U.S. Army vs. The Night Marchers
In the U.S. State of Hawaii, there is a legend almost everyone who lives on the island takes seriously. As they know that once night falls, they need to be on the alert for the Night Marchers.
As the legend goes, the Night Marchers are the ghosts of ancient Hawaiian warriors. Who during life, acted as the vanguards of Hawaiian Chiefs as they traveled among the islands. Now they do so in death, as many have claimed to have seen lines of torches moving along hillsides and mountain trails at night. It is advised that one should get as far away as possible and as fast as possible because it’s a known fact that not everyone who encounters the Marchers survives to tell the tale.
The Infamous Encounter in 1942
One of the more infamous encounters with Night Marchers took place in early 1942 on Oahu, where the U.S. Army had recently established a military base. The men stationed here were Japanese-American soldiers who would later become members of the much-famed 442nd Infantry Regiment, the most decorated unit in U.S. Army history. At that time, they were waiting to be sent to the mainland U.S. for further training.
As time passed, numerous soldiers began to experience terrible nightmares, as well as the sensation of some unknown force choking them as they slept. Others reported sudden drops in temperature within the wooden barracks they stayed in, as well as a strange scent in the air. Some even reported seeing lights heading towards the nearby beach.
Superiors Dismiss Claims
Obviously, the soldiers were quite unnerved by these events and went to their superiors in an attempt to find new lodging. But these claims were ignored and written off by the superiors as a prank or trick to get better housing. This soon changed when one night, their captain left his lodging to investigate drumming he had heard coming from the nearby forest.
No sooner had he entered the forest, his body froze up, as the scent of sulfur filled the air. Suddenly, he could feel an invisible force pushing him to the ground. Try as he might, he could not get up. However, he could still move his head and when he tried to look up, he could see dozens of pairs of feet float past him. Needless to say, his attitude toward his men’s claims soon changed.
Local Advice and Resolution
The next day, the Captain met up with one of the older locals and told him about his experience. The old man informed the Captain about the Night Marchers and it was more than likely that the pre-fabricated Barracks his men were staying in were in their way. It turns out, most Hawaiians avoid building their houses with the front door facing the ocean and the back facing towards the mountain, as it’s believed that the Night Marchers will pass through their homes on their way to the beach.
The old man advised that the soldiers close the beach side doors to their barracks and open another door on the other side of the building so it would not face the mountains. The soldiers agreed to do this and the nightly attacks stopped.
Even to this day, Hawaiians take the extra step to ensure that their homes or any other buildings are not constructed on or near known routes taken by these ghostly warriors. But if you ever find yourself in the forests of Hawaii after dark and you suddenly hear drumming, a conch shell being blown, followed by a yell of “KAPU!”, drop to the earth and cover your head. Maybe even strip off your clothes and soil yourself, but don’t you dare think of trying to sneak a peak. That might be your only chance to survive an encounter with the Night Marchers.
