The '''Republic of the Marshall Islands''' is an island nation in the western [[Pacific Ocean]]. The [[United States]] occupied the islands in [[World War II]], and in 1954 it was the site of [[Castle Bravo]], the USA's largest ever nuclear bomb test. The islands became an independent nation in 1986. | The '''Republic of the Marshall Islands''' is an island nation in the western [[Pacific Ocean]]. The [[United States]] occupied the islands in [[World War II]], and in 1954 it was the site of [[Castle Bravo]], the USA's largest ever nuclear bomb test. The islands became an independent nation in 1986. |