WWII Survivor Stories

Shrimp, breadfruit, and banana: The taste of occupation. Maria Babauta Taitague Escalera (1930 – ) was born to Candida Babauta Taitague from Hågat and Asuncion Cruz Taitague from the Inarajan (Familian Pomparu).

From dark to lightness. Imagine that you are a child and that, like the burst of a bomb, you suddenly find yourself amidst a terrifying situation. You are in the middle of a scrambling crowd, hearing loud and terrifying sounds in the distance. You are so confused about what is happening. All you know is what you can see, hear, feel and smell. All you are aware of is that you are scared, and everyone around you is scared.

I am a proud CHamoru too. Lillian Pangelinan Tenorio Dimla (1934 – ) never shared the memories of her childhood…with anyone.  As a young girl, she never knew much about grown-up matters, because Dimla was raised in an era when children didn’t question their elders.   

The musician and soldier from Fena. At George Washington High School, Jose Santos Torres (1934- ) learned to play half a dozen different instruments, including the saxophone, trumpet, keyboard, piano, and harmonica.

In the footsteps of Saint Andrew. After teaching, Ignacio “Ray” Mendiola Reyes (1923 – 2018) opened a pool hall and then a mom and pop store. After that, he went into politics and was elected mayor of Merizo in 1952, but he didn’t care for the dishonesty of the trade.

Simply blessed. She arrived a few months early, the size of her mother’s palm, but survived and flourished decades to live a blessed and fulfilled life. 

Family, love and sacrifice. Ana Blas San Nicolas Gogue (1935 – 2004) was six years old when the Japanese attacked Guam without warning on 8 December 1944. She grew up in rural Sinajana, in an area known as Dedigue. The area is adjacent to Hagåtña, Mongmong, and Ordot, and is perfect for growing crops and raising livestock. Gogue was the second oldest of four siblings at the start of the war. 

From peace to chaos. It is hard for Maria “Babie” Rapolla Matanane (1929 – 2022) to forget the 8th of December 1941. Her day started early that Monday morning. Her family lived in a small house in Tepungan, located in Piti.  She remembers that the family was up early that day preparing for the novena of Santa Maria.

The darkest of journeys. Most people would find it hard to believe that there can be any positive aspect of war. What is hardly ever discovered is that, along with the negativity, there is positivity that develops and lives on long after war ends.

Thankful to the Marines. Rosa Sablan Payne Murer (1924 – 2017) remembered the war as if it were yesterday.  With her keen memory and strong voice, Tan Chai, as she was fondly called, started her story with,