In October 1943, 98 American prisoners of war (POWs) were executed by Japanese forces on Wake Island. This brutal act was part of a retaliatory measure against U.S. military operations in the Pacific. Wake Island had been captured by Japanese forces in 1941 following a fierce battle that resulted in many American casualties and subsequent capture of surviving military personnel. The executions occurred as the Japanese sought to maintain control over occupied territories and deter any American advances. The POWs were subjected to harsh conditions and mistreatment, characteristic of the treatment of American prisoners in Japanese captivity during World War II.

Witness accounts and post-war investigations revealed that the layer of brutality displayed during these executions was driven by the psychological tactics employed by the Japanese military to instill fear among both their enemies and their own troops. This incident culminated in a shocking revelation to the families of the executed servicemen and to those serving in the Pacific Theater. Such events highlighted the extreme measures taken by the Japanese military and contributed to a growing desire for retribution among American forces.

By the end of the war, accounts of the treatment of POWs and incidents like the Wake Island executions influenced American sentiments and strategic decisions regarding Japanese occupied territories. The emotional weight of these executions would resonate in post-war narratives shaping how American POW experiences were remembered and framed in historical contexts.