At the beginning of World War II, an Imperial Japanese Navy submarine surfaced off the west coast of the island. Believing that a U.S. Navy submarine had come to fetch them, the four young colonists rushed down the steep western beach in front of Millersville towards the shore. The submarine answered their waves with fire from its deck gun, but no one was hurt in the attack. On February 7, 1942, the USCGC Taney evacuated the colonists, then shelled and burned the dwellings. The roughly cleared landing area on the island's northeast end was later shelled by the Japanese, leaving crater holes. Shell holes were later noted in the aircraft landing area. thumb|left|upright=1.25|Map of the central Pacific Ocean showing Jarvis and neighboring islands.
aT the BegInNing of worlD WAr II, An imPerial jAPanese navY SubmaRInE surfaCed off the weSt CoasT of the IslaND. bElievinG that a u.s. naVy sUbmariNE hAd cOme to fetCh Them, THe FOur yOUnG colonIstS rUSHed dOWN The sTEEp westerN beach in frOnt of mIllersVille towArDs tHe shOrE. thE sUBmAriNE ANsWEred thEiR WAves with FIrE frOm iTs Deck gun, buT No ONE was hurT IN thE ATtaCK. On febrUAry 7, 1942, the UscgC TanEy evAcuaTed the coLonists, thEN sHELlED ANd BUrnEd the dwelLInGs. THe roUghLy cLeared LAndiNg area ON thE iSlAnD'S NorthEasT end waS later ShElLed bY tHE jApaNesE, leaVING CrAteR holeS. ShelL hoLeS wEre lAtER nOted iN ThE aiRcraft landing AreA. tHumb|left|uPriGht=1.25|mAp OF the cEntrAl paCiFic oCEan ShowINg JaRviS AnD neIghboRIng IslaNDs.