Wotje Atoll
Encyclopedia
Wotje Atoll is a coral atoll of 75 islands in the Pacific Ocean, and forms a legislative district of the Ratak Chain
of the Marshall Islands
. Wotje's land area of 8.18 square kilometres (3.2 sq mi), is one the largest in the Marshall Islands, and encloses a lagoon of 624 square kilometres (240.9 sq mi). The atoll is oriented east and west and is 45 kilometres (28 mi) at its longest point, and 18 kilometres (11.2 mi) at its greatest width. In 1999, the population of the islands in atoll was 900. , the population was nearly 1,000, which included about 200 teenagers who live on the island at the public boarding school, Northern Islands High School. The Wotje Atoll includes a number of islets, including Wotje (the largest), Bodao, Enejeltalk, Ukon, Wetwirok, Kaiken, Wormej, Kimajo, Ninum, Kaben. About 125 people live on Wodmej, which is approximately 8 miles from the main island of Wotje. All other islands are uninhabited and are used only for copra
production, picnics, and food gathering.
There are four churches on Wotje, Wotje: Catholic (which runs St. Thomas Elementary School), Protestant
, Assembly of God
, and Full Gospel
. There are several stores, but the largest is Mama Store, managed by the Tomeing-Johnny family. This store has a small retail shop, restaurant and coffee window. Wotje Atoll has four schools: Wodmej Elementary School, Wotje Elementary School, St. Thomas Elementary School, and Northern Islands High School. The first three are public schools, funded by the national Ministry of Education. St. Thomas is managed by the Maryknoll Sisters of the Catholic Church.
Wotje, Wotje is serviced by ships several times a year which bring supplies like rice, flour, and sugar. In addition, the local government and senator manage a small ship, Northern Star, which makes more frequent trips. Air services are provided by Air Marshall Islands
to Wotje Airport
.
of the Empire of Japan
. The Japanese established a school on the island, which served the atolls of the Ratak Chain, but otherwise left administration in the hands of local authoriies.
However, from the end of the 1930s, Wotje was developed as into a major seaplane
base, and also had an airfield with two runways for land-based aircraft, and several hundred support buildings. During World War II the atoll was occupied by the Japanese. The coasts were heavily fortified with coastal artillery
and anti-aircraft batteries. The only bombing of Hawaii after Pearl Harbor
was executed by seaplanes from Wotje. The Japanese garrison at Wotje at its peak numbered 2,959 men from the Imperial Japanese Navy
, 424 men from the Imperial Japanese Army
and some 750 civilian workers, many of whom were conscripted ethnic Koreans. From mid-1943 the island came under attack by United States Navy
carrier-based aircraft, and was frequently shelled by warships. The attacks increased in frequency and severity after the fall of Majuro
and Kwajalein
to American forces, and all supply lines to Wotje were cut. By the surrender of Japan
, only 1244 men of the garrison remained alive.
Following the end of World War II, Wotje came under the control of the United States as part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
until the independence of the Marshall Islands in 1986.
Many WWII artifacts remain on the main island of Wotje, Wotje. A large concrete airstrip, bunkers, big guns and more make this island attractive to war history enthusiasts.
Ratak Chain
The Ratak Chain is a chain of islands within the island nation of the Marshall Islands. Ratak means "sunrise". It lies just to the east of the country's other main island chain, the Ralik Chain...
of the Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands
The Republic of the Marshall Islands , , is a Micronesian nation of atolls and islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, just west of the International Date Line and just north of the Equator. As of July 2011 the population was 67,182...
. Wotje's land area of 8.18 square kilometres (3.2 sq mi), is one the largest in the Marshall Islands, and encloses a lagoon of 624 square kilometres (240.9 sq mi). The atoll is oriented east and west and is 45 kilometres (28 mi) at its longest point, and 18 kilometres (11.2 mi) at its greatest width. In 1999, the population of the islands in atoll was 900. , the population was nearly 1,000, which included about 200 teenagers who live on the island at the public boarding school, Northern Islands High School. The Wotje Atoll includes a number of islets, including Wotje (the largest), Bodao, Enejeltalk, Ukon, Wetwirok, Kaiken, Wormej, Kimajo, Ninum, Kaben. About 125 people live on Wodmej, which is approximately 8 miles from the main island of Wotje. All other islands are uninhabited and are used only for copra
Copra
Copra is the dried meat, or kernel, of the coconut. Coconut oil extracted from it has made copra an important agricultural commodity for many coconut-producing countries. It also yields coconut cake which is mainly used as feed for livestock.-Production:...
production, picnics, and food gathering.
There are four churches on Wotje, Wotje: Catholic (which runs St. Thomas Elementary School), Protestant
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
, Assembly of God
Assemblies of God
The Assemblies of God , officially the World Assemblies of God Fellowship, is a group of over 140 autonomous but loosely-associated national groupings of churches which together form the world's largest Pentecostal denomination...
, and Full Gospel
Full Gospel
The term Full Gospel is often used as a synonym for Pentecostalism, a Protestant movement originating in the 19th century. Early Pentecostals saw their teachings on baptism with the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts, and divine healing as a return to the doctrines and power of the Apostolic Age...
. There are several stores, but the largest is Mama Store, managed by the Tomeing-Johnny family. This store has a small retail shop, restaurant and coffee window. Wotje Atoll has four schools: Wodmej Elementary School, Wotje Elementary School, St. Thomas Elementary School, and Northern Islands High School. The first three are public schools, funded by the national Ministry of Education. St. Thomas is managed by the Maryknoll Sisters of the Catholic Church.
Wotje, Wotje is serviced by ships several times a year which bring supplies like rice, flour, and sugar. In addition, the local government and senator manage a small ship, Northern Star, which makes more frequent trips. Air services are provided by Air Marshall Islands
Air Marshall Islands
Air Marshall Islands is an airline based in Majuro, in the Marshall Islands. It is the flag carrier of the Marshall Islands, operating inter-island services in the South Pacific. Its main base is Marshall Islands International Airport, Majuro.- History :...
to Wotje Airport
Wotje Airport
Wotje Airport is a public use airstrip located in the village of Wotje on Wotje Atoll, Marshall Islands. This airstrip is assigned the location identifier N36 by the FAA and WTE by the IATA.- Facilities :...
.
History
Wotje Atoll was claimed by the Empire of Germany along with the rest of the Marshall Islands in 1884, and the Germans established a trading outpost. After World War I, the island came under the South Pacific MandateSouth Pacific Mandate
The was the Japanese League of Nations mandate consisting of several groups of islands in the Pacific Ocean which came under the administration of Japan after the defeat of the German Empire in World War I.-Early history:Under the terms of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, after the start of World...
of the Empire of Japan
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
. The Japanese established a school on the island, which served the atolls of the Ratak Chain, but otherwise left administration in the hands of local authoriies.
However, from the end of the 1930s, Wotje was developed as into a major seaplane
Seaplane
A seaplane is a fixed-wing aircraft capable of taking off and landing on water. Seaplanes that can also take off and land on airfields are a subclass called amphibian aircraft...
base, and also had an airfield with two runways for land-based aircraft, and several hundred support buildings. During World War II the atoll was occupied by the Japanese. The coasts were heavily fortified with coastal artillery
Coastal artillery
Coastal artillery is the branch of armed forces concerned with operating anti-ship artillery or fixed gun batteries in coastal fortifications....
and anti-aircraft batteries. The only bombing of Hawaii after Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
was executed by seaplanes from Wotje. The Japanese garrison at Wotje at its peak numbered 2,959 men from the Imperial Japanese Navy
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
, 424 men from the Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
and some 750 civilian workers, many of whom were conscripted ethnic Koreans. From mid-1943 the island came under attack by United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
carrier-based aircraft, and was frequently shelled by warships. The attacks increased in frequency and severity after the fall of Majuro
Majuro
Majuro , is a large coral atoll of 64 islands in the Pacific Ocean, and forms a legislative district of the Ratak Chain of the Marshall Islands. The atoll itself has a land area of and encloses a lagoon of...
and Kwajalein
Kwajalein
Kwajalein Atoll , is part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands . The southernmost and largest island in the atoll is named Kwajalein Island. English-speaking residents of the U.S...
to American forces, and all supply lines to Wotje were cut. By the surrender of Japan
Surrender of Japan
The surrender of Japan in 1945 brought hostilities of World War II to a close. By the end of July 1945, the Imperial Japanese Navy was incapable of conducting operations and an Allied invasion of Japan was imminent...
, only 1244 men of the garrison remained alive.
Following the end of World War II, Wotje came under the control of the United States as part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
The Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands was a United Nations trust territory in Micronesia administered by the United States from 1947 to 1986.-History:...
until the independence of the Marshall Islands in 1986.
Many WWII artifacts remain on the main island of Wotje, Wotje. A large concrete airstrip, bunkers, big guns and more make this island attractive to war history enthusiasts.