Page 466 - Visitor Guides

History of Guam
tree was left standing at the
site, which struck Mrs. Paul
as a sign of determination.
The shape of the center image
represents the sling stone
used by ancient Chamorros in
hunting and survival. Inside,
images of the coconut tree, a
proa, and the cliff line of Two
Lovers Point are displayed.
Guam’s flag consists of two
primary colors with red for
the borders and a deep blue
making up the rest of the flag.
Taken from the center portion
of the Guam Flag, U.S. Naval
Gov. Roy C. Smith approved
the design as the “Official
Coat of Arms” for the island
on July 4, 1917. On April 4,
1930, Gov. Willis W. Bradley Jr.
formally adopted it at a spe-
14 cial dedication ceremony.
Life as a U.S. territory contin-
ued uninterrupted until 1941,
when the island fell to invad-
ing Japanese forces during
WWII. Until then, the U.S. used
Guam as a coaling and com-
munication station.
Japanese Occupation
(1941 – 1944)
On December 10, 1941, Guam
surrendered to the Japa-
nese South Seas detachment
History of Guam
forces after a valiant defensive Their mission was two-fold: to granted Guam status as an
struggle by the island’s Insular liberate the Chamorro people unincorporated territory with
Force Guard, shortly after the from Japanese rule and to limited self-governing author-
fall of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. reclaim the island as a strate- ity. The move allowed for the
gic stronghold for the ongoing people of Guam to vote for a
For 31 months, the people of battle of WWII. governor, lieutenant governor,
Guam were forcibly subjected senators and mayors, and it
to the Japanese lifestyle. U.S. Marines stormed the granted U.S. citizenship to the
Guam was even renamed beaches of Agat and Asan, “native inhabitants” of Guam.
“Omiya Jima” or “Great Shrine thus beginning a bloody
Island” and brought under three-week battle that resulted By 1962, the U.S. Navy also
Japan’s Greater East Asia Co- in the death of thousands lifted the WWII security clear-
Prosperity Sphere. This period, of Chamorros, Americans, ance requirement for travel to
marred by forcible subjection and Japanese. Following the and from Guam, paving the
of Chamorros to the Japanese victory of U.S. Forces, Guam way for the birth of tourism
lifestyle, is a low point in the was quickly recognized as a and economic prosperity.
island’s history. command post for Western
Pacific operations due to its Later on that decade, in May
In 1942, when Japan trans- strategic location. It was a ma- 1967, a historic Pan American
ferred control of the island jor stronghold for the Allied Airways flight signified the
to the Japanese Navy, limited Forces until the conclusion dawn of a new era on Guam.
freedom for religious practice of World War II in the Pacific The airline’s inaugural service
and business activities was al- Theater in September 1945. ultimately led to the buildup 15
lowed. Chamorro people were of tourism-related businesses,
forced to dig several cave for- Following WWII, the Naval new construction, the addition
tifications through the island Government of Guam was re- of retail options, hotels, and
that served as air raid shelters established in May 1946. The financial services. Guam was
for the Japanese. Organic Act of 1949, signed by evolving from a quaint island
U.S. President Harry S. Truman to an urban paradise.
Magnificent luxury hotels, a
wealth of fine restaurants, and
fabulous duty-free shopping
options have helped establish
Guam as the premier desti-
nation it is today. Due to its
status as a U.S. territory and
Liberation and U.S. Territorial its position across the interna-
Status (1944 – Present) tional dateline, Guam has been
On July 21, 1944, known coined “Where America’s Day
locally as Liberation Day, Begins.” About a million visi-
American forces landed on tors arrive on the island each
Guam with the sole purpose year from Japan, Korea, Hong
of taking back control of the Kong, China, the Philippines,
island from Japanese forces. and beyond.