| Mt. Tenjo |
Mt. Tenjo ("Teng-ho") possesses a small but unique site that ties both world wars together. This mountain
is the southern anchor of Guam's central mountains, and has a commanding view of Orote Penninsula and
Apra Harbor. Three 7" guns were mounted on its western face to protect the harbor and naval base. These
guns were set on a site surveyed in 1915 by Cpt. Earl "Pete" Ellis, USMC. In 1914, the German merchant
raider SMS Cormoran entered then-neutral U.S. waters to anchor in Apra Harbor. When word came of the
U.S. entry into WWI, these guns were trained on the Cormoran to keep her from escaping. Instead, her
captain scuttled her in the harbor where she remains today, with the WWII wreck of the Tokai Maru literally
within feet of her stern. In fact, when the U.S. Marines went out to the Cormoran to deman her surrender,
one of them fired a rifle across her bow. This was literally the first shot fired by American forces in WWI.
In order to accomodate the Japanese during the signing of the Washington Naval Treaty of 1921, these
guns, as well as many other fortifications, were reomoved. The Japanese felt Guam was over-armed and
therefore a threat (these were the years prior to Japan's emergence as a militaristic and imperialistic power).
The removal of these many armaments made Guam far easier prey when the Japanese invaded 20 years
later in 1941.
is the southern anchor of Guam's central mountains, and has a commanding view of Orote Penninsula and
Apra Harbor. Three 7" guns were mounted on its western face to protect the harbor and naval base. These
guns were set on a site surveyed in 1915 by Cpt. Earl "Pete" Ellis, USMC. In 1914, the German merchant
raider SMS Cormoran entered then-neutral U.S. waters to anchor in Apra Harbor. When word came of the
U.S. entry into WWI, these guns were trained on the Cormoran to keep her from escaping. Instead, her
captain scuttled her in the harbor where she remains today, with the WWII wreck of the Tokai Maru literally
within feet of her stern. In fact, when the U.S. Marines went out to the Cormoran to deman her surrender,
one of them fired a rifle across her bow. This was literally the first shot fired by American forces in WWI.
In order to accomodate the Japanese during the signing of the Washington Naval Treaty of 1921, these
guns, as well as many other fortifications, were reomoved. The Japanese felt Guam was over-armed and
therefore a threat (these were the years prior to Japan's emergence as a militaristic and imperialistic power).
The removal of these many armaments made Guam far easier prey when the Japanese invaded 20 years
later in 1941.
(Below) Looking east to Mt. Tenjo's western face, as
seen from Naval Base Guam. 23 Jul 2004.
seen from Naval Base Guam. 23 Jul 2004.
The U.S. military returned to Guam in force on 21 July 1944.
Tenjo was one of the early objectives of the liberators.
Tenjo was one of the early objectives of the liberators.
Company A, 305th Infantry, U.S. Army, hit the mountain on 28 July after coming ashore with the southern
prong of the attack at Agat. By 0815 they had reached the 1028 ft-above-sea-level summit. They
encountered relatively light resistance. The 3rd Marine Division forces, coming south from the northern
beachhead at Asan Beach, overran the enemy on Mt. Chachao to the west. The devil dogs fought through
much stiffer resistance, but moved south and linked up with the Army forces of the Agat beachhead by 1745
on the 28th. It had taken eight days for the two prongs to meet. This link up took place south of Mt. Alutom
(which is between Tenjo and Mt. Chachao) in the Maguagua Valley.
prong of the attack at Agat. By 0815 they had reached the 1028 ft-above-sea-level summit. They
encountered relatively light resistance. The 3rd Marine Division forces, coming south from the northern
beachhead at Asan Beach, overran the enemy on Mt. Chachao to the west. The devil dogs fought through
much stiffer resistance, but moved south and linked up with the Army forces of the Agat beachhead by 1745
on the 28th. It had taken eight days for the two prongs to meet. This link up took place south of Mt. Alutom
(which is between Tenjo and Mt. Chachao) in the Maguagua Valley.
(Left) The headwaters of the Ylig River start flowing down
the slopes of Tenjo after a heavy rain. The streams come
together down in the Maguagua Valley (Above), and
eventually empty into the Pacific Ocean. Somewhere in
this valley, the American forces linked up. 17 July 2004.
the slopes of Tenjo after a heavy rain. The streams come
together down in the Maguagua Valley (Above), and
eventually empty into the Pacific Ocean. Somewhere in
this valley, the American forces linked up. 17 July 2004.
(Left) The ruins of the American Command
Post established on Tenjo's eastern face.
Built into a pocket in the side of the
mountain, the site had a lot of cleared land
for staging around it and a commanding
view of the valley in 1944. (Below), myself
at the post. I'm 6'3" tall. You can get an
idea of the small size of the building. (Photo
by Tim McDonald). 17 July 2004.
Post established on Tenjo's eastern face.
Built into a pocket in the side of the
mountain, the site had a lot of cleared land
for staging around it and a commanding
view of the valley in 1944. (Below), myself
at the post. I'm 6'3" tall. You can get an
idea of the small size of the building. (Photo
by Tim McDonald). 17 July 2004.
To reach Mt. Tenjo's trailhead,
you drive up Nimitz Hill and park
at a spot that would let you take a
choice of three different hikes.
Mt. Tenjo and Mt. Chachao are
part of the National Park Service's
War in the Pacific park system, so
don't disturb any of the land or
artifacts you encounter. You
actually climb most of the
mountain by car, and have only
about a 160 foot elevation change
as you hike the 4 mile round-trip.
you drive up Nimitz Hill and park
at a spot that would let you take a
choice of three different hikes.
Mt. Tenjo and Mt. Chachao are
part of the National Park Service's
War in the Pacific park system, so
don't disturb any of the land or
artifacts you encounter. You
actually climb most of the
mountain by car, and have only
about a 160 foot elevation change
as you hike the 4 mile round-trip.
While hiking southeast along the old jeep road, the deep ruts of which were first cut in WWII by
American jeeps, you'll encounter an alternate trail to the right. This is a very, very difficult trail, but it
leads to the site the 7" guns used to occupy. One of your landmarks will be a twisted and bent sign that
used to say "Keep Out" and identified the area as military property. This trail is one of the most
overgrown I've ever forced, but it's worth it. This site was surveyed by Cpt. Ellis, USMC, and was
used during Guam's brief "action" in WWI, then removed to accomodate the Japanese in 1921. These
three guns were not the only ones removed. Guns were taken down all over the island. At the very tip
of Orote Penninsula, for example, are several circular concrete foundations around the modern Coast
Guard and Navy communications towers. These were the foundations for guns also removed.
American jeeps, you'll encounter an alternate trail to the right. This is a very, very difficult trail, but it
leads to the site the 7" guns used to occupy. One of your landmarks will be a twisted and bent sign that
used to say "Keep Out" and identified the area as military property. This trail is one of the most
overgrown I've ever forced, but it's worth it. This site was surveyed by Cpt. Ellis, USMC, and was
used during Guam's brief "action" in WWI, then removed to accomodate the Japanese in 1921. These
three guns were not the only ones removed. Guns were taken down all over the island. At the very tip
of Orote Penninsula, for example, are several circular concrete foundations around the modern Coast
Guard and Navy communications towers. These were the foundations for guns also removed.
(Left) Tim McDonald photographed me standing on one of
the few exposed slabs of concrete that used to mount a 7"
gun until 1921. I'm pointing west, towards Apra Harbor
and Naval Base Guam. (Above) Tim McDonald, pastor
and director of the Christian Servicemen's Center, Guam,
examines the damaged "Keep Out" sign. (Below Right)
Graffiti from a soldier or Marine long ago still marks
rocks at the site. 17 Jul 04.
the few exposed slabs of concrete that used to mount a 7"
gun until 1921. I'm pointing west, towards Apra Harbor
and Naval Base Guam. (Above) Tim McDonald, pastor
and director of the Christian Servicemen's Center, Guam,
examines the damaged "Keep Out" sign. (Below Right)
Graffiti from a soldier or Marine long ago still marks
rocks at the site. 17 Jul 04.
Mt. Tenjo is a good hike for beginners to get a feel for "boonie stomping" in deep jungle conditions. The
trail is generally level, but rutted and rocky. In several places the neti (sword grass) is over six feet high (it
was taller than me). Despite these obstacles, the main trail is easy to stay on, so you don't have to worry
much about getting lost. Along the way, you might even encounter some foxholes dug by American soldiers
and Marines in 1944. Foxholes are always "iffy" artifacts to find. A hole is just a hole. Generally a foxhole
will be unusually round and deep. However, the hole you are at could be a natural formation, so the best you
can say is that it is a "probable" foxhole. Either way, take a moment and think about the man who dug this
hole in rocky, clay-like mud and dirt to protect himself from enemy fire. He did this for your freedom.
Of course, modern man travels this trail through a variety of means--4-wheelers, 4-wheel drive trucks, and
the preferred method of Pastor Tim and I--the 'two feeter' (walking!). If you see trash, pick it up and keep
the mountains clean.
trail is generally level, but rutted and rocky. In several places the neti (sword grass) is over six feet high (it
was taller than me). Despite these obstacles, the main trail is easy to stay on, so you don't have to worry
much about getting lost. Along the way, you might even encounter some foxholes dug by American soldiers
and Marines in 1944. Foxholes are always "iffy" artifacts to find. A hole is just a hole. Generally a foxhole
will be unusually round and deep. However, the hole you are at could be a natural formation, so the best you
can say is that it is a "probable" foxhole. Either way, take a moment and think about the man who dug this
hole in rocky, clay-like mud and dirt to protect himself from enemy fire. He did this for your freedom.
Of course, modern man travels this trail through a variety of means--4-wheelers, 4-wheel drive trucks, and
the preferred method of Pastor Tim and I--the 'two feeter' (walking!). If you see trash, pick it up and keep
the mountains clean.
(Above) The week before Tim and I pushed the
trail all the way to the Command Post, one of
my best friends and closest Christian brothers,
Phil, and I scouted out the area. Here, Phil
photographed me next to a "possible/probable"
foxhole...or just a natural rut that fooled us both.
10 July 2004, by Phil.
trail all the way to the Command Post, one of
my best friends and closest Christian brothers,
Phil, and I scouted out the area. Here, Phil
photographed me next to a "possible/probable"
foxhole...or just a natural rut that fooled us both.
10 July 2004, by Phil.
(Above) Tim took this photo of me posing on an
abandoned 4-wheeler we found in the brush.
This machine was pretty rusty and stripped. It
may have been up here ten years or ten months.
Either way, with no seat left, it was...mildly
uncomfortable to sit on. (Below) Tim
photographed me on Tenjo's southern end with
Maguagua Valley and eastern Guam behind me.
17 July 2004.
abandoned 4-wheeler we found in the brush.
This machine was pretty rusty and stripped. It
may have been up here ten years or ten months.
Either way, with no seat left, it was...mildly
uncomfortable to sit on. (Below) Tim
photographed me on Tenjo's southern end with
Maguagua Valley and eastern Guam behind me.
17 July 2004.
