| Inarajan, Talafofo, & Yona The Eastern Coast |
| T a l a f o f o |
Jeff's Pirates Cove Restaurant sits on the site of a WWII Pilot Rehabilitation Camp
where the Navy and Marine Corps sent pilots to rest up during the final months of the
drive across the Pacific.
7 August 2004.
where the Navy and Marine Corps sent pilots to rest up during the final months of the
drive across the Pacific.
7 August 2004.
Japanese pillbox on the
Talafofo beach (left is a close
up, above looking out to the
Pacific Ocean). In 1945
Japanese soldiers would stand
up inside this low-sunk
concrete bunker and fire at the
enemy through the gunports.
No major combat happened
here, however, and the decades
have seen the beach sand fill up
the bunker so only hermit crabs
can stand up inside it now.
7 August 2004.
Talafofo beach (left is a close
up, above looking out to the
Pacific Ocean). In 1945
Japanese soldiers would stand
up inside this low-sunk
concrete bunker and fire at the
enemy through the gunports.
No major combat happened
here, however, and the decades
have seen the beach sand fill up
the bunker so only hermit crabs
can stand up inside it now.
7 August 2004.
This odd stretch of beach, looking inland just a few yards north of the Japanese
bunker above, is the vicinity where five American Marines were killed in August
1945. What makes these deaths significant is that they happened after the
Marine Corps declared Guam secure. However, Marines were under standing
orders not to go exploring the jungles because the danger of Japanese stragglers
was very real. Sure enough, Japanese soldiers surprised and killed the five
Marines and their Chamorro guide here. The original action report can be read
at the Naval Base Guam Museum. 7 August 2004.
bunker above, is the vicinity where five American Marines were killed in August
1945. What makes these deaths significant is that they happened after the
Marine Corps declared Guam secure. However, Marines were under standing
orders not to go exploring the jungles because the danger of Japanese stragglers
was very real. Sure enough, Japanese soldiers surprised and killed the five
Marines and their Chamorro guide here. The original action report can be read
at the Naval Base Guam Museum. 7 August 2004.
The Aratama Maru was a 6,783 ton cargo
ship. The American submarine USS Seahorse
torpedoed the ship on April 8, 1944.
Abandoned by its crew, the Aratama Maru
drifted for three days before ending up drifting
into Talafofo Bay and settling on the shallow
ship. The American submarine USS Seahorse
torpedoed the ship on April 8, 1944.
Abandoned by its crew, the Aratama Maru
drifted for three days before ending up drifting
into Talafofo Bay and settling on the shallow
As you drive north or
south along Route 4 (in back
past the "Stop" sign), you will
pass the front gate of Camp
Dealey.
Named for Medal of
Honor winner, Commander
Samuel D. Dealey, this camp
was a recreation site for the
men who manned the
submarines of the Pacific
Fleet. Off shore are dredged
salt-water swimming pools, but
access to these is now across
private property.
south along Route 4 (in back
past the "Stop" sign), you will
pass the front gate of Camp
Dealey.
Named for Medal of
Honor winner, Commander
Samuel D. Dealey, this camp
was a recreation site for the
men who manned the
submarines of the Pacific
Fleet. Off shore are dredged
salt-water swimming pools, but
access to these is now across
private property.
Located north of Talafofo Bay in the Ipan area, the site
today consists of the remains of the main gate's guard shack
and gate posts. Right next to the abandoned guard shack are
the truncated stumps of the original camp flagpoles.
today consists of the remains of the main gate's guard shack
and gate posts. Right next to the abandoned guard shack are
the truncated stumps of the original camp flagpoles.
Talafofo's biggest claim to fame with WWII on Guam is Sgt. Yokoi. A straggler who hid in the Guam jungles until he
was captured in 1972, Yokoi returned to Japan a hero. He lived in a cave near Talafofo, and would come out at night
to hunt. He was not the last Japanese hold out, however. In the Philippine's southern islands another soldier named
Onada held out until 1974. Onada, however, not only survived and hid, as Yokoi did, Onada continued to actively
wage war against the Filipinos until he was talked out the jungle with an order from the Japanese military command.
There is a cave billed "Yokoi's Cave" at the Talafofo Falls area, and a fee is required to enter. Do not be fooled,
however. This is a reconstruction, and not even advertised as such. Yokoi's cave collapsed years ago, and the site is
inaccessible except by the hardiest adventurer.
was captured in 1972, Yokoi returned to Japan a hero. He lived in a cave near Talafofo, and would come out at night
to hunt. He was not the last Japanese hold out, however. In the Philippine's southern islands another soldier named
Onada held out until 1974. Onada, however, not only survived and hid, as Yokoi did, Onada continued to actively
wage war against the Filipinos until he was talked out the jungle with an order from the Japanese military command.
There is a cave billed "Yokoi's Cave" at the Talafofo Falls area, and a fee is required to enter. Do not be fooled,
however. This is a reconstruction, and not even advertised as such. Yokoi's cave collapsed years ago, and the site is
inaccessible except by the hardiest adventurer.
reef shelf where it rested for over a decade, part of its hull and its superstructure above the water. Eventually it was
completely submerged by typhoons to a depth of over 50 feet. Today the wreck is being broken up by the powerful
currents the Pacific Ocean throws into Talafofo Bay. To dive the ship requires an exceptionally calm day, otherwise
visibility will be practically zero. For those who don't wish to dive, you can find broken pieces of steel washed up on the
south side of Talafofo Bay, most likely pieces torn from the wreck. Here a small boat engine and screw lie in the surf. It
is impossible to know if this was from a boat carried by the Aratama Maru, or if it is the relic of another wreck. Another
small mystery...Photos Oct. 2005.
completely submerged by typhoons to a depth of over 50 feet. Today the wreck is being broken up by the powerful
currents the Pacific Ocean throws into Talafofo Bay. To dive the ship requires an exceptionally calm day, otherwise
visibility will be practically zero. For those who don't wish to dive, you can find broken pieces of steel washed up on the
south side of Talafofo Bay, most likely pieces torn from the wreck. Here a small boat engine and screw lie in the surf. It
is impossible to know if this was from a boat carried by the Aratama Maru, or if it is the relic of another wreck. Another
small mystery...Photos Oct. 2005.