| Fonte Plateau on Nimitz Hill Part I |
Fonte Plateau is a broad, rolling plateau that dominates central Guam's geography. What is now called Nimitz
Hill is the place that the Japanese general, Takashina, had his command post on until he was killed on 28 July
1944. Whoever controled this high ground would ultimately control all of Guam, so the Japanese were dug in snf
intent on not being moved The Americans were equally intent on moving them. From the northern invasion beach
at Asan, the Marines climbed the hills through thick brush that made going slow, but offered no cover from enemy
bullets. They crested the heights near where the Asan Memorial Overlook is now. The Medal of Honor was won
here, and the Japanese forces pushed east and north.
The 3rd Marine Division fought the enemy forces down to Mt. Chachao, and linked up with the southern prong
of the invasion (more of the 3rd Division and the U.S. Army's 77th Infantry) at the base of Mt. Tenjo, thus taking
victory in the battle and ensuring Guam would live in freedom once again. It was a bloody fight, one of the great
battles of the Pacific War. However, in light of the great battles on Saipan and Tinian, and the gigantic contests
waged on Okinawa and Iwo Jima, this is a battle often fogotten about in American history books.
After the battle, Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz moved his HQ from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, to Guam so as to be
closer to the receding front lines. The current Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Marianas (COMNAVMAR) lives in
the "Nimtiz House", a house built on the site of the original house FADM Nimitz lived in. Nimitz's HQ and
support base were located on the hill near where the current DODEA High School sits.
Hill is the place that the Japanese general, Takashina, had his command post on until he was killed on 28 July
1944. Whoever controled this high ground would ultimately control all of Guam, so the Japanese were dug in snf
intent on not being moved The Americans were equally intent on moving them. From the northern invasion beach
at Asan, the Marines climbed the hills through thick brush that made going slow, but offered no cover from enemy
bullets. They crested the heights near where the Asan Memorial Overlook is now. The Medal of Honor was won
here, and the Japanese forces pushed east and north.
The 3rd Marine Division fought the enemy forces down to Mt. Chachao, and linked up with the southern prong
of the invasion (more of the 3rd Division and the U.S. Army's 77th Infantry) at the base of Mt. Tenjo, thus taking
victory in the battle and ensuring Guam would live in freedom once again. It was a bloody fight, one of the great
battles of the Pacific War. However, in light of the great battles on Saipan and Tinian, and the gigantic contests
waged on Okinawa and Iwo Jima, this is a battle often fogotten about in American history books.
After the battle, Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz moved his HQ from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, to Guam so as to be
closer to the receding front lines. The current Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Marianas (COMNAVMAR) lives in
the "Nimtiz House", a house built on the site of the original house FADM Nimitz lived in. Nimitz's HQ and
support base were located on the hill near where the current DODEA High School sits.
Above: the objective, Fonte Plateau on Nimitz Hill. This view is as the Liberators of the 3rd
Marine Division would have seen it on July 21, 1944, as they came up on Asan Beach. Below is
the same photograph with the modern admiral's house (on the site of Nimitz's house) and
Bundschu Ridge highlighted. Marine Captain Geary R. Bundschu, Co. A, 3rd Marines, was killed
on the 21st of July 1944 while leading his men up this slope against heavy enemy resistance.
Aug. 2004.
Marine Division would have seen it on July 21, 1944, as they came up on Asan Beach. Below is
the same photograph with the modern admiral's house (on the site of Nimitz's house) and
Bundschu Ridge highlighted. Marine Captain Geary R. Bundschu, Co. A, 3rd Marines, was killed
on the 21st of July 1944 while leading his men up this slope against heavy enemy resistance.
Aug. 2004.
Several sites are located on Nimitz Hill around the modern Department of Defense Education Activity
(DODEA) high school. The high school is located on land that is pretty much smack-dab in the center of the
Fonte Plateau battlefield.
(DODEA) high school. The high school is located on land that is pretty much smack-dab in the center of the
Fonte Plateau battlefield.
In 1944, after the Liberation was declared
secure in August, SeaBees quickly
swarmed the island, transforming it into an
American base. They had to repair all the
damage the Liberation had done and build
many structures from scratch. In a matter
of weeks Fonte Plateau had become a
bussling support center for Fleet Admiral
Nimitz and his staff.
secure in August, SeaBees quickly
swarmed the island, transforming it into an
American base. They had to repair all the
damage the Liberation had done and build
many structures from scratch. In a matter
of weeks Fonte Plateau had become a
bussling support center for Fleet Admiral
Nimitz and his staff.
(Above) Just east of the modern high school is
the site of the last Japanese stand on Fonte
Plateau. It is an overgrown jungle depression in
the rolling heights. From this spot, you turn
around 180 degrees, and the foundations of
Nimitz's HQ and support base are just across the
grass road (right). COMNAVMAR is Navy
shorthand for "Commander, U.S. Naval Forces
Marianas". August 2004.
the site of the last Japanese stand on Fonte
Plateau. It is an overgrown jungle depression in
the rolling heights. From this spot, you turn
around 180 degrees, and the foundations of
Nimitz's HQ and support base are just across the
grass road (right). COMNAVMAR is Navy
shorthand for "Commander, U.S. Naval Forces
Marianas". August 2004.
The ruins of the Libugon Radio Station are in
the jungle a short but difficult hike from the
high school. This marker was dedicated at the
high school in 1991 to mark the 50th
anniversary of the Japanese invasion. The
eight radio operators destroyed their
equipment and materials, and never divulged
what Libugon had really been beyond a simple
relay station. The Japanese were never aware
these men had spent years breaking their
codes, work that would significantly aid FADM
Nimitz and the American command during the
war. August 2004.
the jungle a short but difficult hike from the
high school. This marker was dedicated at the
high school in 1991 to mark the 50th
anniversary of the Japanese invasion. The
eight radio operators destroyed their
equipment and materials, and never divulged
what Libugon had really been beyond a simple
relay station. The Japanese were never aware
these men had spent years breaking their
codes, work that would significantly aid FADM
Nimitz and the American command during the
war. August 2004.
| The ruins of this radio station can be seen on Part III of this chapter on Fonte Plateau. |
Another small monument at the high
school's front fence. B Company, 3rd
Marine Division, produced two Medal of
Honor winners between Guam and Iwo
Jima. PFC Frank Witek won the Medal
during an engagement on the northern
field of Finegayan. He saved countless
members of his unit, but was ulitmately
killed. The area near the village of Yona
used to be Marine Camp Witek, and Guam
old timers still refer to it, even though the
camp was closed decades ago. August
2004.
school's front fence. B Company, 3rd
Marine Division, produced two Medal of
Honor winners between Guam and Iwo
Jima. PFC Frank Witek won the Medal
during an engagement on the northern
field of Finegayan. He saved countless
members of his unit, but was ulitmately
killed. The area near the village of Yona
used to be Marine Camp Witek, and Guam
old timers still refer to it, even though the
camp was closed decades ago. August
2004.
| Another Medal of Honor winner, Marine Captain Louis B. Wilson, also displayed conspicuous gallantry during the fight up the hills to Fonte Plateau. Wilson later went on to be Commandant of the Marine Corps. The ridge he was climbing can be viewed from the Asan Memorial Overlook. August 2004. |
The two markers together with the fence line of the DODEA
high school and some ruins of Nimitz's original COMNAVMAR
complex in the background.
high school and some ruins of Nimitz's original COMNAVMAR
complex in the background.
