Tour of Second World War sites on Guam - January 2025

Last month I had the pleasure of facilitating a tour of Second World War sites on Guam, given on behalf of Yokosuka Council on Asia-Pacific Studies (YCAPS). We met at the War in the Pacific T. Stell Newman visitor’s center outside Naval Base Guam, where we explored the history of the war, Guam’s part in it, and surrounding events including the American and Japanese occupations. Outside the visitor’s center is one of four extant Imperial Japanese Navy midget submarines in the world, a type “C”, Ha. 62-76.

In front of Ha. 62-76 midget submarine at the T. Stell Newman Visitor's Center at the War in the Pacific National Monument - Santa Rosa, Guam

Following the museum, the group headed down to Ga’an point in the village of Agat, Where the U.S Army 77th Infantry Division and 1st Provisional Marine Brigade came ashore south of Orote Peninsula. There was a brief explanation of how the troops came ashore, and some of the sites that are close to the area such as Hill 40 and Mt. Alifan, where bloody fighting took place between the Americans and the Imperial Japanese Army. After exploring some weapons and fortifications that remain in place, we broke for lunch.

Describing the action at Ga'an point, where the U.S. Army 77th Infantry Division and U.S. Marine Corps 1st Provisional Brigade came ashore on the 21st of July 1944

The group reconvened at Asan Beach, where the 3rd Marine Division landed, north of the Orote Peninsula. On one side of the beach is a small ridge which commands the high ground for the immediate area, there are some fortifications that remain on the shoreline and these were inspected and explored as well. Here, the tour learned about the objectives of the American forces, which was to establish a perimeter in the north, take the high ground to the east, and join up with the 77th in the south in order to cut off and occupy the Orote Peninsula.

At the foot of Asan Ridge, looking south toward the main invasion area, where the 3rd Marine Division came ashore.

A Japanese fortification at the base of Asan Ridge, facing south to the Orote Peninsula.

After Asan Ridge, the tour moved to the Piti Guns, where three coastal defense guns were situated just prior to the American invasion. These were incomplete and never fired a shot during the Second World War.

Exploring the Piti Guns

The final stop was Asan Bay overlook, with a commanding view of the northern invasion beaches, Cabras Island, and the Orote Peninsula, where the Americans strived to capture the airfield, and Apra Harbor. The group examined the memorial wall where the names of the American Servicemen who died in the battle, and the Chamoru people who were victimized during the Japanese occupation and killed in the fighting.

At Asan Bay overlook

This was the largest group I’ve led on a history tour and I could not have asked for a better team to share it with. Props to my son who took all of these photos, his first job as a budding photographer. More on Guam can be found here.