War in the Pacific Cultural Resources Inventory

PART 2a

Before dawn of July 21, 1944, three hours of incessant and deafening bombing trapped many Japanese inside their bunkers. Meanwhile the United States fleet of eleven battleships, twenty-four aircraft carriers, and 390 other ships gathered just off the western shore of Guam.

At 0829, the attack was directed at the 2000 yards of beach between Asan and Adelup points. The 3rd Marines landed on Red Beach 1, on the left flank. Being closest to Adelup Point, they soon realized that the Japanese were secured in effective defensive positions within the Adelup Point and upon Chonito Cliff, the high ground overlooking the beach. The 21st Marines assaulted Green Beach in the center with little resistence. The 9th Marine Division struck on Blue Beach, on the right flank, near Asan Point. Comprised of a little over six thousand men, they encountered the Japanese 320th Independent Infantry Battalion that was well entrenched in the caves along the limestone outcroppings. These outcroppings known as two 'devil's horns', Asan Point and Adelup Point, lie on either end of the 2,500 yard stretch of Asan Beach. Mortar and machine gun fire covered the beach from these caves and ridges. Especially debilitating was the fire coming from Adelup Point. One tunnel system, 400 yards long, connected Chorito Cliff with Adelup Point. Japanese troops could retire to positions on the back-slope of the ridge during intense shelling, and return out to the peninsula behind the U.S. Marines landing on the beach.

Road construction began as soon as equipment hit the shore. All the while, the invasion battle was at full tempo and the crew was often under sniper attacks. They worked 24-hours a day around a steady stream of two-way traffic. Rain, humidity and mosquitoes were a constant irritant. Engineering specifications for the highway were rigid as any built in major United States cities. Main arteries were to be four 11foot lanes, Curves were restricted to 6 degrees and grades could not exceed 6 percent. Rugged rock outcrops required extensive cuts. It was the rainy season meaning torrential downfalls reduced every road cut to muck and created as shortage of fill material. Fills exceeding 18-feet were required to cross gullies and swamps. Incredibly, in 60 days, a 12-mile, four-lane, super-highway with nine bridges was complete between Sumay and Agana.

The Americans realized that their worst obstacle would be the 'almost impossible' terrain facing them (Lodge 1998:40). Troops advancing toward Chorito Cliff and Bundschu Ridge took heavy losses. Four times they attempted to advance up rugged cliffs covered with sword grass. Four times they were pushed back. Climbing up the 60 degree slope required two handed climbing that made it impossible to return fire. Marines lay piled at the bottom of the ridges and the others were forced back to the beaches over and over until reaching success (Gailey 1988:95-97).

Heat of over 90 degrees, intense humidity, lack of drinking water, and motion sickness from the long confinement aboard the ships brought the efficiency rate of troops down to 75%. By mid-afternoon, many men were dropping from exhaustion. By day's end, the regiment invading Asan beach counted 231 killed or wounded. Of the 100 amphibious trucks (DUKW's) available, thirty-six were lost during the landing and immediate assault phase on Asan Beach.

At Agat, the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade approached the beach, pushing in against Japanese troops from the 38th Infantry Regiment. Japanese troops were anchored in at Mt Alifan, Bangi, Apaca Point, and Ga'an Point. Defense structures and artillery were securely hidden within these rock outcroppings. In addition to Bangi Point and Apaca Point on either end, Ga'an Point was centered on Agat Beach and held effective fire power over north and south sections. These outcroppings supported the Japanese strategy to attack the enemy before they got a foothold on solid ground. The reef at Agat was much wider than Asan. Debilitating mortar and artillery fire poured down on American troops and amphibious vehicles as soon as they reached the reef edge. Japanese troops had a 75mm gun and 37mm gun mounted in concrete bunkers. Seventy-five marines were killed in the first wave, before they even reached the beach (Gailey 1998:97-99).

The first wave landed at 0829 and brutal mortar and artillery fire continued to reign down on the troops. In addition to the poor condition of the combat troops, there was a shortage of supplies, ammunition and water. Evacuation of the wounded was difficult without enough Landing Vehicle Transports (LVT's) and DUKW's. A direct mortar hit eliminated all medical personnel and supplies on Yellow Beach. In addition to these problems, General Shepard had no communication with the regimental CP's (command post) until after noon and was unable to call in the reserves until late in the day (Gailey 1998:101).

At 1400, the 2nd Battalion was ordered into Agat Beach. No LVT's could be spared to transport troops across the reef and into shore. They had to wade the 400 yards across coral heads and through shell craters while under direct enemy fire. Many soldiers, carrying as much as 50 pounds of equipment on their backs, slipped into water over their heads soaking vital communication equipment. The 2/305th unloaded and had to wade in at nightfall, narrowly escaping landing in enemy territory. By the end of the first day, casualties numbered 455, and the wounded over 536. Twenty-four, or more than one in eight LTV's were disabled (Gailey 1997:108).

Although the U.S. Marines had established themselves at each beachhead, their positions on Guam were less than secure since each beach was only a narrow strip of low ground encircled by outcrops, ridges and mountains. The Japanese were still controlling the strategic high ground with the ability to fire on almost any part of the beaches. However, lack of coordination and lack of any concentrated effort to create a breakthrough at a strategic point while they had the advantage was a critical mistake. "A careful look at the Japanese response to the relatively slight Marine gains during W-Day show that the decisions made by General Takashina and his subordinates during the afternoon of W-Day determined the outcome of the battle for Guam" (Gailey 1998:103).

On W-Day, two non-combat units followed the combat troops, the U.S. Navy Seabees and a civil affairs group. The Seabees immediately set to work repairing and building roads, airstrips, and necessary installations. The multilane highway (Marine Drive) was constructed during this time. During the expansion of existing roads as well as building new roads, road cuts and removal of vegetation was necessary to achieve the construction goals. The Civil Affairs unit began running protective compounds for the vast amount of aged and sick Chamorro refugees brought back to the beachheads by combat marines. Camp Asan is believed to have served as the barracks and headquarters for the Seabees Island Command Troop. The camp consisted of approximately 40 quonset huts and outbuildings located between Asan Point and Asan River. The camp was in place by early 1945 and occupied until 1947.

Three days after W-Day, (24 July) the Southern Landing Force had its beachhead firmly established. The steep cliffs and ridges surrounding both Asan and Agat beaches again took their toll on the troops. Weighed down with the intense heat and humidity, and lacking adequate drinking water, the troops advanced on the ridges that sometimes required two handed climbing through razor sharp sword grass. The cliffs were so steep that supplies were sent up on ropes. Advancement over the ridges often required repeated efforts and caused significant losses (Gailey 1998:97).

After four days of continuous battle, the enemy was surrounded on the Orote Peninsula. The Army 77th Division had secured most of the FBL. Defense responsibility for the beach from Agat Village to Ga'an Point rested upon the 9th Defense Battalion. The Army 7th AAA (Automatic Weapons) Battalion guarded the coastline from Ga'an to Bangi Point (Lodge 1998:69-70).

Location of Camp Asan (CLI Team/PISO/2003).