rby coconut plantation. [While] a hill tribesman in the Stirling Mountains might carry a shrunken head, practice cannibalism, or engage in periodic genocidal wars against neighbors," (Bergerud 105). There were thousands of different practices, of cultures, of diversity in languages, in religion and of beliefs.
             The early stages of the war touched a small percentage of the indigenous population, those who were swept up in the conflict, played vital roles. In the Marshalls, whole villages were swept for all adult males, who were then shipped from atoll to atoll to help fight in the war. With some few exceptions, some had a personal stake in the war and were concerned of the outcome it would bring to the islands. There were areas where people were barely aware that war was even taking place. There were many who could have cared less if the Japanese came, or if the Americans left, or if the Japanese left, and the Americans came.
             The fighting that emitted in the Pacific spewed from the Japanese raid on the United States' naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on December 7, 1941 and infringed heavily on the Pacific Islands. At that time the Japanese were an invincible force, moving, invading island to island – victory to victory. "The battle lines were clearly drawn and provided a basis on which Pacific Islanders could be classified according to the way they would experience the war," (Howe 154). Some of the natives lived within the Japanese occupied territories, while some, luckily, were out of arms way. Those who did were destined to difficult times while their islands were turned into battlefields.
             Almost everywhere the Japanese came, they found lush realms, with snow-white beaches, frond hunts, coconut palms, and dark-skinned people who wore sarongs, grass skirts or loincloths. The invaders made themselves at home and settled in with the Islanders. Many local Japanese officers tried to establish good relatio...