Asan and Agat Invasion Beaches: Cultural Landscape Inventory, War in the Pacific National Historical Park, National Park Service
Nelson P, Duwall L, Tamimi L. 2003. Asan and Agat Invasion Beaches: Cultural Landscape Inventory, War in the Pacific National Historical Park, National Park Service. Cultural Landscapes Inventory Report. 975116. NPS Pacific West Regional Office. Pacific West Regional Office/CLI Database
War in the Pacific National Historical Park is the battlefield where the United States defeated Japan and liberated Guam. The island was initially attacked by the Japanese only hours after the Pearl Harbor attack (December 7, 1941 in Hawaii, December 8th in Guam - across the international dateline). Guam fell to the Japanese on December 10th, 1941. The Japanese occupied the island for two and one half years until American forces regrouped, reorganized and turned their attention to re-securing their presence in the Pacific. On July 21, 1944, American troops landed on Asan and Agat beaches. The island was considered secured twenty days later, on August 10th, 1944. Asan Beach Unit and Agat Beach Unit is considered one of five component landscapes within the War in the Pacific National Park. These beaches, although not contiguous, are the two landing beaches of the American military forces on July 21, 1944. Asan and Agat beaches became the initial landing fields, battlefields and sites of the most intense combat. This first day resulted in over 600 American and 200 Japanese casualties. By the morning of July 22, both beaches were secure and became supply nodes where supporting troops, medical supplies, personnel, artillery, and equipment were transferred from American ships anchored offshore. Once Asan and Agat beaches were secure, America again had a foothold on Guam and liberated the island and its people. These battlefields commemorate the efforts by American troops to protect the United States Territory and liberate the people of Guam from Japanese oppression. Beach areas were chosen by the U.S. Navy because the natural features presented the most opportunity to land, establish a foothold, transfer supplies onto the island, and advance to secure the Orote Penninsula and the Island of Guam. Both beaches were the battlefields of the first and most intense combat between American and Japanese troops. Both landing beaches were the first and crucial sites of one military strategy.The Asan Beach Unit consists of 109 acres of land and 445 acres offshore. The Agat Beach Unit consists of 38 land acres and 557 acres offshore.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Nelson, Peggy; Duwall, Lisa; Tamimi, Laila
- Date of Issue
- 2003-11-26
- Publisher
- NPS Pacific West Regional Office
- Units
- HIST , PWR , WAPA
- Keywords
- Battle Site, Battlefield, Commerce, Cultural Resources, defense, domestic, ehistory, Guam Liberation, History, Inventory, Japanese, Landscape, Military, Recreation, residential, trade, War in the Pacific, World War II
- Subjects
- CRIS-CL: 975116: War in the Pacific National Historical Park