[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 96 (Thursday, July 21, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 21, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
             THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LIBERATION OF GUAM

  Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, with the instantaneous opening of a 2-hour 
bombardment by six battleships, nine cruisers, a host of destroyers and 
rocket ships laying their wrath on the wrinkled black hills, rice 
paddies, cliffs, and caves that faced the attacking fleet on its west 
side, liberation day for the Pacific island of Guam began 50 years ago 
today at 5:30 a.m., July 21, 1944. It was the first United States 
territory to be recaptured in World War II and its people liberated 
from Japanese occupation forces.
  Guam's liberation from the Japanese was an important strategic 
victory in the Pacific during World War II. The Japanese navy was 
rendered powerless after the Battle of the Philippine Sea, and the 
Battle of Guam solidified the beginning of the demise of the Japanese 
domination of the Pacific. Today marks the 50th anniversary of the 
liberation. As a veteran of that battle, I was designated as the 
President's representative at the commemorative ceremonies in Guam 
being held this week, but as we all know, our Senate duties often 
conflict with events such as this, so I am unfortunately not able to be 
there. I did, however, want to discuss Guam--and the significance of 
the battle waged there 50 years ago--with my colleagues in the Senate.
  Guam is the largest and southernmost of the Mariana Islands. The 
ancestors of the Micronesians first settled there and on the other 
Mariana Islands about 4,000 years ago. Members of a Spanish expedition 
under the Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan were the first 
Europeans to discover Guam, visiting the island in 1521. It was claimed 
by Spain in 1565 and the first Jesuit missionaries arrived 100 years 
later.
  The native Micronesian population is estimated to have fallen from 
100,000 in 1521 to fewer than 5,000 by 1741, owing largely to a 
combination of massacres by the Spaniards and exposure to newly 
introduced diseases. The present-day Chamorro population are 
descendants of the Micronesians, whose blood was mingled with the genes 
of Spaniards and immigrant Filipinos. The Chamorros were and are a 
proud people--and proud of their American citizenship. Following the 
Spanish-American War, Spain ceded Guam to the United States, selling 
the other Mariana Islands to Germany. Japan obtained a League of 
Nations mandate over the German islands in 1919. Today, 50 years after 
its liberation, Guam remains a territory of the United States, and the 
island serves as an important strategic naval and air base with 6,500 
U.S. service personnel stationed there.
  Guam was captured by the Japanese on December 10, 1941, when the 
small and lightly armed United States garrison of less than 500 
marines, sailors, and some native constabulary men were overwhelmed by 
the 5,000 Japanese troops who stormed ashore with the Guam invasion 
force. During the brief battle, the Americans lost 17 men and the 
Japanese 10.

  The Americans did not return to Guam until the summer of 1944 with 
Operation Forager. Delayed over a month by the fierce Japanese 
resistance on Saipan and by the presumable need to obtain greater 
infantry assault strength, the 3d Marine Amphibious Corps finally 
landed on Guam July 21--W-day. That day 50 years ago began beautifully 
and peacefully, but it soon turned hazy as the violent clouds of smoke, 
dust, and fire spiraled skyward. The American spearhead forces 
consisted of my divisions the 3d Marine Division, the 1st Provisional 
Marine Brigade, and the Army's 77th Infantry Division.
  The Americans' preliminary air and naval bombardment, which lasted 2 
weeks, was the longest and most sustained to that date--28,764 rounds 
were fired by warships alone. But their fortifications were formidable, 
allowing the Japanese garrison to retain a remarkable defensive 
capability, especially pronounced on the southern beaches around Agat 
Bay. Once ashore, the Americans repulsed wave after wave of powerful 
Japanese counterattacks against the northern sector at Asan on July 22 
and 25.
  By July 25, 1944 the stage was set for the fierce Battle of Fonte 
Ridge, fought hand-to-hand with casualties on both sides caused mainly 
by grenades and small arms at point-blank distances. The action proved 
decisive, with the Japanese losing 3,500 men. Driven back to the rugged 
northern portion of Guam, the Japanese fought on in an organized 
fashion well into August. The defending Japanese commander of the 
island was killed in his command post on August 12.
  It was during the Battle of Fonte Ridge that leadership doggedness, 
together with organizational skill under fire, merited the award of the 
Congressional Medal of Honor to the commanding officer of Company F of 
the striking 9th Marines, Capt. Louis H. Wilson, Jr., who later became 
the 26th Commandant of the Marine Corps in 1976.
  Captain Wilson was wounded three times while leading his own attacks 
and defending the high ground in the intense fighting of the Fonte 
Ridge action. He organized and led the 17-man patrol which climbed the 
slope in the face of the continuous enemy fire to seize the critical 
high ground at Fonte and keep it. His Medal of Honor citation reads:

       Fighting fiercely in hand-to-hand encounters, he led his 
     men in furiously waged battle for approximately 10 hours, 
     tenaciously holding his line and repelling the fanatically 
     renewed counterthrusts until he succeeded in crushing the 
     last efforts of the hard-pressed Japanese * * * by his 
     indomitable leadership, daring combat tactics, and valor in 
     the face of overwhelming odds, Captain Wilson succeeded in 
     capturing and holding the strategic high ground in his 
     regimental sector * * * his inspiring conduct throughout 
     the critical periods of this decisive action sustains and 
     enhances the highest traditions of the United States Naval 
     Service.

  Another Medal of Honor recipient cited for gallantry during the 
liberation of Guam was Pfc. Frank Peter Witek, who sadly was struck 
down by an enemy rifleman. His citation reads, in part:

       * * * When his rifle platoon was halted by heavy surprise 
     fire from well camouflaged enemy positions, Private First 
     Class Witek daringly remained standing to fire a full 
     magazine from his * * * automatic [rifle] at point-blank 
     range into a depression housing Japanese troops, killing 
     eight of the enemy and enabling the greater part of his 
     platoon to take cover * * * his valiant and inspiring action 
     effectively reduced the enemy's firepower, thereby enabling 
     his platoon to attain its objective * * * he gallantly gave 
     his life for his country.

  Other Medal of Honor recipients were Pfc. Luther Skaggs, Jr., whose 
citation says that he ``served as a heroic example of courage and 
fortitude to other wounded men and, by his courageous leadership and 
inspiring devotion to duty, upheld the high traditions of the United 
States Naval Service,'' and Pfc. Leonard Foster Mason, also killed in 
battle, whose says ``his exceptionally heroic act in the face of almost 
certain death enabled his platoon to accomplish its mission and 
reflects the highest credit upon * * * the United States Naval Service. 
He gallantly gave his life for his country.''
  These are only four examples of the kind of bravery and dedication 
that was common among those who fought during the liberation of Guam, 
reflecting the highest credit upon themselves, their uniform, and their 
country. Most of us were lucky, and lived to tell of the heroism on the 
part of those Medal of Honor recipients and others we knew. But many--
like Frank Peter Witek and Leonard Foster Mason--paid the ultimate 
price for freedom 50 years ago.
  After Guam was liberated, sporadic resistance on the island continued 
until the end of the war--and for years beyond that. Only about 11,000 
Japanese were accounted for by September 1, 1945. Another 8,500 were 
accounted for after that date. A Japanese Army lieutenant colonel and 
11 men surrendered on September 4, 1945. Others gave up or were killed 
individually, and hundreds probably died in the brush from hunger, 
wounds, and disease. Incredibly, the last Japanese soldier was found 
there some 25 years after the battles in 1944, having hidden out in a 
cave for all that time. United States' Casualties in Guam amounted to 
1,290 killed, 5,648 wounded, and 145 missing--a total of 7,083 out of 
54,891 engaged in the fighting. The pitched fighting of such famed 
battles as Peleliu, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa were yet to come for the 
marines, but the end of the war was less than a year away by the time 
Guam was liberated.
  It is right and fitting that we pause to remember and reflect upon 
the valiant fighting men who waged this fierce battle to liberate Guam 
from Japanese occupation and secure an American foothold in this part 
of the Pacific. Thousands of sailors, soldiers, airmen, and marines 
came to these islands. Some never returned. Those of us who did will 
never forget the friends we lost there. We were honored to have served 
with them.
  As we pause today here and on the former battlefields at Guam to 
remember the bravery and supreme sacrifice on the part of our fallen 
comrades, may we resolve to never forget their service and the 
tremendous price paid by their families and loved ones. They gave 
themselves completely to the cause of defending our freedoms and 
democratic way of life. Indeed, they did uphold our highest traditions 
and ideals, and we will be forever grateful to them.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. Murray). The Senator from Tennessee [Mr. 
Mathews] is recognized.
  Mr. MATHEWS. Madam President, I want to join with the Senator from 
Alabama in paying tribute to the brave men and women who retook the 
island of Guam. I have had a chance to visit and see the terrain and 
the territory over which this battle was fought, and it could have only 
been a very fierce battle.
  I rise particularly to say that our colleague from Alabama, who is 
standing here paying tribute to others there--and I believe the record 
will show--also is a very well-decorated soldier of that battle and of 
World War II, and that at least on two occasions he was wounded in that 
battle. So he did not go through it without knowing the ravages of war 
and without knowing what it was like to carry on after a wound. I pay 
tribute to my colleague, and I thank to him on behalf of the Nation for 
the service he rendered.
  Mr. HEFLIN. I appreciate those kind words.
  Mr. BREAUX addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Louisiana is recognized.
  Mr. BREAUX. Madam President, I first ask that it be in order to 
request the yeas and nays on the passage of a bill H.R. 4649, the D.C. 
appropriations bill.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. BREAUX. I now ask for the yeas and nays.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
  There is a sufficient second.
  The yeas and nays are ordered.
  Mr. BREAUX. Madam President, I yield to the distinguished Senator 
from Delaware [Mr. Roth].
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Delaware is recognized.
  Mr. ROTH. I thank the Chair.
  (The remarks of Mr. Roth and Mr. Breaux pertaining to the 
introduction of S. 2301 are located in today's Record under 
``Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions.'')
  Mr. BREAUX. Madam President, let me yield to the Senator from Alaska. 
I think I am supposed to be controlling time.
  Mr. ROTH. I am happy to yield to the distinguished Senator.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator controls 8 minutes.
  Mr. MURKOWSKI. I appreciate that. I believe I have more time 
reserved.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator controls 10 minutes.
  Mr. BREAUX. If I may yield back the remainder of my time to the 
Senator from Delaware.
  Mr. ROTH. Yes. I thank the Senator. How much time do we have 
remaining?
  Mr. BREAUX. Eight minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Alaska is recognized.
  Mr. MURKOWSKI. I thank the Chair.
  (The remarks of Mr. Murkowski pertaining to the introduction of S. 
2303 are located in today's Record under ``Statements on Introduced 
Bills and Joint Resolutions.'')

                          ____________________