Chuuk is strongly garrisoned; about 38,000 outsiders and 10,000 Chuukese face growing hunger through 1945.

What happened

Chuuk had been mainly a support base in the first years of the war. In 1943 it was strongly garrisoned against an expected Allied invasion, and the lagoon’s people and resources were strained to support the swollen population. Chuukese memories of these years center on food shortages.

Why it matters

Chuukese memories of the war center on hunger rather than battle.