For those who are not aware, the last great and terrible war, World War II, had two main theatres. The European Theatre was where the D-Day and Dirty Dozen fighting took place. Much of the fighting in the Pacific was done in the geographical region known as Micronesia. Famous battles like Peleliu, Tarawa, Saipan, Guam, Kwajalein, Roi-Namur, Truk Lagoon, Makin Atoll, and Tinian, are located in Micronesia. Other islands were directly affected by the battles that raged nearby.
I remember looking down on a beach in Guam from Nimitz Hills and noting a plaque nearby that recounted the bloody history of that area, where 800 U.S. Marines lost their lives in 3 days of fighting to take that area. The amount of blood spilled on and for the islands of Micronesia is staggering! Approximately 1,700 Americans lost their lives to retake Guam. Over 1,000 Marines and Sailors died to take Tarawa in the Republic of Kiribati. In Peleliu, now in the Republic of Palau, the number was 1,544!
The history of Micronesia has been washed with the blood of young Americans. The cost of securing this region was great and terrible for the United States of America.
As we continue in our relationship with the United States of America on this side of history, we do so as sovereign nations. A unique relationship, defined as a Compact of Free Association gives us among other nations of the world, a very special and almost preferred status. We are indeed blessed, and I am grateful for this relationship.
While many may view the U.S. Military buildup in Micronesia, negatively, I see it as a debt owed to the thousands of sacrificed lives that, for better or worse, have brought us to this day and age. One where we enjoy the status that few in the world enjoy.
I watch and will continue to watch and wait and share on the current buildup. As I have been made aware, the U.S. Military is strengthening the air and sea ports in Yap. A jungle warfare training school has been mentioned in Kosrae, in Chuuk talks of seaport and warehouse strengthening have taken place, and in Pohnpei, a warehouse for staging and repositioning is set to be built by the Air and Seaport.
In a recent article from Maui Now news, Hawaii Senator Mazie K. Hirono a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee and Chair of the Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support has reportedly secured several key priorities for Hawaii that also include priorities for Micronesia during the Committee’s markup of the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
Some of these priorities include:
Directs the DOD to examine the feasibility and advisability of providing resources and personnel to support construction and infrastructure maintenance on the Marshall Islands and Micronesia and directs a report on restoring the presence of civic action teams in these locations.
Establishes a medical readiness program with Indo-Pacific partner nations to ensure access to foreign medical facilities during peacetime and wartime operations.
These two alone will help greatly. A positive and a “plus” for Micronesia as we partner with the greatest nation in the world.
Read about one of the bloodiest battles in the Pacific from Amazon: Battle of Tarawa
Lord 🙏🏽 have mercy they do not know what they are doing.