War in the Pacific Cultural Resources Inventory

PART 3a

Pre-war Chamorro houses in Asan and Agat were wood and thatch construction. Only about a fourth of the homes had a cement foundation. Very few homes were "built of masonry with corrugated sheet-iron roofs" (Jennison-Nolan 1979). Pre-War bombing, invasion, and occupation episodes eliminated almost all pre-war buildings and structures throughout Guam, and especially at the Asan and Agat beach units. The only structures remaining on the landscape are associated with the war. These are predominantly defensive structures built by the Japanese.

Defense Structures

When war looked imminent, the Japanese realized that they needed to plan a strategy and build defense structures. The decision to reinforce their position on the island had come so late (March 1944) that they had less than three months to prepare. General Takashina and his subordinates felt that between the lack of Japanese troops available, and the limited time period given to them for preparation, their situation was hopeless. Nevertheless, they began to build with the forced labor of the Chamorro people. There were critical shortages of cement, reinforcing steel, lumber, and a wide range of needed hardware, which limited the kinds of fortification that could be built (Gailey 1988:40). The defense structures included pillboxes, cave bunkers, tunnels, and gun emplacements. These structures varied from well-built concrete faced enclosures with multiple gun openings to crude and hurried concrete caps on holes dug in the dirt.

All of the structures within the Asan and Agat beach units take advantage of the natural terrain. Most structures are found in the five coastal outcrops that provided natural caves and crevices. These were enlarged and made to connect through a series of tunnels. Reinforced concrete and/or stone walls were added for support and cover the gun bases mounted inside. Heavy combat obliterated many of these defense structures, however many still remain within Asan and Agat beach areas. Very few structures were built upon the beaches. Only one remains offshore of Asan Beach, possibly discarded when American troops began organizing the beaches as supply bases.

Some ingenious features or design techniques were added to structures. Some pillbox/caves had interior passages that extended from shoreline to ridge top. These were advantageous for attacking the first wave of American troops coming from ship to shore. Then, the Japanese would retreat through the caves up to the ridge top. After the cave appeared to be abandoned, and American troops felt secure ashore, the Japanese could return to the lower position and attack from behind. One pillbox was found to have a grenade-proof air vent that diverted any grenade through a shoot to deposit it outside of the pillbox. Other structures, clearly seen from troops advancing towards the shore, were thought to have been deliberately obvious to distract attention away from well-camouflaged strongholds.

Many of the historic Japanese defense structures built in 1944 are in a state of deterioration from various factors including weather, erosion, vegetation, visitation, vandalism, structural deterioration, or inappropriate maintenance techniques. Vegetative root systems cause expansive pressure on cement structures and can cause the disconnection between stone and mortar. The cracks created from roots allow for water to penetrate into structures resulting in the leaching of limestone compromising strength and integrity of the structure. Structural assessments of these structures were recorded in three NPS reports: The List of Classified Structures (LCS) 1978-2000, the Emergency Super-Typhoon PAKA Report 1998, WAPA Historic Structure Storm Damage:1998, and the Cultural Resource Assessment of Historic WWII Sites 2003. As an aggregate, all of the structures contribute to the historic character of the cultural landscape. However, some structures lack individual physical integrity, or have been modified in a manner that effects integrity (such as the use of steel material for structural reinforcements because of roofs caving in). These structures are listed within the Archeological Section of this document. The remaining structures that retain integrity are listed in this section and remain a contributing feature to this historic scene.

Asan Beach Unit from Asan Point to Adelup Point
The defense structures and tunnels are found on the east and west side of Asan Ridge as well as Adelup Point.

Adelup Point (LCS 042)
This Japanese defensive structures in the coral outcropping known as Adelup Point with in the Asan Beach Unit.

Japanese Tunnel at Asan Point Ridgeline (LCS 106)
Sole surviving Japanese defense structure on east side of Asan Point, along the ridgeline. Only structure within the park built by forced Chamorro labor. Exact location

1961 Mabini Monument (LCS 045)
This 1961 monument is a coral obelisk set on two concrete steps atop a larger circular concrete pad. There are three concrete benches in a circular pattern around the monument and concrete bollards with a chain. It commemorates Apolinario Mabini, the Prime Minister and Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the first Philippine Republic. He refused to pledge allegiance to the American Flag, when America acquired the Philippines after defeating the Spanish in 1889. He was banished to Guam in 1901, landing on the beach at the site of the monument where he was retained until he returned to the Philippines in 1903.

1964 Mabini Monument (LCS 052)
This monument sits next to LCS 045 (another Mabini monument). It also has a three-stepped concrete base with an exposed aggregate pillar and a metal plaque with text and the seal of the Philippine Historical Committee.

3rd Marine Division Association Monument (LCS MRKR1)
Cast bronze plaque set on cube of concrete (4'x3'x3' high). It has a low, flat rectangular exposed aggregate concrete base and is painted white.

War in the Pacific Park Plaque (LCS MRKR2)
Plaque at entry to Asan Beach Unit commemorating the "courage and sacrifice of submariners whose heroism during WWII contributed significantly to the liberation of the Pacific." Cast bronze plaque on raised, beveled concrete mount, set in front of a mounted MD 14 MOD5 torpedo.

U.S. Landing Monument (LCS MRKR3)
Located where 21st U.S. Marines landed on Asan Beach. Commemorates the 1944 American liberation of Guam, one of the most intense and costliest battles of the Pacific. Gives history of battle, lists commanders and dedicates the monument to all American dead. Dedicated by Gen. Lemuel C. Sherherd Jr. White rectangular monolith set on square base. Four brass plaques are attached. A 3D cast replica of Marine insignia is located on the top and its painted.

Civilian Landing Memorial (LCS MRKR4)
Commemorates landing of U.S. Forces in the 1944 liberation of Guam and is the site of annual celebration commemorating the event. Installed by American Legion. Tripartite wall with entry walkway. Engraved, upright artillery round set on center section. Separate flagstaff 50' south set on stepped square white concrete base w/ 3 levels. Asan Beach unit, located east of mouth of Asan River.

Liberator's Memorial (Not on LCS)
This six-sided structure, approximately 6-foot high, is set on six-sided platform of three painted aggregate steps. Each side is dedicated to a division of the Armed Forces, including the Navy and Navy Seabees, Army Air Corps, Coast Guard, U.S. Army, 3rd Marine Division, and the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade. This memorial commemorated the 50th Anniversary of the battle for the Liberation of Guam. Three small benches and a few ornamental plants surround it. Both the Guam and American flag fly over this commemorative memorial.

These monuments, plaques, and memorials listed above were built after the period of significance and are therefore non-contributing to the historic landscape.

Agat Beach from Bangi Point to Apaca Point, including Ga'an Point
The Agat Beach Unit holds Japanese defense structures, one American built latrine, and a monument. Contemporary site structures include one restroom, picnic tables and pavilions, bar-b-que grills, and interpretive exhibits including a coastal gun and wayside exhibits. There is also a three-flag memorial flying an American, Government of Guam, and the Japanese flag.

Apaca Point Japanese Bunker with Tunnel (LCS 001)
This pillbox is located on the southeast corner of Apaca Point with the entrance on the land-ward side leading down a 170-meter tunnel to the pillbox that faces south. It is constructed of reinforced concrete built into the rock outcropping with a rubble-in-concrete exterior for camouflage. It most likely held a 40cm gun with the field of fire over the beach inner reef, and a rifle range over the beach. It features an ingenious grenade proof air vent that will reroute any grenade dropped into it, to the ground outside of the pillbox.

Apaca Point Japanese Bunker (LCS 002)
Pillbox of reinforced concrete, built within natural limestone crevices, with two firing ports that face the beach. The guns were probably 40 to 75 mm and the firing ports are not embrasure style. This pillbox is inaccessible at high tide.

Apaca Point Japanese Tunnel (LCS 103)
Japanese coastal defense system tunnel connecting LCS 001 and LCS 002 together. The tunnel is enclosed by a concrete and rock roof.

Agat Japanese Cave (LCS 004)
This cave was either man-made or was a natural cave enlarged to accommodate two to three men. The opening is approximately 4' wide. It may have been used as a gun emplacement due to its strategic position along the beach.

Rizal Point Japanese Bunker (LCS 005)
This bunker is located on southeast corner of Rizal Point in Agat Unit. This defense structure was build as part of the Japanese coastal defense units and was partially damaged during the U.S. naval shelling.

Ga'an Point Latrine Foundation (LCS 007)
Last structure of the tent city that U.S. Military forces built to house Guamanian refugees liberated in Battle of Guam. There had been a line of latrines with concrete foundations and frame superstructures in water, connected to camp by walkway. This rectangular structure is located in the ocean about 15 feet offshore.

Bangi Point Japanese Pillbox (LCS 10)
This reinforced concrete pillbox is located at the water's edge. The pillbox has two firing embrasures and a rifle slit, and the roof is embedded to act as camouflage. The entry on the rear side has protective wing walls. Fields of fire to the north and south along the beach.

Agat Beach Monument (not on LCS)
This monument is located at Ga'an Point, within the Agat Beach Unit. It includes a monument of three flags: American, Chammoro and Japanese.

U.S. Landing Monument (not on LCS)
This monument is located south of Apaca Point. This monument consists of a three part concrete base with a large ammunition shell with a metal flag pole mounted behind the shell.

Summary

Initial intents of commemorative monuments were to be separate from the actual historical park. As stated in the 1967 master plan proposal to Congress, for the War in the Pacific National Park: "There is no conflict between the proposal for a memorial, which would involve a site in Agana, near the Government House, and the historical park, which would involve lands primarily at Asan and Agat" (DOI 1967:1). Today, these monuments associated with the Asan and Agat beach landscapes do commemorate the events, but they are not from the period of significance, and are therefore noncontributing features of the cultural landscape.

Sixty years after the liberation of Guam, battlefield structures remain within the Asan and Agat beach units. Although all of the structures listed in this section have undergone weathering since the 1940's, they are still considered to have integrity and are significant and contributing to the historic scene of the War in the Pacific National Historical Park.