RETURN TO GUAM

[Music] we are off the island of Guam shelling [ __ ] installations late one afternoon about two weeks before the landings suddenly we notice strange light flashes from the peak of a nearby hills the message in Navy code was baffling I have information what could this mean we signaled the unknown party to advance to the beach suspected [ __ ] trickery keeping our guns trained point-blank on that strip of beach the captain dispatched a boat which proceeded slowly to meet the person who had sent the signal [Music] it's a white man a strange unkempt figure crying and laughing in his joy and excitement when he was able to talk he identified himself as radio man George tweet United States Navy the only survivor of the original garrison of Guam slowly a strange story came out now he took to the hill during the original [Music] Japanese hiding place daily sometimes hourly for 31 months while endless Jeff patrols hunted him like an animal our courageous native smuggled him food and news and warnings of danger here was a Robinson Crusoe who had stood up alone against the whole Japanese Empire in the destroyer would tweet aboard rejoin the main task force he was amazed by the size of the fleet larger even than he'd hoped for during his 31 months of hiding battleships cruisers destroyers carriers so many of them and assault troop ships and assault cargo ships of a kind that didn't even exist when tweed became a fugitive fleet has come to this staging base himself so recently in Jeff hands loaded and powered for the attack on Guam now but a band swings out heavy shells are taken aboard the finishing touch the steel that will sting the big claws these 14-inch shells will rip out shore installations make the landing less costly in American lives cans of 40 millimeter ammunition pile up and great mounds on deck curtain a fire waiting to be raised if needed there across the water lies Guam means much to all Americans but most of these sailors that wha means Americans to Americans known as tomorrow's whose families have been captives of the Japs for thirty one bitter months soon we will find out what those Japs have done to our island beautiful it was then and living there made us happy there were twenty-one thousand dollars and we know each other as friend although we were far out in the Pacific we were proud to be under the American flag we were contented it was a good life [Music] the Navy ran the island like a great ship gave us doctors and hospitals and there was care for everyone on free schooling with many of us younger boys our big ambition was to grow up and join the Navy our older men learned about self-government from the captain who was in charge of the island we organize our own militia and our heroes for the Marines but there were not many of them the Marines of guava you they were indeed the Marines of Guam it would be 20 a gun at the door but behind this neighbor's door the masters of Japan were pointing guns of their own and they saw in Guam a key to their dream of empire their agents among us were busy wom was not to be an obstacle to the plans of Tokyo and on a certain day in December 1941 the Masters of Japan were ready war was on [Music] but the garrison on Guam was over almost before it began [Music] the Navy Department announces that it is unable to communicate with Guam either by radio or cable the island has been bombed repeatedly and Japanese troops have landed at several points a small force of less than 400 naval personnel at 155 marines were stationed in Guam the capture of the island is probably known to Japan for a month never again will Americans touch it the returned of one we knew would take many ships the months that followed we built such fleets but we were able to start the March back at Guadalcanal then we met enough planes to begin whittling down the Japs meet you strong enough to attack New Guinea County Europe we shall be very much stronger before America we free to move in the Pacific we build our way out of the sea with amphibious operations with blasted Tarawa on the Marshalls we are ready to sell your land and the amount of livestock Iike your pride we will fill you a mere square mile eat your weight then we were ready for the great adventure an attack on Japanese territory we conquered today our guns Thunder their answer our guns are on target target Islam you planes come up to meet our the island has been plastered all week the air [Music] let's see on the meat [Music] over here [Music] pocket of the head [Music] [Music] [Music] hey Jojo fire Direction Center FTC virgin hello let's go you guys right get with me mopping up phrase sounds came and unexcited actually mopping up is one of the most gruesome and dangerous jobs of the war the last hysterical fanatics must be captured or destroyed before victory is complete we've returned to Guam the dowsers again but the cost has been high [Music] 1226 Americans have died and dying each man disposed of ten Jets but 1226 fellow Americans have died here are the sons of heaven these are the members of the Divine race these are the men who set out to conquer the earth where now is the Imperial arrogance which went forth to destroyed the world Nene back hanging whatever you are kiss take a knee now you apply math in yo loudspeaker calls Geneva Convention we will not hurt you out of the hills where they'd hidden come a throng of Japanese civilians at bewilder not so much by the bombardment well that was severe enough their emperor has failed them not so long ago they turned their backs on their sacred mountain and sailed to Guam this was to be their colony their promised land and the tomorrow's would be their slaves they came to stay forever now the plans of empire lion ruinous qualms destiny as a fortress of Japan has been smashed [Music] now a new Marine Garrison takes up the watch on Guam today an American task force controls the waters off Guam two months after his rescue Jorge tweed now wine officer and holder of the Legion of Merit for his aid in the recovery of Guam returned to the island to prepare a final report on his strange adventure I came close to dying a hundred times during the last two and a half years but when those American planes and ships came over I almost died of joy all that power that was a sight for sore eyes the Navy sure had the stuff I didn't have to wonder anymore what the folks back home had been doing while I was playing hide and seek with the Japs but the Japs did a few other things besides chase me around when they started fortifying they built up their defenses like mad they were racing against time a lot of jhamora blood was mixed up in that concrete the Japs forced them to work for practically nothing and the ones who couldn't stand the gaff were beaten and tortured I'll bet they were a little too busy to mistreat the natives when we start coming over not the Japs sir they always find time for that when they got worried about the Americans coming back and they treated that jhamora was even worse when the natives could get together in groups it wasn't for celebration not at first they prayed for their dead some of these were victims of terrible butchery this one had his head cut off for turning it up to a sky filled with American bombers this one couldn't hide his joy when a zero crashed into the sea this one tried to help one of our pilots this is [ __ ] justice as I saw it the Japs brought slavery and misery and death to the natives of Guam these people are my friends they saved my life when I returned the remoras were getting their first good meals in a long time and their first decent medical care some of it for babies born during the occupation I would like to visit them again when the war is over until then I want to do everything I can and knock the hell out of those jets I was there in the beginning and I want to be there to finish people of Guam the government of the United States your government promises your homes will rise again your losses will be restored what is done for Guam is only part of what one will do for the people of America and the peace of the world one will now become everything that a powerful American base should be great installations will rise as sentinels of our security in the Peace of the world from Guam the attack goes forward from here the winning blow may be struck against Japan on to Guam on to every other place we win we must pour the power that we clear the path to Tokyo this base which was lost and is now redeemed may now fulfill its destiny and launch the action that will help win the war [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause]