Wars and Factors of Peace

This special section is dedicated to the stories of Guam’s war survivors, and also explores the complex meanings of Liberation Day in Guam. Following the end of World War II, community leader Agueda Iglesias Johnston convinced US military leaders to support an official commemoration of Guam’s  liberation from the Japanese occupation and the return of US forces. Emerging from the tragedy and hardship of war, the day was originally envisioned as a testament to Guam’s loyalty to the United States. Over time, commemorations of the war were reclaimed by CHamorus/Chamorros to focus more on Chamorro resilience and stories of survival. As a people caught up in a war not of our making, Liberation Day has come to serve as a day to honor Chamorro war survivors, as well as the complicated legacies of World War II.