Guam World War 2

(Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 229, Notices, November 28, 2003)  ...

TESTIMONY FROM THE APRIL 20, 2005 HEARING ON H.R. 1595, THE GUAM WORLD WAR II LOYALTY RECOGNITION ACT, BEFORE THE U.S. HOUSE COMMITTEE ON RESOURCES: ... [Read More]

War in the Pacific NHP: Liberation - Guam Remembers
The last 50 years have seen Guam rebuild from war's devastation, theisland's society mature in democracy, and its people glow in prosperity.Those blessings have come from God and our people's determination andenduring nature to overcome adversity. The Liberators of July 21, 1944gave the people of Guam the torch of freedom, and we have earnestlytaken it. Even now, the fight for Commonwealth status continues on asGuam's people stand ready to join the Pacific community and the world asa truly free people. ... [Read More]

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The commission completed two days of public hearings  to allow war survivors to speak about their experiences.  A draft commission report to the Secretary of the Interior, the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate is due May 9, 2004.  On June 9, 2004, the final report will be presented to Congress. ... [Read More]

War in the Pacific NHP: Liberation - Guam Remembers
The invasion detachment departed Guam January 14,1942, sailing to Truk (now Chuuk) with carriers and other ships ofJapan's 4th Fleet; this force would later take Rabaul and make it one ofthe empire's major military bases in the Pacific. Left to administer Guam was the keibitai, theJapanese naval militia with less than 500 men. Directly managing thepeople were the minseibu, the keibitai's cadre of policemen andinvestigators. Under the minseibu, life on island was relativelyquiet. However, there were still attempts to convince theChamorro populace of Japan's superiority over the Americans. After everyJapanese conquest in the Pacific or Far East, military parades were heldthrough the streets of Agana. When Singapore fell on February 15, 1942,sabers rattled through the narrow streets of the barrios of San Ignacioand San Nicolas; the march of soldiers would end at a Buddhist shrine ona hillside above Agana. Other shows of might by the Japanese militarywere given when General Douglas MacAr ... [Read More]

War in the Pacific NHP: Liberation - Guam Remembers
He must have been a unique man and quite a character,the late Adolfo Camacho Sgambelluri. The son of a Navy man, Sgambelluri was a policeman inpre-war Guam and then a police official for the Japanese occupationauthorities, a role which did not endear him toisland residents. Nevertheless, his record as a policeman and then asan investigator was sterling in pre-war Guam, and his abilities musthave appealed to the efficiency-conscious Japanese authorities duringthe occupation. Marine Capt. Charles S. Todd, the chief of police ofGuam when World War II erupted, said Sgambelluri and fellow policemenJuan Taitano and Juan Roberto were "outstanding" staff. "Roberto andSgambelluri were the detectives who investigated all the incidentsinvolving the local people, and I don't recall their leaving any caseuncleared. They were feared, but highly respected. In many instances,they assisted in other cases involving naval personnel and theirdependents," Todd said. The chief also tasked Sgambelluri wi ... [Read More]

War in the Pacific NHP: Liberation - Guam Remembers
In the surrender ceremony, Gen. Douglas MacArthur,representing the Allied Powers, expressed a hope for the world: "It ismy earnest hope - indeed the hope of all mankind - that from this solemnoccasion a better world shall emerge out of the blood and carnage of thepast, a world founded upon faith and understanding, a world dedicatedto the dignity of man and the fulfillment of his most cherished wish forfreedom, tolerance, and justice." In representing the United States at the ceremony,Admiral Chester W. Nimitz remembered the great sacrifice of those whodied in the war in the Pacific. "They fought together as brothers in aims; they diedtogether and now they sleep side by side. "To them, we have a solemn obligation - theobligation to ensure that their sacrifice will help make this a betterand safer world in which to live." ... [Read More]

War in the Pacific NHP: The Defense of Guam
The air invaders then proceeded to take on Guam'sonly seaworthy vessel, the USS Penguin, an antiquated minesweeperconverted to a tugboat that had seen better days in the North Sea duringthe First World War. As best they could, the Penguin crew faced thebuzzing planes, counter-attacking with the only anti-aircraft gun on theisland. The brief but explosive battle ended when Ensign Robert White,who was manning the anti-aircraft gun, was hit by machine gun fire anddied on the spot. When the planes departed, flying northward towardSaipan, the Penguin crew decided to scuttle the Penguin. The ship's valves were loosened, condemning the valiant vessel to thebottom of the sea, about a mile off Orote Point, and became among thefirst casualties of the Pacific War. By noon on the eighth, most of the people in Aganaand Sumay had fled to outlying areas, and the city and town became ghostsettlements by nightfall. The day had begun with much promise andhappiness. It was the feast of the Immacul ... [Read More]

War In The Pacific National Historical Park - News
In accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act and NPS Director’s Order 12, we are pleased to release an Environmental Assessment (EA) for fire management alternatives at War in the Pacific National Historical Park on Guam. As a result of public scoping in early 2004, the park is now distributing this EA for a 30 day public comment period from November 22, 2004, through December 22, 2004. All written comments received during this time will be duly considered in the environmental decision making process. Please click on the link to review the document. ... [Read More]

War in the Pacific NHP: Liberation - Guam Remembers
Chamorros had gained in terms of democratic government;a House of Assembly served as a legislative body but it was merelyadvisory. Chamorro self-determination was non-existent. The navalgovernor still possessed absolute authority - he was legislator, chiefexecutive, judge, all under one hat. Japan, though, was much more active in its effortsaround the Pacific islands. When the opportunity arose in World War I asGermany was reeling from its defeats in Europe, the Japanese wereunfurling the flag of the Rising Sun in German-held islands above theequator. Their presence in the central and western Pacific was vast, asvast as the area of the continental United States: from the MarshallIslands in the east, to the Carolines, to the Marianas and anchoring theline of Japanese-occupied islands was the Palau archipelago. In theTreaty of Versailles which ended World War I, Japan's occupation ofthese islands was formalized under a mandate of the League ofNations. Japan wasted little time in solidi ... [Read More]