The island of Truk was 800 square miles of sheltered lagoons and strong defensive capabilities. (1) In 1944 the island became vulnerable to allied attacks.(2) All of the warships were subsequently moved away from the island leaving all the forces on the island without warship protection. Truk was still considered one of Japan’s greatest naval bases. Vice Adm. Chuichi Hara was in command of the forces on the island. At this point in the war the allied …showed first 75 words of 276 total…

…showed last 75 words of 276 total…short months. Of the forces that were left instead of fighting the allies they were fighting starvation and disease. 2,000 died of starvation(5) Bibliography Work Cited Hagen, Jerome, War in the Pacific (Ohio: Book Masters, Inc. 1988) 270 Hagen, Jerome, War in the Pacific (Ohio: Book Masters, Inc. 1988) 270 Hagen, Jerome, War in the Pacific (Ohio: Book Masters, Inc. 1988) 270 Hagen, Jerome, War in the Pacific (Ohio: Book Masters, Inc. 1988) 270 Hagen, Jerome, War in the Pacific (Ohio: Book Masters, Inc. 1988) 271