Date: 1991-11-26
Speaker: DE LUGO (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. as the title of the resolution states. House Resolution 293 would commend our fellow Americans in Guam and Hawaii for the sacrifices and contributions they made during World War II. It recounts some of these sacrifices and contributions In great andin some casespainful. detail. And as dramatic and horrifying as some of these details may sound. they are not exaggerated. In fact. there is even more that could be said If a complete description of the suffering of our fellow Americans in Guam and Hawaii were given. The resolution. further. commends the people of Guam for their patriotism. bravery. loyalty. and sacrifices during the war. those who defended our Nation in what were then both territories. and the people of Hawaii for their sacrifices and contributions. particularly during the attack on Pearl Harbor. We certainly cannot say too much in these areas. The 50th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harborand the 50th anniversary of the invasion of Guam--is. of course. an appropriate time for the House to remember the deeds of these Americans and thank them for what they did. And we should do so with more than just a mere passing through. One reason is that their sacrifices and contributions were so great and so important. Another. though. is that while World War II may now be a distant memory for some Americans. the painful memories have not faded for many of the people who were in the front line in the Pacific. In fact. some of the sadder legacies of World War II are the very real problems related to It that we still face in Guam. Indeed. they are such powerful issues that they affect consideration of the islands relationship to the rest of our country. a matter that is now being reconsidered. Guam is the only present United States territory with a sizable population occupied by enemy forces during the war. The attack on lightlyfortified Guamwhich occurred almost simultaneously with the attack on Pearl Harborwas followed by the subjugation of the people to enemy military rule. The hardships of this time were tremendous: Guamanians people were denied basic human rights in their own homeland. they were imprisoned. forced to labor. tortured. and murdered. often by beheading. They were made to suffer precisely because of their patriotism. Then. their island was virtually destroyed during its liberation by U.S. forces. And. later. their land was often unfairly taken by their liberators. I first came to understand the emotion and importance attached to the issues dating to this period when I learned of them from our late colleague Antonio Won Pat. whose own brother was. I believe. executed by the enemy when it occupied the island. Of course. Tony served with distinction for many years in this House. I have also come to understand this matter from Tonys successor. our colleague BEN BLAz. who himself suffered hardships inflicted by the enemy during his youth. The gentleman from Guam has pressed for action on two measures to respond to these issues. One would return land unfairly taken from his people by the U.S. military that is no longer needed by the military. The other would compensate his people for war suffering and losses. an issue on which we have also worked with Senator George Bamba of Guam. The Subcommittee on Insular and International Affairs. which I am privileged to chair. has spent a lot of timethrough oversight and legislationon both of these matters as well as on the very important question of the future GuamUnited States relationship. which they influence. I know that I am joined by the gentleman from California (Mr. LAGOMARsiNOI the ranking Republican of the subcommittee. as well as the gentleman from Guam. when I say that we very much hope that we will be able to reach agreement with all concerned on these matters. So. I regard this resolution. in part. as a step that we can take now to demonstrate our sincere appreciation to the people of Guam along a path of concluding our responsibilities to them arising out of World War II. Another step that we can certainly take next year is to provide the funds needed to acquire the land designated as the war in the Pacific National Park in 1978. I hope that the park will be fully operational before the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Guam 2V years from now. I also hope that the American Memorial Park in the nearby North Mariana Islands. which would also commemorate World War II suffering. will be fully funded by then. While it is difficult to resolve many of these issues relating to World War II in our Pacific insular areas. the extent of the sacrifices and the fervor of the people compel us to continue to keep trying to do so. So. it is with a deep sense of duty and appreciation that I urge the House to approve this resolution. recalling the immeasurable suffering of the people of Guam and Hawaii during that time of adversity and commending them for their bravery and loyalty. It should never be forgotten. 1I111440 Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.