War in the Pacific Historic Resource Study

I. Asan Beach Unit (continued)

Asan Point

Asan Point as the other "devil's horn" flanking the American landing beaches. After the battle, American forces opened a quarry on the tip of the point and on the ridge behind, forever destroying any Japanese fortifications located at these sites. On the east side of the ridge, i.e., facing the American landings, only a Japanese tunnel remains. On the ridge's west side, a complex of pillboxes remains. Some of these played an important role when the 9th U.S. Marines crossed Matgue River and pushed southwest toward Piti. Once the Marines passed Asan Point, the Japanese here opened fire, forcing the Marines to turn around to counter the attack. Asan Point was neutralized by the end of W-Day. The fortifications on the west side are reached via a road/trail (that needs a sign identifying it) beginning on the east side of the ridge and descending the west side via recently installed steps. The trail on top of the ridge continues south to the highest point directly overlooking Marine Drive. This overlook provides an excellent view of the landing beaches all the way east to Adelup Point and offers good possibilities for on-site interpretation. The trail along the base of the west side of Asan Point, from feature 54 to feature 69, has recently been partly disrupted by rockfall caused by an earthquake. Plans are to redirect the trail around the boulders and add earthquake history to the interpretation of the area.

Asan Point and Asan village, July 31, 1944.

Asan Point, June 1943.

Asan Beach area from Asan Point, 1984.

No. 61. Japanese pillbox. Constructed of reinforced concrete, it is on the west base of Asan Point. It has a gun embrasure and two rifle firing ports. It was extensively damaged by a direct hit above the embrasure and by a satchel charge on its roof. The pillbox cannot be entered in its present condition. Although the damage should not be repaired, the entranceway to the pillbox could be cleared.

No. 61. Japanese pillbox, Asan Point, 1984.

No. 61. Japanese pillbox, Asan Point.

No. 61. Japanese pillbox, Asan Point.

No. 62. Japanese pillbox (large caliber gun emplacement). Also located on the west base of Asan Point. Here, the Japanese took advantage of a large, winding crevice in the limestone cliff. A reinforced-concrete was built against the cliff. A low reinforced-concrete wall was added to the front of the opening. To the rear, the crevice was used for ammunition storage. In areas where the rock walls of the crevice were low, the Japanese built them up with rock and concrete. A steel gun base remains. (Marines recorded finding three 20 cm. (8-inch), short barrel naval guns in this area.) The horiztonal I-beams supporting the roof have rusted considerably and other iron work is heavily corroded. Some spalling of the concrete ceiling has occurred. Park maintenance has installed stout wooden planks as a temporary support to the ceiling. This pillbox should receive early attention from historical architects, addressing the issues of preservation and visitor safety.

Asan Point, October 1944.

No. 62. Japanese gun emplacement, Asan Point, 1984.

No. 62. Japanese gun emplacement, Asan Point, 1984.

No. 62. Japanese gun emplacement, Asan Point.

No. 62. Japanese gun emplacement, Asan Point.

No. 63. Japanese wall. At the base of the west side of Asan Point, two natural crevices, side by side, lead into the limestone cliff. In front of these, the Japanese erected a coral rock and concrete wall for the protection of the crevices which they used for storage or shelter. Only a part of the wall remains which ranges in height from 20 inches to 3.5 feet. Vegetation tends to grow profusely on the wall, resulting in the never-ending chore of removing it. Historic preservationists may wish to examine this structure to determine a permanent cure for the vegetation problem.

No. 63. Japanese rock and concrete wall, Asan Point, above crevices in cliff behind wall, below.

No. 63. Japanese rock and concrete wall, Asan Point, above crevices in cliff behind wall, below.

No. 63. Japanese rock and concrete wall, Asan Point.

No. 64. Japanese pillbox (large caliber gun emplacement). This structure is also built into the base of the limestone cliff on the west side of Asan Point. An entrance was constructed on the north side of the structure and is concealed from view as one faces the large embrasure. A low concrete wall forms the face and it does not meet the south side of the emplacement, thus providing a second entrance. A steel gun base remains installed in the floor, suggesting this structure housed another of the 20cm coastal guns. To the rear are two caves, one of which extends upward to the top of Asan Point. Near the tunnel's exit on top are the remains of the foundation of a small rectangular structure whose function is unknown. Like No. 62, the iron I-beams supporting the ceiling of the emplacement have greatly rusted. Also, one or the caves is filled with rock rubble. Historical architects should study this site for its preservation and safety needs.

No. 67. Cave. This natural cave is just north of feature No. 64, at the base of the west side of Asan Point It is a small cave measuring 4 feet in depth and 6.7 feet in width. The Japanese protected its entrance with a concrete wall, a portion of which remains on either side of the entrance. The cave is sufficiently large for a machine gun emplacement.

No. 64. Japanese gun emplacement, Asan Point, October 1944.

No. 64. Japanese gun emplacement, Asan Point, 1984.

No. 64. Japanese gun emplacement, Asan Point.

No. 106. Japanese tunnel. This Chamorro-built (forced labor) tunnel is the sole surviving Japanese defense structure on the east side of Asan Point. The large cave is easily accessible to visitors. Like all tunnels, rock rubble gathers on the floor and as a matter of visitor safety must be regularly checked. Interpretation, on- or off-site, should be developed for this tunnel and all of Asan Point.

No. 106. Japanese cave, Asan Point, 1944.

No. 106. Japanese tunnel, Asan Point, 1984.

No. 106. Japanese tunnel, Asan Point, 1984.

No. 106. Japanese tunnel, Asan Point.