WWII Survivor Stories

Fond memories of Sumai. Juan Quintanilla Guzman (1934 – 2021), affectionately known as “Major” spent his early childhood in Sumai and fondly remembered what his life was like there just before the war. He had been living with his grandfather’s brother, who was also named Juan, and his wife, Vicenta. The older couple could not have children of their own, so they adopted Guzman when he was five years old. He remembered it clearly, because he was already attending pre-school, which was called pre-primer at the time. 

Painful memories abide. Memories about the Japanese occupation remain a vivid part of Concepcion Castro Camacho’s (1932 – ) past. Her story depicts one of flight and survival in the jungles of northern Guam. It is one rife with painful memories of beatings, extreme hunger and thirst for days on end, and of constant fear of the Japanese patrols scouring the jungle. It was a traumatizing experience for a young CHamoru girl, but at age 83, Camacho was ready to share her story.

Moved to the ranch with cousins. At the onset of the Japanese invasion of Guam during World War II, Jose “Joe” Alvarez (1931 – 2021), a 10-year-old boy, and his family were alarmed and unprepared. They quickly left their home in Hagåtña on foot and made their way to his uncle’s ranch in Mangilao, where they lived for majority of the war.

Moved north to Machananao. Cleotilde Mendiola Bamba (1931 – ) was only 10 years old when the Japanese occupation of Guam began. Her family was forced to leave their house. Like most CHamorus on Guam during that period, the Mendiola family was displaced from their life in Hagåtña.

Wondered why war came to peaceful Guam. Cecilia Taitano Yanger (1933 – ), an identical twin, was just eight years old when the war broke out on Guam. Yanger recalled that Guam was so peaceful before the war. She didn’t understand why the war came to Guam because it was so peaceful and the people were so religious. Before the war, the villages were clean and people roamed the streets selling potu and other CHamoru delicacies.

Taken in by relatives. Asuncion Camacho Lazaro Cruz (1937 – ) was born to Ignacia Camacho and Juan Untalan Lazaro. Before her third birthday, Asuncion and her older sister Josefa were orphaned and taken in by their mother’s brother, Vicente Cruz Pablo Camacho. 

A war baby. Antonio Adriano Arriola (1944 – ) was born a twin just a few months before the forced march to Manenggon in June. His parents, Antonio Fernandez and Maria Adriano Arriola, carried he and his twin sister, Maria, during the Manenggon march.

Lost family members but found her faith. The encroachment of the Second World War in the Pacific forever changed the lives of the CHamorus. Within the first few days of Japanese occupation, Ana Sablan Palomo (1927 – ) lost many members of her family, but found her faith.

A tale best told together. Vicente (“Ben”) Gogue Arceo and Jesusa (“Susie”) Reyes Arceo are no strangers to the senior citizen community on Guam.  They are part of a musical group that provides dance music to entertain Guam’s manåmko’ at the senior centers.  But to know them is to know that they do not do things apart; thus, their memories of World War II will be told together in this tale of survival.

Survived by his wits. When the Japanese invaded Guam in 1941 Jesus Camacho Babauta, from Sumai, was just shy of 13 years old. Life in Sumai had always been peaceful for young Babauta. There was an abundance of lemmai (breadfruit), mango, papaya, banana, and other fruit trees as well as vegetables grown at the låncho (ranch). They fished and hunted for their food. He lived with his parents, Antonio Rivera Babauta and Maria Taitano Camacho, and his six siblings.