After World War II, veterans returning from the Pacific had a lot of stories to tell, not only about the war, but about their experiences with other cultures. There were tales of mysterious customs, strange lifestyles, and curious ceremonies. Of all the experiences, however, few were like the encounter with the cargo cult. When a Pacific tribe watched the U.S. military perform drills to prepare for the arrival supply planes during World War II, the tribe believed it to be a religious ritual. After the war was over and the troops left, the tribesmen built their own runways, coconut headphones, and wooden radio towers and marched around like soldiers, in hopes of having a plane drop off supplies. They even lit signal fires and torches to light up runways and lighthouses. The rituals have continued over many decades, changing slightly, but maintaining core beliefs and practices.