CHAPTER 1 - Guam Buildup EIS

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Guam and CNMI Military Relocation Final EIS (July 2010) Father Duenas Memorial School and Statue Guam‘s only all-boy preparatory high school has a statue of Father Jesus Duenas who became a martyr during World War II. War in the Pacific National Historic Museum The description of the Park and its assets on Guam and Saipan have been provided by the National Park Service. The park's seven units preserve and interpret significant World War II invasion sites and have the most diverse coral reef system within the National Park System. Submerged resources encompass a portion of a Marine Protected Area, sunken WWII artifacts, two culturally significant traditional fishing areas, and habitat for over 3,500 marine species, including over 200 coral species and threatened hawksbill and green sea turtles. The visitor center is located adjacent to the main gate of Naval Base Guam in a facility leased from the Navy. It houses an exhibit area and theater, a small bookstore, offices for interpretive staff, and museum collections for both War in the Pacific NHP and American Memorial Park. Individuals and large tour groups visit the center during its open hours seven days a week, year-round. In 2011, the center will house new, permanent exhibits that should attract increased visitation and provide more opportunities for visitors to learn about park resources and values. Parking at visitor center is presently limited on weekdays when adjacent naval offices are busy. The park unit at Asan Beach preserves the site of northern landing beach for U.S. forces during the 1944 liberation of Guam. In addition to significant historical value, the area also provides a physical setting that is used for healthful activities such as running, walking, flying kites, and water recreation when conditions permit. Many people enjoy beach for picnicking and scenery. Often during the year, large group-sanctioned events are held on the open field. NPS stages ‗Movies in the Park‘ periodically, where family-oriented and conservation-themed movies draw people into the park for evening activities. This unit contains marine acreage used for fishing and marine wildlife watching, while divers and snorkelers are particularly drawn to Marine Preserveand Camel Rock. The area is clearly a focal point for local community and island visitors alike. In order to support visitors at this site, a number of facilities are present including parking, restrooms, trails, picnic tables, and trash receptacles. The facilities are maintained to a high standard to protect the integrity of resources, and provide quality experience that most peopleexpect and are entitled to. Similarly, the Agat Unit preserves site of U.S. forces southern landing beach in 1944. In addition, the area contains marine acreage with popular dive sites, including Hap‘s Reef. Fishing from beach and from sea by boat is also a popular activity for island residents. This unit, though smaller, contains a variety of facilities such as restrooms, tables, grills, and trash receptacles. These facilities are found near historic guns displayed alongside the Japanese fortifications at Ga‘an Point. With these attractions and facilities in close proximity, multiple uses can be found at this unit, which also includes similar fortifications and facilities at Apaca Point. Other park units at War in the Pacific NHP (Piti Guns, Fonte Plateau, Mt. Chachao/Mt. Tenjo, and Mt. Alifan) are each considerably smaller than Asan Beach and Agat Units, but they contain wartime artifacts and structures and are attended by interpretive exhibits that draw visitors into drama and horror of what occurred there. The story is one that appeals to all former wartime antagonists, including the Japanese who defended Guam during occupation and subsequent American assault. The Asan Bay Overlook (located on a ridge at the top of Asan Inland Unit), is significant in that it memorializes those who died in conflict while defending Guam during the Japanese invasion, who suffered from atrocities of occupation, VOLUME 9: APPENDICES G-1-6 EIS Resource Technical Appendix
Guam and CNMI Military Relocation Final EIS (July 2010) and those who died in retaking it from the Japanese. The memorial wall here is composed of engraved panels giving the names of those casualties; it is this wall that was vandalized in 2008 by metal thieves in an unconscionable and incomprehensible disregard of history and culture. This site also, as indicated by its name, provides a panoramic view of the invasion beach along with several interpretive panels that explain the campaign. This memorial is at the core of the mission for War in the Pacific NHP, and as such is the location for numerous ceremonies and functions commemorating sacrifice. These four smaller units are enjoyed less for recreation and social purposes, and more for education, quiet commemoration, reverie, and appreciation of history, and display and preservation of war artifacts. For the most part, NPS is required to protect visual quality of setting, and maintain a solemn and respectful sound environment in order to meet fundamental park purposes. Present visual quality is suitable to the need, except for times at the Asan Bay Overlook and Asan Beach when emissions from Piti Power Station are particularly high. At most times, the sound environment is suitable except for occasional vehicular noise, infrequent direct overflights and sounds of other visitors. The visual and audible quality of the setting, and the maintained state of its facilities, make the park an enjoyable place to engage in numerous activities that may be observed there. The sites described here are held in high regard particularly by veterans groups. Organized veterans groups are sensitive to care, maintenance, and sustained quality of these units as a reflection of high value placed on their service during wartime. To allow them to deteriorate, apart from being a breach of law and policy, would be taken as an unacceptable affront to the memory of their comrades and brothers in arms. Less critical, but undeniably significant, is importance placed on national park units and visitor centers to the local economy. The parks represent additional opportunities for tourist activities, which are taken advantage of by local guides. Finally, parks bring a needed focus to local history and culture because both are purposefully celebrated there, and kept in a state whereby they can be appreciated by people who lived the history and their descendents. American Memorial Park - Saipan Visitation and use of American Memorial Park on Saipan is similar to that of Asan Beach and Asan Overlook combined. An additional feature is co-located Visitor Center, which houses a collection of war artifacts placed in interpretive displays. There is also an amphitheater that is available for community events of all types. A great deal of social interaction by Saipan residents occurs here, including extensive use of tennis courts that are maintained by NPS within park boundary. A great deal of use is also made of open fields located within the park by sports enthusiasts, and marina is extensively used by boaters and fishermen. White Lady Bridge This bridge is located in a secluded valley surrounded by bamboo groves. It is alleged that a sighting of the ―White Lady‖ at the bridge signals a dangerous storm approaching the island. Korean Air Lines Crash Memorial This site of the KAL Flight 801 crash on August 6, 1997 can be viewed across the valley of the Fonte River on the far slope. Access on the pipeline access road is closed except for the annual remembrance ceremony of the disaster. Agana Naval Cemetery This pre-World War II Naval Cemetery was used primarily for U.S. military and dependents. The graves of German sailors killed in the scuttling of the SMS Cormoran in 1917 are also contained there. VOLUME 9: APPENDICES G-1-7 EIS Resource Technical Appendix
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CHAPTER 1 - Guam Buildup EIS

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