Remembering the Japanese Occupation of Guam

Our thanks to Ms. Lee for taking time to write down some of her memories of life during occupied Guam. Her generation, which should have been playing and enjoying the days of childhood and youth, paid a steep price for being "in the wrong place at the wrong time." Yet her words clearly show that the islanders faced each day of uncertainty with courage, optimism and fortitude.

When the Japanese first occupied Guam many families lived together because they had no place to go. A few farms had enough land to accommodate several families. People fortunate enough to have a family with property had no problem finding a place to settle and to farm . Everyone helped each other to find or build a shelter for their immediate family.

You have to remember that if the people in Guam were left alone they would have had enough to survive the war period, but the Japanese were having a difficult time. It seemed to us that as they lost islands in the Pacific, they sent the survivors to Guam. There were soldiers all over but they were having trouble getting supplies to Guam. Many ships didn't make it to port. Consequently they went to the farms to help feed the soldiers.

People were constantly bartering to get what they needed. If you had a surplus from your farm then you traded it for something you needed. There was a time when you traded personal items for food. Cigarettes, fabric and liquor were tops for trading. Although medicine was in demand, we were fortunate because many elderly people knew how to use herbs as medicine.

Periodically, the Japanese would make rice and fabric available. They were rationed so it was not unusual for both items to run out before everyone could buy their rations. The fabrics are usually beautiful silk so we were beautifully dressed farmers and laborers. Caution: don't get caught in the rain because most of the material shrinks! Is there any doubt about where mini skirts originated?

We were fortunate that Mom was a seamstress because she made our clothes stretch to accommodate our growth spurts. Many hours of mending, patching, taking in and adding on helped us to maintain our wardrobe.

During the early part of 1942 families who lived together or nearby would get together in the evening. Stories were told, songs were sung. Sharing past experiences did a great deal to help pass the time. If you were lucky and had books, then you read them over and over. (Remember that we were not expecting the bombing or invasion by the Japanese, so many people left the city with nothing but what they wore to church - it was the Feast of the Immaculate Conception - or what they could grab as they left their homes to flee the city.) If you were one of the lucky ones and had a record player and records then you really had prime time. No one dared to admit they owned a radio or to listen to one - too risky.

Leisure time was unheard of from the early part of 1942 until the end of the war. People were busy settling and farming to provide for their families. The Japanese demanded a workforce for their projects - the first was building an airstrip in Barrigada. Their project came first but when you returned to your farm you had your work waiting. There were no idle hands or working hours wasted. At the end of the day all one thought about was sleep.

By 1943 - 1944 many people had exhausted their supplies of canned goods or boxed items. People depended on what they grew, caught or traded for survival.

Through the help of Mr. Shinohara (a Japanese who married a Guamanian and stayed in Guam as a merchant) my sister and I worked at the Officers' Club. We were very young. There were many nights when they would find me in a closet asleep. At any rate, it was a good place to find two items in demand - beer and cigarettes. We saved all cigarette butts and leftover beer. Any beer left in a bottle was poured into a clean bottle. When the bottle was full it was capped. The beer was usually flat and a mixture of at least two brands but it never deterred anyone from trading.

I remember a time when sewing machines were in demand. Mama acted as the go-between so she was able to get something for her effort. It was difficult for many people to give up their machines but feeding one's family became the priority.

Flour was a rare commodity. However the people learned to do with what they had and they made flour from a fruit. (If I'm not mistaken it is called fading). It was not too bad. I remember a cake that was heavy and not so moist but it tasted like a million!