Day 99: Chagui’an Massacre Site, Yigo, Guam
📌APIA Every Day (99) - The Chagui'an Massacre Site, located in Yigo, Guam, was the site of a brutal massacre in 1944, where 45 native CHamoru men were beheaded by Japanese soldiers. The victims, aged between 15 and 76, were forced to carry war supplies from the Manengon concentration camp in Yona to the Japanese command post situated at Milalak, Yigo, near Chagui’an. Often referred to as the "forgotten massacre" due to its limited awareness, the site was recently uncovered through old military documents, handwritten reports from U.S. Marines, and oral accounts by CHamoru war survivors.
The site highlights the intense suffering endured by Guam's indigenous CHamoru population during the Imperial Japanese military occupation. This massacre was part of a broader pattern of brutality inflicted upon the CHamorus underscoring the impact of World War II on the island. Efforts spearheaded by individuals such as John Blaz, chairman of the Chagui’an Massacre memorial, and Yigo Mayor Rudy Matanane, have focused on identifying the victims and facilitating their families' applications for war reparations. Moreover, family members have come forward recounting stories passed down through generations about their lost relatives.
Memorials and commemorations, such as the annual memorial Mass, serve as reminders of Guam's wartime history and honor the victims of atrocities like the Chagui'an Massacre. These events unite survivors, descendants, military personnel, and officials to pay respects and ensure that the memories of those lost are remembered. At the massacre site, a cross and 45 candles stand in memory of the CHamoru men and boys who suffered, accompanied by a sign recounting the history of the events that unfolded there.
LEARN MORE:
Pacific Daily News: Chagui'an massacre marked with memorial
AP News: Chagui’an massacre site disputed
The Guam Daly Post: Chagui’an massacre victims remembered
On-Walkabout: The Chaguian Massacre Site, Guam
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