| Asan & Piti |
| P i t i |
| The Piti Guns |
Three Japanese 14cm coastal defense guns still occupy the hills above Piti. These guns were dragged up the hillside by
Chamorros forced into slave labor and mounted in a position to defend both Apra Harbor and the Asan Beach (where part
of the American attack landed). These guns may have survived in part because they were never fired. Although the
Japanese had gotten them into position, the site was never completed before the 1944 liberation, so the guns were hidden
with brush. U.S. Marines of the 3rd Marine Division were surprised to find them under a camouflage of palm branches and
leaves.
These guns and the gun at Gun Beach are the only two sites the general public can easily access to see Japanese weapons
that are still in their original sites.
Chamorros forced into slave labor and mounted in a position to defend both Apra Harbor and the Asan Beach (where part
of the American attack landed). These guns may have survived in part because they were never fired. Although the
Japanese had gotten them into position, the site was never completed before the 1944 liberation, so the guns were hidden
with brush. U.S. Marines of the 3rd Marine Division were surprised to find them under a camouflage of palm branches and
leaves.
These guns and the gun at Gun Beach are the only two sites the general public can easily access to see Japanese weapons
that are still in their original sites.
Doctor Lloyd Sloan examines one of the Piti Guns. Dr. Sloan is a U.S.
Navy physcian. 18 July 2004.
Navy physcian. 18 July 2004.
The second of the three guns. This gun was
knocked off its pedestal not by American shelling
in 1944, but by the terrible winds of Super
Typhoon Pongsonga in December of 2002.
According to the National Park Service report,
the winds tore down a large tree, which clobbered
the gun. It is doubtful this gun will be set right
anytime soon. To do so would be extremely
expensive. Doc Sloan photographed me at right
with the displaced weapon. 18 July 2004.
knocked off its pedestal not by American shelling
in 1944, but by the terrible winds of Super
Typhoon Pongsonga in December of 2002.
According to the National Park Service report,
the winds tore down a large tree, which clobbered
the gun. It is doubtful this gun will be set right
anytime soon. To do so would be extremely
expensive. Doc Sloan photographed me at right
with the displaced weapon. 18 July 2004.
| Doc Sloan examines the intended field of fire at the third and last 14 cm gun. This weapon's concrete emplacement was completed, but the gun, like its sisters, never fired. Had it been operational, it would have lobbed shells onto the U.S. amphibious craft coming ashore at Asan Beach (out of the photo to the right). 18 July 2004. |
| The Masso Dam A small mystery on Guam |
| Located just a bit east of the Guam Veterans Cemetery at the base of Nimitz Hill is the Masso Dam, which blocks part of the Masso River. This dam is no where near as beautiful a piece of work as the Fonte Dam is; the Masso Dam looks like nothing more than a concrete wall running along a stagnant jungle pond. According to Mr. Lotz's World War II Remnants, this dam is a pre-war structure. However, I received an email from Mr. Lotz on 26 March 2005 with one sentence referencing the Masso Dam: "Yes that is Masso Dam, which I am now thinking is immediate post-war." A small mystery on Guam... Mar. 2005. |
| A s a n |
| The Matgue River Valley |
Literally right across the street from Asan Ridge and the
invasion beach is the small, tight Matgue River Valley.
Heavy fighting occured in this narrow valley as the Marines
began to push inland. There is a small pre-war bridge still in
this valley, but it is so overgrown you can drive over it witout
even realizing you're on it! The bridge does bear the pock
marks of bullets. The ridge on the south side of the valley is
pitted with caves dug by the Japanese (right). In the center
of the valley is a dome-shaped lava rock hill. If you read
Always Faithful (USMC Capt. William Putney's account of
the 2nd and 3rd Marine War Dog Platoons) you will
encounter his first-hand recollection of early orders to
establish a defensive line near this lava hill.
invasion beach is the small, tight Matgue River Valley.
Heavy fighting occured in this narrow valley as the Marines
began to push inland. There is a small pre-war bridge still in
this valley, but it is so overgrown you can drive over it witout
even realizing you're on it! The bridge does bear the pock
marks of bullets. The ridge on the south side of the valley is
pitted with caves dug by the Japanese (right). In the center
of the valley is a dome-shaped lava rock hill. If you read
Always Faithful (USMC Capt. William Putney's account of
the 2nd and 3rd Marine War Dog Platoons) you will
encounter his first-hand recollection of early orders to
establish a defensive line near this lava hill.
Looking east into the Matgue River Valley. The Asan Landing Beach and Asan Ridge are directly behind you
in this view. The small road that crosses the old pre-war bridge and the Matgue River is immediately to your
right as you stand on this spot. The small dome-shaped hill mentioned above is at the end of the road. The
structure at left is the remains of a post-war industrial complex. Both photos shot in March 2005.
in this view. The small road that crosses the old pre-war bridge and the Matgue River is immediately to your
right as you stand on this spot. The small dome-shaped hill mentioned above is at the end of the road. The
structure at left is the remains of a post-war industrial complex. Both photos shot in March 2005.
| "Downtown" Asan |
Today Asan is what it was in early December 1941--a sleepy, small island
village. Like Sumay Village on Orote Penninsula, it was virtually wiped off
the map during the Liberation of 1944. Unlike Sumay, it was rebuilt (it must
be admitted that Sumay could have been rebuilt, but the Navy appropriated all
the land for the naval base). Besides the invasion beach and Matgue Valley,
Asan has a couple of small reminders of the war. The Nino Perdido Church,
pretty much in the center of the village, has a simple stone marker with lists
the names of the Asan residents who died during the fighting in 1944.
village. Like Sumay Village on Orote Penninsula, it was virtually wiped off
the map during the Liberation of 1944. Unlike Sumay, it was rebuilt (it must
be admitted that Sumay could have been rebuilt, but the Navy appropriated all
the land for the naval base). Besides the invasion beach and Matgue Valley,
Asan has a couple of small reminders of the war. The Nino Perdido Church,
pretty much in the center of the village, has a simple stone marker with lists
the names of the Asan residents who died during the fighting in 1944.
Right: The Nino Perdido Church and its understated war monument with
the list of dead. Below: This fallow ball field was the site of the wartime
cemetery for the dead of the 3rd Marine Division. The Marines have long
since been reintered back home.
the list of dead. Below: This fallow ball field was the site of the wartime
cemetery for the dead of the 3rd Marine Division. The Marines have long
since been reintered back home.
