War in the Pacific Historic Resource Study

I. Asan Beach Unit

The Asan Beach Unit consists of 109 land acres and 445 acres of water. It includes all of Asan Point, the landing beaches seaward of Marine Drive, and the western side and tip of Adelup Point. (The identifying numbers used below are those used by the National Park Service up to now. A new numbering system, which will provide more order, presently being developed by the area.)

Adelup Point, 1944.

Asa Point from Adelup Point, Asan Beach, 1984.

Agana from Adelup Point, 1984.

Adelup Point

No. 28. Japanese Pillbox. On the west side of the point. Presently owned by the Government of Guam, it consists of a single concrete wall, 5 feet in length, and containing a small embrasure. It lacks a roof. The field of fire was toward Asan Point. Battle damage is limited, but rock has fallen into the firing position. Japanese lire from the west side of Adelup Point hit the 3d U.S. Marines on Beaches Red 1 and 2 on W-Day. The point was captured by the end of the day.

No 29. Japanese pillbox. On the east side of Adelup Point. It is outside the boundaries of the national park. Built into the limestone cliff, this pillbox has two gun embrasures, one of which is now sealed with concrete. The rear entrance, from the top of the dill, is filled in. Located on the east side of the point, this pillbox played no direct rote in the W-Day landings. One may be assured, however, that its occupants partook in the defense of Adelup Point when U.S. Marines stormed it that afternoon. While the National Park Service has no responsibilities concerning the pillbox it is recommended it be identified in any interpretive literature that may be developed for Adelup Point.

No. 29. Japanese pillbox, Adelup Point, 1984.

No. 29. Japanese pillbox, Adelup Point, 1984.

No. 30. Japanese pillbox. On the east side of Adelup Point, outside the boundaries of the National Park. This fortification has been described as a "dual" pillbox, having two rooms (one large and one quite small), each with a gun embrasure. The cliff parallel to the westernmost embrasure has been chiseled out to increase the field of fire. A concrete observation port remains on top. As with No. 29, the pillbox played no direct role in the W-Day landings. It is recommended that it, too, be identified on any trail guides for Adelup Point. This is an excellent example of an essentially undamaged and completed Japanese pillbox.

No. 30. Japanese pillbox, Adelup Point, 1984.

No. 30. Japanese pillbox, Adelup Point, 1984.

No. 30. Japanese pillbox, Adelup Point.

No. 30. Japanese pillbox, Adelup Point.

No. 31. Natural cave. On the north tip of Adelup Point, within the park boundaries. This small cave may or may not have been defended. Pieces of concrete have been found within. It measures 6 feet in depth and 5.5 feet in width.

No. 31. Cave, Adelup Point, 1984.

No. 32. Cave and foxhole. These are on the west side of Adelup Point, within the park boundaries. The Government of Guam is the present owner. The natural cave, measuring about 5.5 feet in width and 10.8 feet in depth, could well have served as a weapon emplacement. On top of the cliff above the cave is a depression in the earth 3 feet in width, 6 in length, and 3 feet in depth, that probably was a machine gun emplacement. Both machine gun and mortar fire from Adelup Point fell on Beaches Red 1 and 2.

No. 42. Cave. It, too, is on the west side of Adelup and within the park boundaries. The Government of Guam is the present owner. This natural cave is faced with a coral rock and concrete wall. The cave measures 6.5 feet in width and 8 feet in depth. Its field of fire covered Beaches Red 1 and 2.

No. 42. Cave, Adelup Point, 1984.

No. 42. Cave, Adelup Point.

No. 41. House foundation. This large, concrete foundation on the highest part of Adelup Point marks the site of the pre-war Kroll home. It is believed that the Japanese dug tunnels into the landward sde of the foundation for storage; there is a definite evidence that this wall was breached and later resealed. Also, a photograph taken on July 23, 1944, shows at least one opening in the wall. A long concrete flight of steps from the house to lower ground from before the war remains. These steps are bordered with small, rock-walled flower terraces of an uncertain date (after the battle an American officers' club was established on the house foundation). It provides an excellent platform for viewing Asan Point to the west and Aqana to the east and is an outstanding location for on-site interpretation,

No. 41. Kroll House, Adelup Point.

No. 41. Kroll house foundation, Adelup Point, 1944.