On this day - 17 February

Eniwetok is within the Marshall Islands and is an atoll containing 40 small islands located in the Pacific Ocean. Eniwetok Atoll had been governed by the Japanese since the South Seas Mandate was issued at the end of World War I.

The Battle of Eniwetok began on February 17th 1944 and lasted until February 23rd. The battle was between Japanese and United States forces. The majority of the Japanese forces holding the island lost their lives during the US assault. Following the battle end, Eniwetok Atoll became Naval Base Eniwetok and the United States utilised it throughout World War II to support their navy. It was one of the busiest naval bases in the world between 1944 and 1945.

SEALAB III was part of a project run by the United States that developed underwater habitats to look at the impact of saturation diving on the human body. The plan had been for five crews of nine divers to live in the habitat for 12 days.

The habitat developed a helium leak due to a poorly fitted seal, which the team offered to repair. The first repair attempt was unsuccessful and after using amphetamines to remain awake, the crew decided to make a second repair attempt. During this, on February 17th 1969, Berry L. Cannon died as a result of carbon dioxide poisoning as the baralyme canister in his diving suit wasn't absorbing his exhaled carbon dioxide as it should.