From July 21, 1944, to August 10, 1944, the brutal Battle of Guam occurred. During World War II, the Japanese army took over Guam, a prime naval base for the United States. The Battle of Guam was the retaking of this territory, but it was not a cut-and-dry victory. 1,769 Americans died, and between July and September of 1944, 23,303 Japanese defenders had the same fate.
Regardless of circumstance, every battle has an aftermath to deal with. For the Battle of Guam, the US made its intentions clear. On March 8, 1946, the US Navy confidentially discussed their plans for Guam as both a naval base and a territory. This plan was simply a start to the United States’ greater idea for Guam, but it provides a unique insight into the thought process of the US at the time. The document, known as the “Preliminary Report of Post-War Development of Naval Base Guam,” contains detailed maps, plans, and an overview of the future of Guam as a territory. It is both a consideration for the goals of the US and also an insight into what is to come.
This 105-page document detailing the United States’ post-war plans for Guam has now been declassified and was researched by Pasquines at the National Archives in Washington, DC. It begins by stating that it follows the recommendations of the Chief of Naval Operations Board Report while also making some modifications. The document discusses air stations, supply centers, medical centers, and more. It is shown in the document that the post-war development of Guam as a naval base was also intended to happen in phases, once it was approved.
Among the topics that stand out are the plans for Guam as a home, community, and culture. For housing, it states that consolidation, combining housing and lessening the outstretch of it, would be desirable for the economy. “Ease of administration” and “reduction in duplicated community facilities” are what follow that suggestion.
Directly after this information, the document reveals that at the time of its creation, native rehabilitation was not considered on a major scale. Locations and schematic plans for native villages were being studied at a local level. Outside of this, native life was not seriously taken into account.
The intentions for Guam were to be a naval base, but where does that leave its people? For decades, it made them struggle to provide. From the 1940s to the 1950s, the agriculture of Guam was reported to be difficult to revive as an industry. Crops were no longer growing the way they used to, and farms were confiscated for military defense purposes and recreational use.
As well as struggling with cultivation, major portions of land were determined unsuitable for farming after the destruction caused by American bombs. In addition, a sizable group of people were still considered refugees.
On July 4, 1946, Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal asked the people of Guam for their “patience.” Forrestal claimed the navy “will not promise to transform this island overnight into an earthly paradise, because there are a few things like ships, manpower, and like materials that are necessary before even the best intentions are fulfilled.”
Housing and sustenance were far from a priority for the Navy in Guam, as seen in the original document, and it resulted in the “off-limits” policy. The “off-limits” policy was one that prevented individuals in Guam from living and farming in development areas. If they were found in these areas, punishments would be severe. By 1947, 1,350 families had lost their homes to the navy’s off-limits policy.
At the time, many people in Guam felt that the developments that were happening had nothing to do with them, as they saw it as a means to end native traditions, not to expand their culture. The navy claimed it was modernizing the island, but the difference was clear.
The issue of Guam’s future became too hard to ignore. News of Guam spread all over America as President Truman and his administration were working to aid the island. In 1949, the Department of the Interior was sent to study the notion of Guam being transferred under its wing. The transfer came from the fact that the Navy was not treating Guam favorably, as in accordance with their original plans. This change also allowed for the off-limits policy to be revised over time, as rights and care for Guam became more of a priority.
Over the years, different initiatives allowed for bigger production and a livelier culture in Guam. Today, the focus lies more on decolonization, especially after the history involving US colonization that Guam has endured.
Giha Mo’na A Self-determination Study for Guahan
Guam’s Commission on Decolonization is one entity that focuses on providing education. As Guam might need to make a choice one day involving its future, this commission works to teach the difference between statehood, independence, and free association for Guam. Each has its own effects, but reconnecting with a culture and carving the island’s own path is the priority for the people of Guam.
Due to there being such a huge hit on the agricultural side of Guam, the citizens found an alternative way to make a profit. Tourism was a saving factor for Guam, as it provided independent economic relief. It created more jobs and brought more attention to Guam. As of 2020, Guam has generated $1.4 billion for its economy and produced around 18,000 jobs from tourism. 60% of the island’s annual business revenue stems from tourism.
The new attention also allowed people to question the viability of the agricultural industry in Guam. Tourists wanted a “taste of paradise,” causing fishermen and markets to boom. From its start many decades ago, tourism in Guam has provided opportunities for many citizens. Guam’s government has continued to try to increase these numbers over the years.
Since 1944, Guam and the people residing on the island have shown impeccable resistance. Finding tourism as a way to bring themselves up from the plans the US had for them opened many doors, deviating from the original United States’ post-war plans for Guam. Rebuilding their home to rely on what made it thrive in the first place is now a testament to Guam’s resilience.
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Fascinating article!