Page 467 - Visitor Guides

History of Guam History of Guam

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