A tour around Guam!

Guam from a satellite, I did not take this one!

We departed for a tour around Guam around 1030 today, with Mitchell, Alexia, Kurt, Mary and myself going in the Acura.

Asan Beach

We first headed to the scenic overlook above Asan Beach, where the 3rd Marine Infantry Division landed on Guam and began making their way up the treacherous jungle and hills filled with Japanese. When we arrived it began raining heavily and we waited approximately fifteen minutes for it to end. Finally, it ended and we got out and took pictures and Kurt showed me where the gun emplacements that rained bullets on our troops as they fought their way inland.  Then he showed me the the steep hills where our soldiers ascended and fought their way through the resistant Japanese defenses.

We stayed there for about ten more minutes, looking at the monument located at the scenic overlook then headed to the Magnata Quarry, one of the sites where the Japanese held defensive shelter during the bombardment for the Battle of Guam. We looked inside the cave enterance and tested the echoes in the cave then headed up the coast to Andersen AFB.

Once at Andersen, we went to Taguta Beach and looked at the beautiful ocean before heading back to look at the relic of "Old 100" the remains of a B-52D that had flown over North Vietnam and had been on display at Andersen, until it was cut up as it had severely corroded and blew away into the jungle. 

Tail gunner's position on Old 100

Then we went to see the B-52D that was on display and I got my picture taken with it. It was enormous in person! Just walking around it, gave you a sense of how massive these things are!

B-52D

Next, we headed to Mount Santa Rosa, where there was an extinct volcano, and where the Jap force commander's headquarters for Guam where located and where he was killed after a fierce battle with American Forces. 

Mount Santa Rosa

After failing to locate the volcano, which we were right on top of, we headed to Talafofo to eat at Jeff's Pirate Cove, which indeed lived up to its reputation of having the best burgers on Guam. We passed Fort Plateau, where the Jap second commander moved his headquarters and was killed. It is also where Sgt. Shodi Yogi, the last Jap hold out was found, in the jungle nearby,

Pratt & Whitney R-985 or similar engine

Not all of Guam is freeway close

From there, we headed through Inanarahan, where Mitchell and I went swimming in a local watering hole and did a high dive, about 20 feet or so into the water, about three or four times before swimming around a bit. 

Jack jumps at Inaranhan

This took us through the southeastern portion of Guam, and we finished the tour by driving through Menzio, where the Japanese committed horrible atrocities to the Chamorros, and Umatec before headed back to the house on the naval base.

Tomorrow, I am headed on my last class dive which is a navigation with compass dive, off a boat, after which I will be certified as a PADI diver! And then I will also have one pleasure dive also.

Jack

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