Hell in the Pacific : American civilian workers, Wake Island, and Japanese internment.

Abstract

For over two weeks in December 1941 a small American atoll in the Pacific, Wake Island, valiantly resisted attempts by the Empire of Japan to subdue it. Captivated by its defense, the American public found something to cheer about in those early days of the war. While several literary works have focused on the defense of Wake, virtually all end after the capture of the island by the Japanese in late December 1941. Current books and articles on Wake Island focus on the role of the American military during the defense of the island. Most of these works practically ignore the fact that the when the island was attacked it contained 1,200 civilian construction workers. Likewise, all virtually disregard what happened to these civilians workers once they were captured. For the next forty-four months these civilians were interned in Japanese prison camps where they were used as labor for the Japanese war effort. Though a few of these civilians have written about their captivity, the purpose of this thesis is to incorporate these works, along with other previously unpublished experiences, into a more comprehensive work. The result will not only be an important chapter in the history of Wake Island, but also the efforts of Americans in World War II.