Page 503 - Visitor Guides

Sightseeing & Historical Landmarks Sightseeing & Historical Landmarks

the inland advance. Two heav- top of the complex are the re- ill. A small park dedicated including the unique site of
ily camouflaged guns near the cently dedicated Hall of Gover- to Padre Don Jose Bernardo the German SMS Cormoran II
beach helped Japanese forces nors and the Latte of Freedom. Palomo y Torres, most often and the Japanese Tokai Maru.
subdue some approaching The two structures, completed referred to as Padre Palomo, is The site is the only place in
troops, although they were ulti- in May 2010, offer a meeting located next to the U.S. Naval the world where two ships
mately overcome. A pillbox still venue and site for visitors. Cemetery. from two different countries
remains at the site, where the Both are historically significant and two different wars touch
1st Provisional Marine Brigade, and host a spectacular view of beneath the surface. The Ger-
followed by the 305th Regimen- the island’s coast. man cruiser, scuttled by the
tal Combat Team and the 77th ship’s captain in 1917, lies
Army Infantry stormed the at 130 feet underwater, just
shores. beneath the Tokai Maru, an
8,300-ton passenger-cargo
Mount Alifan SMS Cormoran Monument at ship that sunk amid fierce
Home to bomb crater remains, U.S. Naval Cemetery fighting in 1944.
this undeveloped unit is the Now a favorite dive site in
former site of a WWII Japanese Guam’s Apra Harbor, the Ger- The harbor is also home to the
command post. Due to its man cruiser SMS Cormoran 1,900-ton freighter Kitsugawa
location, access is difficult for Governor Ricardo J. Bordallo II arrived on Guam in August Maru sunk in 1944, which sits
visitors. Complex 1914 requesting fuel. Then- upright at 160 feet, and an
The 20th Guam Legislature Gov. William Maxwell refused American Tanker.
Fonte Plateau dedicated the Governor’s of- to comply with the cruiser’s
50 Once a Japanese naval com- fice and surrounding complex request, forcing it into intern- 51
munications center located at Adelup to the late Gov. Ri- ment on Guam. The ship is
on Nimitz Hill, the site was cardo Bordallo in 1997. He is also said to have been the
one of the more bitter battles noted as one of Guam’s great site of the first shots fired
between the U.S. Marines and leaders for having sound by the U.S. military in WWI.
the Japanese. The unit was business sense, vision for the As German crews preparing
later renamed Nimitz Hill, island’s future and a love of to scuttle the ship worked
after Admiral Chester Nimitz, farming. aboard, nearby U.S. Forces
who served as Commander in fired a shot over the bow. A
Chief for the Pacific Command Padre Palo- monument dedicated to SMS
(CINCPAC) headquarters. mo Park Cormoran is located at U.S.
On December Naval Cemetery. Apaca Point
Adelup 11, 1859, Don In 1944, Apaca Point played a
Point Jose Bernardo Southern Guam pivotal role to the American
South of Palomo y Tor- liberation of Guam. Located at
Hagåtña, res became Apra Harbor Agat Beach, this point offers
Adelup Point the first Chamorro priest after Shipwrecks visitors an opportunity to
is the government complex being baptized more than 20 Dive shops view unique limestone forma-
where the Governor’s Office years earlier by village par- across the tions along the shallow reef.
and other government agencies ish priest Padre Don Ciriaco island offer In addition to the limestone,
are located. There are meeting del Espiritu Santo, who was numerous boat explore the labyrinth of tun-
rooms and a small display of praised for ministry to numer- dives each week nels and caves hastily exca-
pre-contact artifacts. At the ous natives even while falling to Apra Harbor vated in July 1944.