r
The small Bikini community had developed a close in-group
feeling during
the years
of relative
isolation
prior to the
coming of the white man and found satisfaction and security in
their closely knit
personal
relationships and
communal
life.
World War II and tne Bikini People
The Bikini people were directly affected by World War IT
in that three
of their young men who had been attending the
Japanese government school on Jaluit Atoll were drafted as
laborers and
sent
there
American bombing and bombardment
in the
to Enewetak Atoll.
important Japanese military base.
soldiers
manned
at Bikini,
American bombing and
however,
and
Marshallese
stores.
in areas
consumer goods and
stored
armed
and
such
as
Jaluit,
serious
The Bikini
MM 550550,
to Bikini,
people
suffered as
from the cut-off of supply lines
resultant
cessation of
exportation of copra.
captured the Marshall Islands
hardships
done
by
Enewetak and Kwajalein,
imports
of the Bikini
of necessary
Communications were re-
wartime hardships were alleviated when
forces
also
people were much better off than
did the other Marshallese,
the
station operators
Little damage was
where heavy fighting occurred.
from Japan with
of that huge and
These men were all killed
shelling.
tne Bikini
later killed
There were only six Japanese
however; wireless
the ammunition
They were
early
people were yet
the
in
American
31944.
The
to come however. '