Fish Food
These two Thai workers are boarding up windows at the terminal building.
Boarding Up Windows
Boarding up windows at the terminal building
Boarding Up Windows
Boarding up windows at the terminal building
Boarding Up Windows
The windows of the barracks were boarded up a few days before the evacuation.
Barracks
A series of all-hands meetings were conducted by Capt. Harris and Scott Swiestal to keep the personel informed of the evacuation plans.
All-Hands Meeting
The last dinner served before the evacuation
One Last Dinner
Since the island power was going to be turned off just before evacuation, the cafeteria was trying to get rid of as much ice cream as possible. We were also treated to steak, crab legs, and shrimp in the days leading up to the evacuation.
Ice Cream
4:15 AM: Waiting in the terminal for the C-17s to arrive
Waiting for the C-17s
I pity the poor fools who had to make so many box lunches!
Box Lunches
Luggage sits on pallets waiting to be loaded onto the planes
Luggage
Personnel were allowed to board the aircraft once their names were called.
Waiting to Board the Planes
The on-island weapons had to be evacuated as well (unloaded, of course).
Don't Mess With Me!
The flight crew from one of the C-17s
Flight Crew
C-17s
C-17s
It was a very calm morning with hardly any wind and clear skies; truly the calm before the storm.
Calm Before the Storm
Mass exodus...
Mass Exodus...
A pair of lavatories was loaded on a pallet. These were much better than the "honey bucket" I had to use on the C-130 I once took to Wake!
Lavatories
Despite being so early (6:45 AM), most people were in a cheery, almost festive mood...probably because they were getting out of harm's way and excited for all the shopping (and drinking) awaiting them in Honolulu.
Interior of C-17
Despite being so early (6:45 AM), most people were in a cheery, almost festive mood...probably because they were getting out of harm's way and excited for all the shopping (and drinking) awaiting them in Honolulu.
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