Military Government on Truk

Hall, Edward (June 1950). "Military Government on Truk". Human Organization. 9 (2): 25–30. doi:10.17730/humo.9.2.y3355n46jnr616t3. ISSN 1938-3525 0018-7259, 1938-3525 .

Abstract: In this article an attempt is made to describe how applied anthropology was practiced (and disregarded) by the United states Government in its administration of Truk (Chuuk) the largest group of islands in the central Carolines.

When the United States Navy occupied Truk late in 945, the Trukese began their fourth era of life under a foreign government. At that time, in addition to our troops, be island was occupied by some 40,000 Japanese and about IWO Trukese, Okinawans and Nauruans, most of whom vet in a semi-starved state, owing to our air blockade of he islands. Almost immediately the Nauruans were repatriated by the British; our own government was responsible for he repatriation of the Japanese and the Okinawans.

No sooner had the Navy settled down to the job of governing the Trukese, however, than its personnel was changed lid drastically reduced owing to demobilization measures. ; Ws was fortunate for the natives, for it delayed many plans for governing them and gave them a respite in which accustom themselves to the changed world. It also permitted us more time to learn about their culture.

One plan for the Trukese, delayed as a result of our diminished staff, was to hold immediate elections and install : "democratic" government. How this was to be accomplished with the help of only five interpreters whose corn- 1 land of English MS halting and uncertain, was never quite ear. The Navy in its enthusiasm overlooked the fact that q chieftainship lies the key to Trukese culture....

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QID: Q125517548
MAG: 2037246127
OpenAlex: W2037246127
CorpusID: 144937461