SURRENDER OF GUAM TO THE JAPANESE, by George J. McMillin, Captain, USN.

The following insert illustrating admittance of surrender and the plan by the local command as authorized by the Federal Government to “evacuate” Americans from Guam due to fear of hostilities, and the possibility of Japanese invasion in Guam only cements the fact that there was no “Liberation…” but a blatant illustration of just how much the federal government thought of the native islanders of Guahan, “an unworthy, sub-class people” not worthy of protecting, or saving in the event of invasion and occupation by the Imperial Japanese Forces…

 

 

 
11 September 1945.
 
From: Captain G.J. McMillin, U.S. Navy
To: The Secretary of the Navy
 
Subj: Surrender of Guam to Japanese.
 
1.  On 8 December 1941, I was serving as Governor of Guam and Commandant of the Naval Station, Guam.
 
2.  At about 0600, on 10 December 1941, I surrendered the island and military and naval forces located there to the senior officer present, Imperial Japanese Forces in Guam (Enclosure 1).
 
3.  Since that time, and until 20 August 1945, when we were informed by Russian forces occupying the Mukden, Manchuria area that we were free, I have been a prisoner of war in Japanese hands. A report of my prisoner of war experience will be made in separate correspondence. The following report on the circumstances of the surrender of Guam is made from memory more than three and one-half years after the event. All notes made at the time were destroyed when the Japanese started periodic searches of personal effects, generally removing written matter. Dates and times mentioned are Guam dates and times.
 
4.  The political situation in the Pacific was assumed to be tense during the summer of 1941. After an effort extending over several months, arrangements were finally made to evacuate all dependents, including civilians, from Guam. This evacuation was completed on 17 October 1941, with one exception, Mrs. J.A. Hellmers, the wife of John Anthony Hellmers, Chief Commissary Steward, U.S. Navy. Mrs. Hellmers was expecting to be confined for childbirth before the transport "HENDERSON" was due in San Francisco. All precautions possible were taken to be prepared to carry out the mission assigned to the Station, and to prevent surprise. The Station ship "GOLD STAR" was in the southern Philippines and on the day preceding the start of hostilities was loaded and ready to proceed for Guam. On 7 December the... (end of insert, but more on the original print).

 

So now the question is posed, “Do you still believe Guam was liberated?”  Further reading in this after action report made by McMillin just does not add up to what survivors talked about for years after the occupation.  Many islanders had “no idea” what was about to happen to them on the morning of December 8, 1941.  CHamorus were pretty much “left out-there” and “hung out to dry” and to “fend for themselves…”  There was never an “island wide” briefing made by the government to the CHamorus consisting of contingent plans for CHamorus to take in case of an attack, or for that matter “Imperial Japanese military occupation” on CHamoru land…”

“More to follow Afanelos…”