Matthew,
I'm afraid this is well out of my patch (Jersey, Great Britain), but I do know that After The
Battle magazine has published numerous `Then and Now' features on the Pacific Islands,
authored both by returning servicemen and present-day students of the period.
Check:
http://www.afterthebattle.mcmail.com
for a synopsis of the articles published to date.
I do gather that the area is (or can be) both climatically and ecologically hostile, but more to
the point, in isolated fought-over areas, largely uncleared with regard to munitions!
Here (in Jersey) on formerly occupied but non-combatant (?) territory, live munitions are
regularly found to the present day, this in "thoroughly" cleared areas!
Some areas of the Pacific, IIRC, were also used post-war as ranges.
I would thoroughly recommend you to stick to the beaten path until you're very familiar with
the area! (A local guide would be mandatory, I would think.)
The `preserved' areas are, obviously, exceptions to the rule...
There is also the question of encountering human remains and the local protocols to be
observed....
Tread carefully, but enjoy yourself: it's certainly a fascinating area which tends to be neglected
from a European viewpoint.
Best wishes
>Original Subject: Island hopping
>Original Sender: Matthew Davis <[log in to unmask]>
>Original Date: Wed, 19 Jul 2000 02:46:57 GMT
>Does anyone know about exploration and digging on any of the islands of
> the Pacific; Iwo Jima, Saipan etc. I'm new here and enthusiastic about
> WWII. Thanks.
John Germain
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