The Fena Massacre, also known as the Fena Cave Massacre, was an event where more than 30 Chamorro people were killed by Japanese soldiers during World War II.[1] The site is located at present-day Naval Base Guam’s Ordnance Annex in Sånta Rita-Sumai.[2][3]
| Fena Massacre | |
|---|---|
| Part of World War II | |
| Date | July 19, 1944 |
| Target | Chamorro people |
Attack type | Massacre, Mass rape |
| Deaths | 30+ |
| Injured | 17 |
| Perpetrators | Imperial Japanese Army |
History
editResidents from Agat and Sumay were rounded up by Japanese forces on July 19, 1944, two days before the island's liberation. About 50 young men and women were held under strict working conditions to perform forced labor.[3][4][5] The Chamorros transferred ammunition from Apaka Point to the Talayfac areas south of Agat.[4] Parents of the victims were sent to a concentration camp in Mannengon Valley.[3]
When the American forces began bombardment and shelling, the Chamorros fled to area of present-day Fena Lake and were herded by the Japanese soldiers into the Atdutgan caves.[4] These caves along the cliff of San Ramon Hill were constructed in anticipation of the American liberation.[6]
Lured to the cave with promises of food, the victims were intoxicated by sake and beer.[7][8] More than 30 Chamorro victims were killed by grenades, machine guns, bayonets, and sharpened bamboo lances in the caves.[1][9][2][10][3][11] Dozens were also repeatedly raped in the caves.[8]
Survivors hid under dead bodies.[8][12]
List of victims
editGuam's Wall of Strength: Names Never Forgotten is part of the War Survivors Memorial Exhibit in the lobby of the Guam Congress Building in Hagåtna.[6]
This list was compiled by the Fena Memorial Committee.[13]
| Name |
|---|
| Balbino G. Aguigui |
| Jesus Aguon |
| Joseph Babauta |
| Juan B. Babauta |
| Vicente Munoz Borja |
| Gaily Cruz Camacho |
| Evelyn T. Carbullido |
| Concepcion R. Castro |
| Dolores Rabago Castro |
| Maria Rabago Castro |
| Antonio B Charfauros |
| Dolores J Cruz |
| Jose T Cruz |
| Maria J Cruz |
| Vicente T Cruz |
| Antonio Cruz Elliot |
| Dolores C Fejeran |
| Enrique C Fejeran |
| Joe Herrera |
| Caridad T Lizama |
| Gregorio T Lizama |
| Juan Ulloa Mendiola |
| Rosalia Pinaula Mesa |
| Ana Terlaje Nededog |
| Jaun T Nededog |
| Ana P Perez |
| Ana L.G. Quitano |
| Nicolas Sablan |
| Raleigh Carbullido Sablan |
| Rosita Carbullido Sablan |
| Frank Toves |
| Johnny Toves |
List of survivors
editThis list was compiled by the Fena Memorial Committee.[13] In 2018, according to the Agat Mayor's Office, there were 17 survivors still living.[9]
| Name |
|---|
| Elias San Nicolas Aguigui |
| Maria (Chong) San Nicolas Alerta |
| Jesus C Babauta |
| Rosa C Babauta |
| Vicente Torres Babauta |
| Joaquin Barcinas |
| Maria S Babauta |
| Gregorio Mendiola Babauta |
| Juan Mendiola Babauta |
| Francisco Borja |
| Francisco G Camacho |
| Juan Guerrero Camacho |
| Ana Muna Salas Castaneda |
| Jose Rabago Castro |
| Santiago Rabago Castro |
| Maria B Chaco |
| Francisco Muna Charfauros |
| Francisco Perez Concepcion |
| Ignacio Mendiola Concepcion |
| Maria Mendiola Cruz Cordova |
| Antonio Reyes Cruz |
| Joaquin Mendiola Cruz |
| Joaquin Ofricido Cruz |
| Jose Ofricido Cruz |
| Juan Reyes Cruz |
| Pedro Ofricido Cruz |
| Joaquin De Jesus |
| Antonio Reyes Dela Cruz |
| Jesus Mata Espinosa |
| Catalina C Fernandez |
| Joseph C Garrido |
| Rosa Taitague Garrido |
| Jesus Concepcion Guzman |
| Maria Herrera |
| Vicente Q Herrera |
| Juan Quitugua Lizama |
| Josefa San Nicolas Manguba |
| Gregorio Sablan Munoz |
| Roque Nededog Nededog |
| Francisco Sablan Pangelinan |
| John Pinaula |
| Joseph Pinaula |
| William Pinaula |
| Jesus G Quidachay |
| Enrique Chaco Reyes |
| Gonzalo Chaco Reyes |
| Joseph C Reyes |
| Juan Tajito (Severa) Reyes |
| Pedro L.G. Roberto |
| Francisco "Nabing" Manibu-san Sablan |
| Jose S Sablan |
| Juan S Sablan |
| Jesus Muna San Nicolas |
| Jose Chaco San Nicolas |
| Agnes Nededog Sucaldito |
| Antonio Muna Salas |
| Jose B Santos |
| Alfonsina Sablan Schmidt-Yates |
| Jose Taitano |
| Balbino Muna Terlaje |
| Jose Q Topasna |
| Arthur Carbullido Toves |
| Joseph Carbullido Toves |
| Juan Ulloa |
| Agustin Nededog Unsiog |
Memorial
editThe Guam War Reparations Committee researched the Fena massacre.[4] The caves have collapsed in some areas.[8] Fallen boulders and vines obstruct access to the caves.[6]
On March 7, 1990, Governor Joseph F. Ada signed Public Law No. 20-157 to authorize the erection of a memorial.[4] The Fena Massacre site was added to the Guam Historic Register on July 22, 1993.[14]
A memorial service was established in 1998.[8] Participants walk to the foothills of Fena Cave, lay wreaths on a memorial at the Old Agat Cemetery, light candles, read the names of the deceased, and perform a CHamoru blessing.[9][2][7] The U.S. Navy opens up the site on the memorial day for participants to attend.[12]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "GUAM'S EXPERIENCE IN WORLD WAR II". Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 12. 1999. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
- ^ a b c Cruz, Rick (2022-07-19). "WWII Fena Cave massacre victims remembered". Pacific Daily News. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
- ^ a b c d Maigue, Valerie (2019-07-31). "Guam Service Members and Local Community Remember WWII Massacre Victims". U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
- ^ a b c d e https://www.guamlegislature.com/Public_Laws_20th/P.L.%2020-157%20SBill%20No.%20993.pdf
- ^ Rogers, Robert F. (2011-06-30), "The Way of the Samurai 1941–1944", Destiny's Landfall, University of Hawai'i Press, pp. 152–169, doi:10.21313/hawaii/9780824833343.003.0010, ISBN 9780824833343, retrieved 2023-10-11
- ^ a b c "Remembering through memorials". USA TODAY. 2020-07-17. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
- ^ a b Tano, Kevin (2018-07-19). "Fena massacre victims honored and remembered". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
- ^ a b c d e "Families return to Fena massacre site". www.kuam.com. 2019-07-19. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
- ^ a b c Lujan, Tihu (2018-07-20). "Fena Cave massacre remembered". The Guam Daily Post. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
- ^ Bunn, Jennings. "Fena Massacre Cave". National Park Service. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
- ^ Souki, Jesse K. (2002). "The Forgotten Heroes: Reparations for Victims of Occupied Guam During WWII". Seattle Journal for Social Justice. 1 (3).
- ^ a b Borja, John I. (2017-07-19). "Residents pay respects at Fena Cave, site of Chamorro massacre". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
- ^ a b "Fena Massacre Guam". Pacific Daily News. 2002-07-21. p. 53. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
- ^ "Guam State Historic Preservation Office | Register Listing". Retrieved 2023-10-11.