Army & Navy – COMMAND: May We Pray Now?

The Marine platoon presented arms, the bugler played “To the Colors” as the U.S. flag fluttered up the staff. From under the rustling coconut palms a solemn group of natives watched the formal institution of U.S. military rule. This was the first segment of the Japanese Empire to be captured by the U.S.—one of the outer atolls of the Marshall Islands.

Lanky, native-wise Lieut. Galen H. Sturgeon read a proclamation establishing military government, enjoining the natives to help the U.S. An interpreter shouted his echo. The natives, in brilliant ragbag costumes, listened, their long, brown faces expressionless. Then an old chief asked: “May we pray now?”

Said Lieut. Sturgeon: “The U.S. guarantees freedom of worship.”

The Marshall Islanders, who are pious Christians (dominant variety: Boston Congregationalists), broke into cheers, struck up a Christian hymn in the soft-flowing native dialect.