| South Pacific War Memorial Park Yigo, Guam Mt. Mataguac Battlefield Lt. General Obata's last command post |
Completed in May of 1970, the central tower of the
Memorial Park is 50 feet tall and designed to resemble palm
fronds held together in prayer.
The park sits just below the summit of Mt. Mataguac, a
slowly-rising highland on the northern plateau of Guam, in
the village of Yigo. A cave-riddled sinkhole, out of sight at
right in the photo of the memorial tower, was the last
command post of Japanese Lieutenant General Obata. Obata
assumed command of the island's Japanese forces upon the
death of Lt. General Takashina at his command post on
Nimitz Hill on 28 July.
The U.S. Army discovered the bunker-lined hollow on 10
August, and a viscous fight ensued until the next day. It took
pole charges, hundreds of pounds of TNT and multiple hand
grenades to seal up all the caves in the bunker complex.
Eight Americans died during the engagement. The U.S.
Forces reopened the caves four days later and found 60
Japanese bodies inside them, including Lt. Gen. Obata. This
was not the last battle on Guam, but that day was getting
close.
Memorial Park is 50 feet tall and designed to resemble palm
fronds held together in prayer.
The park sits just below the summit of Mt. Mataguac, a
slowly-rising highland on the northern plateau of Guam, in
the village of Yigo. A cave-riddled sinkhole, out of sight at
right in the photo of the memorial tower, was the last
command post of Japanese Lieutenant General Obata. Obata
assumed command of the island's Japanese forces upon the
death of Lt. General Takashina at his command post on
Nimitz Hill on 28 July.
The U.S. Army discovered the bunker-lined hollow on 10
August, and a viscous fight ensued until the next day. It took
pole charges, hundreds of pounds of TNT and multiple hand
grenades to seal up all the caves in the bunker complex.
Eight Americans died during the engagement. The U.S.
Forces reopened the caves four days later and found 60
Japanese bodies inside them, including Lt. Gen. Obata. This
was not the last battle on Guam, but that day was getting
close.
Down in the sinkhole at Mataguac Springs are the preserved entrances to
Obata's command post. Japanese visitors often leave gifts, such as sake
wine, flowers, and even candy. These are gifts to the spirits of their war
dead at these places. Obata apparently died the morning of 11 August,
because that was when his last radio dispatch to Tokyo was dated and
received. That same day, Tokyo declared the Japanese forces on Guam
to be "gyokusai", a crushed jewel. It was the designation they gave to
forces lost in the hallowed death of battle. 29 Aug. 2004.
Obata's command post. Japanese visitors often leave gifts, such as sake
wine, flowers, and even candy. These are gifts to the spirits of their war
dead at these places. Obata apparently died the morning of 11 August,
because that was when his last radio dispatch to Tokyo was dated and
received. That same day, Tokyo declared the Japanese forces on Guam
to be "gyokusai", a crushed jewel. It was the designation they gave to
forces lost in the hallowed death of battle. 29 Aug. 2004.
(Below Left) Back above the sinkhole, this view is what a visitor sees from the Memorial Tower
looking back towards the "Queen of Peace" shrine. (Below Right) The shrine, like the park, was
primarily funded and built by Japanese citizens and Japanese residents of Guam, and is a Buddhist
shrine dedicated to peace between the U.S. and Japan...and in all the Pacific. Aug. '04.
looking back towards the "Queen of Peace" shrine. (Below Right) The shrine, like the park, was
primarily funded and built by Japanese citizens and Japanese residents of Guam, and is a Buddhist
shrine dedicated to peace between the U.S. and Japan...and in all the Pacific. Aug. '04.
On either side of the main entrance are the American
wall (left) and the Japanese wall (below).
Don't ask me to translate the Japanese writing below;
when I find someone who can for me, I'll post it!
wall (left) and the Japanese wall (below).
Don't ask me to translate the Japanese writing below;
when I find someone who can for me, I'll post it!
The shrine contains several cases of jumbled
war artifacts. Many were found right around
the Mt. Mataguac battlefield, but others have
been left behind by Japanese visitors as a gift to
the shrine of peace. Unfortunately, there is
almost zero security at this site, and since 1970
many artifacts have "walked off". You can see
that many objects are not even inside closed
display cases, but simply set out (above photo).
If you visit this shrine, please do not steal the
artifacts. Whether you subscribe to the
Buddhist religious beliefs or not, this is still a
registered historic place of Guam, and the
artifacts are part of the island's heritage. They
belong to the Chamorro people.
war artifacts. Many were found right around
the Mt. Mataguac battlefield, but others have
been left behind by Japanese visitors as a gift to
the shrine of peace. Unfortunately, there is
almost zero security at this site, and since 1970
many artifacts have "walked off". You can see
that many objects are not even inside closed
display cases, but simply set out (above photo).
If you visit this shrine, please do not steal the
artifacts. Whether you subscribe to the
Buddhist religious beliefs or not, this is still a
registered historic place of Guam, and the
artifacts are part of the island's heritage. They
belong to the Chamorro people.
| Other Sites in Yigo |
This simple marker to the Battle of Yigo, the last
major combat operation of the Battle of Guam, is
located next to Marine Corps Drive a couple of
mile south of Andersen AFB. The photo below is
looking north, with Marine Corps Drive out of the
photo to the left. 23 March 2005
major combat operation of the Battle of Guam, is
located next to Marine Corps Drive a couple of
mile south of Andersen AFB. The photo below is
looking north, with Marine Corps Drive out of the
photo to the left. 23 March 2005
Although the Marine Corps gets most
of the glory, and did see the majority of
action on Guam, the United States Army
played a very vital and key role in
liberating this island.
of the glory, and did see the majority of
action on Guam, the United States Army
played a very vital and key role in
liberating this island.
The "lost" monument of the "forgotten" battle
of World War II on Guam: the Battle of Yigo
Monument.
This monument was dedicated to the Army's
77th Infantry Division, which landed at Agat on
July 21, 1944. Once U.S. Forces were linked
up in central Guam, the Army pushed north to
finish the job of liberation.
The Battle of Yigo was the last major battle on
the island, and this monument was dedicated in
the midst of the battlefield in 1994, the 50th
anniversary of the battle. Since then it has been
forgotten; there were no commemoration
ceremonies here during the 60th anniversary in
2004 (I know--I was on island recording the
events last year).
This memorial plaque is mounted below a large
silhouette of the island (below). Mar. '05
of World War II on Guam: the Battle of Yigo
Monument.
This monument was dedicated to the Army's
77th Infantry Division, which landed at Agat on
July 21, 1944. Once U.S. Forces were linked
up in central Guam, the Army pushed north to
finish the job of liberation.
The Battle of Yigo was the last major battle on
the island, and this monument was dedicated in
the midst of the battlefield in 1994, the 50th
anniversary of the battle. Since then it has been
forgotten; there were no commemoration
ceremonies here during the 60th anniversary in
2004 (I know--I was on island recording the
events last year).
This memorial plaque is mounted below a large
silhouette of the island (below). Mar. '05
The memorial is located on Route 15, the "Back Road to Andersen
AFB". With Andersen's back gate usually closed, not much more than
local residential traffic ventures into this forgotten corner of Guam. The
memorial's grounds are overgrown, litter-strewn, and lonely. Right: A
personal Japanese memorial that was placed on March 18, 2005--only
five days before I arrived and photographed the site. 23 Mar. 2005.
AFB". With Andersen's back gate usually closed, not much more than
local residential traffic ventures into this forgotten corner of Guam. The
memorial's grounds are overgrown, litter-strewn, and lonely. Right: A
personal Japanese memorial that was placed on March 18, 2005--only
five days before I arrived and photographed the site. 23 Mar. 2005.
| This historian would like to extend a special thanks to Mr. Cole Herndon. Mr. Herndon, a local historical expert on Guam, provided directions and some landmarks to look for, thus enabling me to finally locate the Battle of Yigo, USA 77th Infantry Monument. |
