As a former military dependent and a veteran of the military, I know the pain and hardships of families being apart as a result of military duty. However, the thought of being separated from my family if I was away fighting a war somewhere else in the world while my family and home island was at war or being held captive is quite difficult for me to imagine. The thought of feeling helpless to try and not being able to help or save my own family would certainly be more than just a nightmare.
There were many Chamorro people that were serving in the military and away from Guam when it was captured and occupied by enemy forces during World War II. Several Chamorro military men were even fatalities and casualties from the attack on Pearl Harbor and also Wake Island.
This particular article was published over 60 years by The Territorial Sun on February 15, 1959. It featured the story of William Borja Flores (1922-1971), manggåfan Ka’besa, who last saw his parents before he departed for the Navy in December 1940. “I had always tried to get back to Guam, but I never managed to get duty here.” After 19 years being away from home, he was finally fortunate with his assignment on the USS Rupertus that was one of the Pacific Fleet’s Destroyer Division 32 that had made a short visit to Guam.
Other Chamorro sailors visiting home included Benjamin (Sakakibara) Portusach, Jose Taitano Aguero (manggåfan Dogi and Liberåto) and Joaquin Pablo (Kin Po) Materne.
