| Agat & Santa Rita |
| Agat |
Agat calls itself the "Gateway to the South". Once you pass into the Agat district, the cultural flavor of Guam begins to
show a greater Filipino and Spanish influence. The southern end of the island saw heavy fighting at the Agat Landing
Beach (which is covered on its own page, as the Asan Beach was), but as you go farther south you find less and less
fighting. However, it was in the southern end of the island down at Merizo that two of the civilian massacres (Faha and
Tinta) took place. Also, the south end of the island has the only village (Merizo) that was liberated entirely by the local
Chamorro inhabitants after the American forces landed.
show a greater Filipino and Spanish influence. The southern end of the island saw heavy fighting at the Agat Landing
Beach (which is covered on its own page, as the Asan Beach was), but as you go farther south you find less and less
fighting. However, it was in the southern end of the island down at Merizo that two of the civilian massacres (Faha and
Tinta) took place. Also, the south end of the island has the only village (Merizo) that was liberated entirely by the local
Chamorro inhabitants after the American forces landed.
It's easy to miss the Old Agat
Cemetery as you drive south on
Route 2. You can zip past it
without ever seeing it off the road
in the jungle by the sea.
Buried here under this large cross
are the victims of the worst
massacre of the war--the Fena
Cave Massacre.
Just as at Faha and Tinta, the
Japanese, growing desperate as the
inevitable American invasion grew
near in July 1944, herded
Chamorro locals into Fena Cave.
Some of the victims were told they
were going to work, others were
told they were being relocated to
Cemetery as you drive south on
Route 2. You can zip past it
without ever seeing it off the road
in the jungle by the sea.
Buried here under this large cross
are the victims of the worst
massacre of the war--the Fena
Cave Massacre.
Just as at Faha and Tinta, the
Japanese, growing desperate as the
inevitable American invasion grew
near in July 1944, herded
Chamorro locals into Fena Cave.
Some of the victims were told they
were going to work, others were
told they were being relocated to
protect them from the American bombing. The reality was that, once
in the caves near Fena Lake, the Japanese threw in grenades and
gunned down the civilians. The caves are located on the modern
Naval Magazine, and are not accessible to the general public, but the
victims were buried here (the Fena Cave is shown on Page 2 of this
section).
in the caves near Fena Lake, the Japanese threw in grenades and
gunned down the civilians. The caves are located on the modern
Naval Magazine, and are not accessible to the general public, but the
victims were buried here (the Fena Cave is shown on Page 2 of this
section).
This quiet stretch of beach in Agat got its name from its
most famous regular. Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz came
here to swim and relax after he had moved his HQ from
Hawaii to Guam in early 1945.
most famous regular. Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz came
here to swim and relax after he had moved his HQ from
Hawaii to Guam in early 1945.
Once they had occupied Guam, the Japanese
instituted some agricultural programs to feed the
army...and promote the "spirit of Japan" in the
local population. This small dam (right) was
built across the Ga'an River on the land of the
Herrera family to divert water into farmland that
became a rice paddy. Part of the old concrete
instituted some agricultural programs to feed the
army...and promote the "spirit of Japan" in the
local population. This small dam (right) was
built across the Ga'an River on the land of the
Herrera family to divert water into farmland that
became a rice paddy. Part of the old concrete
sluice way can still be seen (above). When standing looking at the dam, just turn about and you'll see the sluice way
behind you. This dam is on land that has been returned to the Herrera family. The elder Mr. Herrera (inset photo)
kindly took me back to see the dam. Since this is private property, be sure to get permission before traipsing across
the property.
behind you. This dam is on land that has been returned to the Herrera family. The elder Mr. Herrera (inset photo)
kindly took me back to see the dam. Since this is private property, be sure to get permission before traipsing across
the property.
This is a view of Agat shortly after the liberation in 1944. It was taken by Carl Bates,
a SeaBee with the 76th Naval Mobile Construction Battalion. On the back of the photo
is a hand-written note that says (with the original spelling): "The shells blowed all the
tops off the coconut trees." Photo courtesy the Naval Base Guam Museum.
a SeaBee with the 76th Naval Mobile Construction Battalion. On the back of the photo
is a hand-written note that says (with the original spelling): "The shells blowed all the
tops off the coconut trees." Photo courtesy the Naval Base Guam Museum.
| Santa Rita |
Santa Rita is the reincarnation of Sumay Village, which was utterly destroyed during the 1944 liberation. The American
forces put the Sumay refugees into a camp called Santa Rita. With the American naval base sprawling across the entire
length of the shores of Apra Harbor, the Sumay refugees had little hope of ever returning to their ancestral homes. The
camp of Santa Rita grew into the village of Santa Rita. Today the naval base sits in the Santa Rita/Sumay district. The
name Sumay is still alive, even if village is long gone.
Located in the mountains of Santa Rita is the U.S. Naval Magazine, which contains several sites, including the site of the
infamous Fena Massacre site.
forces put the Sumay refugees into a camp called Santa Rita. With the American naval base sprawling across the entire
length of the shores of Apra Harbor, the Sumay refugees had little hope of ever returning to their ancestral homes. The
camp of Santa Rita grew into the village of Santa Rita. Today the naval base sits in the Santa Rita/Sumay district. The
name Sumay is still alive, even if village is long gone.
Located in the mountains of Santa Rita is the U.S. Naval Magazine, which contains several sites, including the site of the
infamous Fena Massacre site.
This monument is the only war site in
Santa Rita. It stands on the spot where
the original Camp Santa Rita gate was
located. June 2005.
Santa Rita. It stands on the spot where
the original Camp Santa Rita gate was
located. June 2005.
(Left) A relic of the prewar Sumay
village is this stretch of the old Agana-
Sumay road. Located behind a car
rental building just outside the main gate
of Naval Base Guam, this road drives
over a small, narrow pre-war bridge and
to...nowhere. But, before 1944, this
was one of the major roads on Guam.
village is this stretch of the old Agana-
Sumay road. Located behind a car
rental building just outside the main gate
of Naval Base Guam, this road drives
over a small, narrow pre-war bridge and
to...nowhere. But, before 1944, this
was one of the major roads on Guam.
| U.S. Naval Magazine, Guam Santa Rita, Guam |
Even if you have general base access,
the odds are you will not be able to get on
board the Naval Magazine (being assigned
to Naval Base Guam's Photo Lab, I had
access to certain parts of the "mag"). With
enough explosives stored here to wipe
every structure and tree off the face of the
island, the Magazine is very carefully
guarded. However, there are several sites
on this land, one of which is purely
ecological: the only remaining original
growth jungle left on Guam is located and
protected within the Naval Magazine's
boundaries.
At left is the Maanot Water Reservoir.
Built in 1931, the concrete structure
survived the war and is still used today.
Photo July 2005.
the odds are you will not be able to get on
board the Naval Magazine (being assigned
to Naval Base Guam's Photo Lab, I had
access to certain parts of the "mag"). With
enough explosives stored here to wipe
every structure and tree off the face of the
island, the Magazine is very carefully
guarded. However, there are several sites
on this land, one of which is purely
ecological: the only remaining original
growth jungle left on Guam is located and
protected within the Naval Magazine's
boundaries.
At left is the Maanot Water Reservoir.
Built in 1931, the concrete structure
survived the war and is still used today.
Photo July 2005.
Located near the Magazine's
Main Gate is this Japanese "Long
Lance" torpedo. Today it is
maintained by the Sailors of
Explosive Ordnance Mobile Unit 5.
Main Gate is this Japanese "Long
Lance" torpedo. Today it is
maintained by the Sailors of
Explosive Ordnance Mobile Unit 5.
