[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1335 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1335

   Supporting the designation of July 21, 2024, as ``Guam Liberation 
                                 Day''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 28, 2024

 Mr. Moylan (for himself, Mrs. Radewagen, Mr. Fleischmann, Mr. Austin 
   Scott of Georgia, Mrs. Gonzalez-Colon, Mr. Barr, Mr. Smith of New 
 Jersey, Ms. Hageman, Mr. Burchett, Mr. Sablan, Mr. Case, Mr. Mullin, 
Mr. Davis of North Carolina, Mrs. Peltola, Mr. Norcross, and Ms. Titus) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                    on Oversight and Accountability

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Supporting the designation of July 21, 2024, as ``Guam Liberation 
                                 Day''.

Whereas Guam is an unincorporated territory of the United States in the Mariana 
        Island Chain;
Whereas Guam was invaded and occupied by Imperial Japanese forces from December 
        1941 until it was liberated in 1944;
Whereas the CHamoru people of Guam endured almost 3 years of harsh occupation 
        and atrocities by Imperial Japanese forces during World War II;
Whereas the Imperial Japanese forces forced nearly the entire civilian CHamoru 
        population (approximately 18,000 people) to march to a concentration 
        camp in Manenggon;
Whereas people of all ages, from infants to the elderly, were forced to march 
        for several days from villages across Guam, covering long distances with 
        little food or water and enduring senseless cruelty from the Imperial 
        Japanese soldiers along the route;
Whereas many accounts describe innocent people dying during the strenuous march, 
        babies being born and forcefully left behind, and families being torn 
        apart when people fell behind or became ill;
Whereas, once at Manenggon, the CHamoru people of Guam had to build basic 
        shelters and forage for food and water;
Whereas the CHamoru people were forced into labor camps to carry supplies, farm, 
        and complete other duties for the Imperial Japanese soldiers;
Whereas family members would mysteriously go missing without any warning or 
        explanation;
Whereas the people of Guam continued to display their courage and loyalty to the 
        United States by risking their lives to hide and protect surviving 
        United States soldiers from Imperial Japanese forces;
Whereas 1,000 civilians (nearly 10 percent of the population) were confirmed 
        deceased from the camps alone;
Whereas the full extent of deaths and suffering endured at Manenggon and the 
        other smaller camps during the forced marches is unknown;
Whereas tens of thousands of brave Americans from throughout the nation, from 
        Suffolk County, New York, to Sacramento County, California, to Hawai'i, 
        fought against tyranny and oppression thousands of miles from their 
        homes;
Whereas these brave servicemembers engaged the enemy in an area unknown to many 
        for the cause of freedom, making the ultimate sacrifice to liberate Guam 
        and its people from Imperial Japanese occupation;
Whereas, on July 21, 1944, the United States launched the Marianas Campaign to 
        liberate Guam, with over 55,000 American troops carrying out an 
        amphibious landing at Asan Bay;
Whereas Asan Bay was the site of intense fighting in the initial operations to 
        secure a foothold and liberate the island from the Imperial Japanese 
        forces;
Whereas nearly 1,200 young Marine and Army soldiers were killed in action on 
        Asan Beach on the first day of fighting;
Whereas securing Asan Bay was pivotal for the American victory over Imperial 
        Japan in the Pacific;
Whereas control of Asan Bay allowed American forces to establish airfields and 
        naval facilities on Guam that proved instrumental in launching the 
        eventual invasion of Imperial Japan;
Whereas the capture of Guam was completed on August 10, 1944, ending nearly 3 
        years of Imperial Japanese occupation;
Whereas over 2,000 United States servicemembers were killed in action in the 
        span of 100 days;
Whereas the Guam campaign was one of the deadliest campaigns in the Pacific 
        theater;
Whereas Guam provided the United States a crucial base to neutralize other 
        heavily fortified outposts controlled by Imperial Japan, accelerating 
        and securing the recovery of the Pacific theater;
Whereas the recapture of Guam provided an integral foundation for transporting 
        troops, equipment, and supplies toward Imperial Japan in preparation for 
        a final battle;
Whereas Guam's geographic position made it an indispensable strategic asset for 
        the United States future advances against Imperial Japan;
Whereas Imperial Japan surrendered to the United States of America only 13 
        months after the liberation of Guam;
Whereas Liberation Day reinforces Guam's resilience, loyalty to the United 
        States, and the cultural identity of the island; and
Whereas July 21, 2024, marks the 80th anniversary of Guam's Liberation Day, 
        commemorating the freedom regained from occupation and honoring those 
        who fought for Guam's liberation: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the designation of ``Guam Liberation Day'' to 
        honor the significance of Guam's liberation by the United 
        States, including the landmark battle launched from Asan Bay on 
        July 21, 1944; and
            (2) encourages the President to issue a proclamation 
        calling upon the people of the United States to observe Guam 
        Liberation Day with appropriate ceremonies and activities to 
        salute the sacrifice and honor of those that fought for freedom 
        in Guam.
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