| Asan Landing Beach The Northern Beachhead |
On the morning of July 21, 1944, the 3rd Marine Divsion (Ooo-RAH!!) stormed the beach at Asan. This was the
northern prong of a pincer strategy that also landed forces south of Orote Penninsula at Agat.
Asan Beach was a swampy jungle for many years, but was finally cleaned up and turned into part of the War in the
Pacific park system in the mid-1990's. There are no guns left here, and very few Japanese gun emplacements. But it
has been turned in a field for a family to picnic, joggers to run, and the lone explorer to wonder what his brothers in arms
felt as the guns of the enemy kicked up sand in their faces and threw shrapnel around them sixty years ago.
northern prong of a pincer strategy that also landed forces south of Orote Penninsula at Agat.
Asan Beach was a swampy jungle for many years, but was finally cleaned up and turned into part of the War in the
Pacific park system in the mid-1990's. There are no guns left here, and very few Japanese gun emplacements. But it
has been turned in a field for a family to picnic, joggers to run, and the lone explorer to wonder what his brothers in arms
felt as the guns of the enemy kicked up sand in their faces and threw shrapnel around them sixty years ago.
(Above) Standing on top of Asan Ridge and looking north over the invasaion
beach. Adelup Point, then a Japanese strong hold and now the site of the
Guam Governor's offices, juts out. In the background, the village of
Tamuning sits, now peaceful in the sun. 5 July 2004.
beach. Adelup Point, then a Japanese strong hold and now the site of the
Guam Governor's offices, juts out. In the background, the village of
Tamuning sits, now peaceful in the sun. 5 July 2004.
(Left and Above) This great memorial stone was set in place
at the tip of Asan Point at the base of Asan Ridge in 1994
during the 50th anniversary of Guam's Liberation. 5 July
2004.
at the tip of Asan Point at the base of Asan Ridge in 1994
during the 50th anniversary of Guam's Liberation. 5 July
2004.
(Right) The Park Service maintains trails to the top of Asan
Ridge. Here, looking south, you get a very interesting view
of Piti and the "Fish Eye" marine park's underwater viewing
chamber. Fish Eye sits in one of the "Piti Bomb Holes",
mis-named natural limestone sink holes. From up here, the
Japanese snipers were very secure in concrete pill boxes
(like the one below) that had a commanding view of modern
Piti. Be careful exploring these structures. They can be very
unstable, and are usually havens for swarms of wasps,
mosquitos and spiders.
5 July 2004.
Ridge. Here, looking south, you get a very interesting view
of Piti and the "Fish Eye" marine park's underwater viewing
chamber. Fish Eye sits in one of the "Piti Bomb Holes",
mis-named natural limestone sink holes. From up here, the
Japanese snipers were very secure in concrete pill boxes
(like the one below) that had a commanding view of modern
Piti. Be careful exploring these structures. They can be very
unstable, and are usually havens for swarms of wasps,
mosquitos and spiders.
5 July 2004.
The Japanese had a forewarning of exactly
where the American invasion would come.
They got this advance notice, not from a spy or
a traitor, but from the Navy itself. In May of
1944 the Navy shelled and pounded
where the American invasion would come.
They got this advance notice, not from a spy or
a traitor, but from the Navy itself. In May of
1944 the Navy shelled and pounded
the beaches at Agat and Asan...and then left to invade Saipan and Tinian. This gave the Japanese, who were now
trapped on the island (cut off from any support by the U.S. victory in the "Great Marianas Turkey Shoot" in which
the U.S. naval aviation decsively defeated one of the last great Japanses offenses), three weeks to fortify the
landing points they knew were the targets. The American forces would pay heavily in blood and life for this fairly
obvious blunder. In Agat, for instance, was a redoubt that the later shelling and bombing missed, and from this
redoubt the enemy destroyed more than 17 landing craft before being destroyed themselves.
trapped on the island (cut off from any support by the U.S. victory in the "Great Marianas Turkey Shoot" in which
the U.S. naval aviation decsively defeated one of the last great Japanses offenses), three weeks to fortify the
landing points they knew were the targets. The American forces would pay heavily in blood and life for this fairly
obvious blunder. In Agat, for instance, was a redoubt that the later shelling and bombing missed, and from this
redoubt the enemy destroyed more than 17 landing craft before being destroyed themselves.
Two Japanese gun emplacements are
left on Asan Ridge's southern side,
facing Piti. All that is left of the
guns are the circular iron mounts
(above). The steel beams were put
up to support the weak and
collapsing structures. 5 July 2004.
left on Asan Ridge's southern side,
facing Piti. All that is left of the
guns are the circular iron mounts
(above). The steel beams were put
up to support the weak and
collapsing structures. 5 July 2004.
Many of these structures were
destroyed by the war, of
course. However, most of
them were totaled by
something far more deadly
over time--the weather.
Typhoon force waves crash
on the shore with a power far
exceeding naval gunnery.
The tropical climae erodes
the limestone rocks quickly,
and stabilazation measures
must be taken to not only
preserve some of these sties,
but ensure they do not
collapse on visitors.
destroyed by the war, of
course. However, most of
them were totaled by
something far more deadly
over time--the weather.
Typhoon force waves crash
on the shore with a power far
exceeding naval gunnery.
The tropical climae erodes
the limestone rocks quickly,
and stabilazation measures
must be taken to not only
preserve some of these sties,
but ensure they do not
collapse on visitors.
From the Asan Overlook Memorial on Nimitz Hill. Asan Ridge runs to the sea at the left, with
Camel Rock just off shore. The amtracks were invaluable vehicles in assaulting Guam
because of the fringing reef you see beyond the beach. The water-borne craft, using their
tracks as paddle wheels, would hit the reef and crawl up over it, still carrying the Marines, all
the way to the beach. This kept the Marines covered for a longer periord from small arms
fire, and protected them from stepping into deep holes in the reef flat and drowning under the
weight of all their gear, as happened at in 1943 Tarawa. 15 August 2003.
Camel Rock just off shore. The amtracks were invaluable vehicles in assaulting Guam
because of the fringing reef you see beyond the beach. The water-borne craft, using their
tracks as paddle wheels, would hit the reef and crawl up over it, still carrying the Marines, all
the way to the beach. This kept the Marines covered for a longer periord from small arms
fire, and protected them from stepping into deep holes in the reef flat and drowning under the
weight of all their gear, as happened at in 1943 Tarawa. 15 August 2003.
Left and below--the 3rd Marine Division
lands on Asan Beach, 21 July 1944. These
images are from the first hours of the
LIberation campaign.
lands on Asan Beach, 21 July 1944. These
images are from the first hours of the
LIberation campaign.
I believe the photo above is one of the most poignant I've seen of any war. You can almost hear the shells
and bullets whizzing over these Marines who are digging for cover in the sand at the surf's edge, while the
one figure at far right looks right at the camera....probably wondering what the hell the photographer was
doing exposing himself to enemy fire to take pictures! In the photo you are looking south, with Asan Ridge
and Asan Point in the haze behind the palm trees. Photos courtesy Naval Base Guam Museum.
**Special Note: Since this page was laid out in late 2004, I was contacted by the grandson of the
Marine in the photo who is looking at the camera. His name was Guy Pennington, and he was indeed
wondering why the photographer was standing up! Read his story in the Hall of Heroes.
-N.T. Miller
June 2005
and bullets whizzing over these Marines who are digging for cover in the sand at the surf's edge, while the
one figure at far right looks right at the camera....probably wondering what the hell the photographer was
doing exposing himself to enemy fire to take pictures! In the photo you are looking south, with Asan Ridge
and Asan Point in the haze behind the palm trees. Photos courtesy Naval Base Guam Museum.
**Special Note: Since this page was laid out in late 2004, I was contacted by the grandson of the
Marine in the photo who is looking at the camera. His name was Guy Pennington, and he was indeed
wondering why the photographer was standing up! Read his story in the Hall of Heroes.
-N.T. Miller
June 2005