Faha: A WWII Japanese MASSACRE on Guam | History Traveler Episode 239
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ส.ค. 2024
- The list of atrocities committed by the Japanese during WWII is a long one. Probably the most well known is the crimes committed against Chinese civilians in Nanking. Some of the lesser known atrocities occurred during their occupation on Guam. In this episode, we'll be searching out the site of one of these massacres at a place called Faha.
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Thank you for shining a light on this often forgotten piece of WW2 history. My family is from Guam and a lot of them went through this Japanese occupation, my father and grandparents from both sides of the family included. My dad was a young teenager when this all happened and I shiver to think what he went through, witnessed, and endured. He shared that while under slave labor he helped to build various structures for the Japanese. After the U.S. liberated Guam he arrived to America and served in the U.S. Air Force. He served in the Korean War and Vietnam, then retired after 20+ years of service. He inspired me to serve as well and I retired in 2019 from the Air Force as well.
I cannot thank the WW2 veterans enough for what they did.
I Thank you and you father too sir for your service and sacrifices. Si yu’us Ma’ase. 🫡🙏🫶🏽
My husband was stationed at Anderson AFB on Guam from Nov 1971 to Feb 1973. I want to thank you sincerely for making this video. Most people do not know the history of how the people there suffered there during WWII. My husband found the local people to be kind, generous, patient and hard working. Their personal stories and history needs to be told and never forgotten.
I would like to thank your husband for his service on our island🥺🥺🥺 my grandpa was also a soldier during the that time and fell in love with the island.
I too thank your husband for his service and sacrifice to liberate my parents who were children then and my grandparents, and what was left of our families back then. Thank you and may God bless you always. 🫡🙏🫶🏽
I’m 53 years old but wish I could of had you as a history teacher!
Ha! Thanks.
He IS kinda being your history teacher!
I'm glad you're showing both the European theater as well as the Pacific theater of WWII. Putting light on the fact that not only did the Nazis commit atrocities against innocent civilians but the Japanese as well. And it's true what you said that the civilian population are the ones that suffer most. We must not forget those human beings and you giving them mention does honor to their memory.
People have no idea how brutal the Japanese were.
@@TheHistoryUnderground People dare not tell how brutal the Communists were!
Hardly any Japanese were prosecuted including Hirohito. That was because of MacArthur.
And some Americans (like Obama) travel to Japan on Hiroshima Day to lay a wreath and apologize for dropping the bomb! As Thomas Sowell says they should read "The Rape of Nanking" (or watch videos like this) and save themselves the airfare.
Agreed, Not really much of a difference between Nazis and Japanese
I don't believe my father ever quite forgave the Japanese, and the more stories of their atrocities I hear I can't say I blame him. Another excellent video JD. Thank you!
I've talked to many who felt the same way.
My uncle died in Okinawa. I drove a Toyota for a while and Always felt guilty
@@TheHistoryUnderground: I'm a retired airline pilot & I've traveled extensively in the Asia / Pacific region. The Japanese are pretty much despised throughout that part of the world. It's very subtle, but it's definitely there. Having heard a few of their stories, I don't blame them.
I never was there or fought obviously against the Japanese but I hate them for what they did to this day...I wont forgive them either and I wasn't even there. There is no forgiveness for Evil...no reason to forgive them for anything.
I was born in the late 40's and grew up in a neighborhood with many WWII vets that served in the pacific. Forgiveness was not in their vocabulary.
The Japanese made the SS look like boy scouts at times
They were pretty brutal, for sure.
@@TheHistoryUnderground You could be beheaded for looking up at US planes....
They just lacked the German technical know how to do things more efficiently.
@@aa2339I would argue they were much worse..... at least the Germans treated some of the war pows with respect
Facts
I had a Drill Instructor who was from Guam. Since your last video about Guam I have finally found him. After he retired from the Marine Corps he packed up his family and moved back.
Awesome! Glad that you were able to track him down.
Hafa Adai 🇬🇺 My mom's family is from this beautiful island. Sadly, I've lost so many distant relatives due to this unfortunate war. The Chamorro culture and heritage is something I hold very close to me. Thank you for doing this video. 🇬🇺🙏
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Finona, Castro, Chargualaf
My mom was 3 when the Japanese invaded Guam. My Nana and Tata survived and went on to have 14 children. Tata told us many stories and they were all awful. We lost so many relatives. War is war but the crimes on the people were hideous. Im sure all cultures are guilty. My Tata never held a grudge against any Japanese people. I love my culture, my heritage. Proud Chamorro ♥️
Horrible! Thank you for telling the story of this tragedy. Most people won’t know about it. Keep up the great work telling history.
Yours are some of the finest, most human videos of war. You show what happened to the people, not just the armies. Thank you so much !
Many thanks!
For anyone who has family and friends who have served on Guam in WW2, I wanna thank you all for saving my family and my people. Thank you
The things you are sharing needs to be taught in schools. Keep up the great work and Thank you.
Another Fantastic job JD for teaching us the cruelty of war. Thanks JD for all you do. 👍👍👍👍👍
Thank you.
i study WW2 history quite a bit but have never heard this story. Seeing those faded monuments and plaques make me want to replace them for future generations. Would be willing to contibute to such efforts, perhaps you could liason since you're more intimately connected by your physical presence.....thanks for your stories and content.
The island of Guam is so beautiful with such wonderful views. Hard to believe so much tragedy took place there.
JD another great video but such a sad story Rest in Peace to those who were killed in this massacre so sad
Tragic story.
I Was Stationed at Anderson AFB in 1980-81. The Guamanian People are very Friendly, Hard working and Proud. There is much History to be Found on Guam and I Hope to Re-Visit one Day. Hafa Day.
Thanks! Lots to learn and explore there.
Hafa Adai sir. Thank you for your service. Si yu’us Ma’ase! 😊🇺🇸🫡🙏
So many tragedies you have shared that had never heard about. Thank you teaching me.
I've been to Guam and I love it there. I did not know about the Faha Massacre until watching this video. Guam's history is US history and thank you for uncovering important events that have been lost in time.
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Thank you for posting history on Guam. I'm part Chamorro from the island of Saipan out there and most people don't know what happened out there or the fact that those islands are US territories. When I moved to the US most people had no idea unless they were veterans or active military. My grandmother was a young woman back then and used to tell me stories of the Japanese brutality and the shelling of the island by the US Navy. They had to go and take shelter in the caves on the island and there were civilian casualties however it was war and war is brutal and sadly her generation was caught in the middle of it all... There's a book probably still sold on the islands out there called "We Drank our Tears" and it's full of personal accounts of the elderly from that generation on the war and their recollection of what it was like surviving that.
Man you go above and beyond with your travels. Im still trying to get to Chickamauga this fall. Keep it up .
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Well Done JD, it is great that you give a wonderful tribute to those caught in the middle of a war! Learning History from you is awesome! Where was a History Teacher like you when I went through school!!!! I'm always learning from you, thank you!
Thank you for posting because Guam brings back a lot of memories for me having been stationed there in 1975-1976 for 16 months with Delta Company, Marine Barracks, Naval Magazine. My company was tasked with guarding nuclear and conventional weapons, which I can say now, because it has been de-commissioned with that mission. I was wondering if you were going to do a piece about the Japanese soldier who was found in 1972, just a few years before I arrived. He said he didn't know the war was over and wanted to meet the emperor. He was found at Telafofo Falls, on the interior of the island. Thanks, again.
The Japanese WWII survivor is Yokoi. Thank you sir for your sacrifice and service. 🇺🇸🫡🙏
I had no idea about this!!! Incredible history-wow!
Very few people know anything about it.
@@TheHistoryUnderground well done JD! Always educational, always entertaining, great job! Amazing so much of that fort remains
Thank you for presenting this story. People don't expose these horrible things that happened. Those poor people and the horrors they faced. I am glad that they rebelled and took out so many of the enemy. Your tour and videos are teaching me so much about this forgotten battle.
This series is incredible. Thank you for your hard work!
Hank Johnson is worried you're going to tip the island over walking back and forth like that
I have a feeling that there’s a joke that I’m missing here. 😅
@@TheHistoryUnderground th-cam.com/video/cesSRfXqS1Q/w-d-xo.html
Good one!!
Thank you very much for the great content. Just excellent !!!!
Much appreciated!
Thank you. You tell a story well. It is so important stories get told. Time will make many of us to forget.
A very sad moment in history but the courage of the locals will never be forgotten. 🙏
Agreed.
Touching video. Very important to remember these things to grow and learn, even when so tragic
Excellent series JD. Nice work 👍🏼😎
Thank you for showing more of my home land. It brings me great joy to see it again since I’m far from home and to hear these stories again that my elders have told me throughout my youth. My grandmother used to take me to all these places before she passed and shared a lot of stories from when she was just a little girl during the WW2. Always brings back great memories. But the most surprising part of this particular video is seeing my relatives name on the plaque. Something that was never shared to me. So thank you for uncovering why we have never found his grave site after decades of searching. I’ve been looking on the wrong part of the island for the longest time
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This was an awesome and informative narrative.
Thanks for sharing.
incredible video man, you always seem to shed light on a previously unknown story or aspect of the war. Would you consider doing a video or two about Louis Zamperini and his amazing story of survival and strength as a POW after surviving over a month lost at sea on a life raft? I have a close family connection to him, and would love a video on him and his story. If you've seen the "Unbroken" movies, you'll know about him, but I think you'd give a lot more details about his life and story that many people never knew about
I really enjoy watching your show not only do you travel to the locations your research is amazing.
Thank you so much for sharing JD! Much appreciated ✌🏾
Thank you.
Thanks for this, I always learn something from your videos.
Thanks!
My father was stationed in Guam on board the U.S.S. Penguin the day the Japanese invaded. He was captured after Capt. McMillin gave up the island that day. He spent the entire war as a POW in Japan. He never spoke ill of the common Japanese people. It was the military that brutalized them. In his 70s, he would awake in night sweats screaming. He was a wonderful father to me. I am sorry he was put through that. I love and miss you, Dad. I am appreciative of the Chamorro people that bravely supported our military.
I want to say Thank you to your father for for his courage, sacrifice, and service coming to the aid of our people and our island. Also Thank you too for you are his child and your family too. Thank you for your sacrifice. May our dear lord bless you and your family always. 🫶🏽🇺🇸🫡🙏
Thank you for sharing this. A key part of American history that must NEVER be forgotten. These were technically OUR people and OUR land. Their suffering and legacy is a part of our story!
Once again something I'm sure few people have heard about. I was leafing through a book on the war in the Pacific in a used book store and I couldn't even find mention of Guam. Thanks for another great video 👍
Interesting considering the Naval bombardment on Guam was one of the largest in all the Pacific
Wow, I had a great friend in the Air Force from Guam. He never spoke of this incident specifically, but did speak of Japanese atrocities overall on Guam. Thanks as always for sharing these stories. As you say, they aren't in the history books.
Thanks for this episode!
My pleasure! Thanks for watching.
Thank you for your reporting on the Pacific Theater during World War II. I'm a Marine who served during the Cold War. 55-59, I spent 58-59 stationed on Okinawa. Being in Motor Transport I drove over all of Okinawa that wasn't restricted. I was surprised that in just 13 years nearly all traces of the war had been 'erased'. I went to Japan on my RandR the Japanese I met were to a person very friendly and courteous people. Having been shown actual combat films and serving with Marine veterans from World War II I learned a lot of truth about the Japanese Military during the war.
It was confusing I liked the 1958 Japanese people but hated the Japanese Military. I'm now 84 and those feelings still exist.
Interesting. Thanks for sharing that.
Thank you for this history lesson on Guam JD !!
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I was stationed on Guam in the early 90's. The Mayor of Merizo, Buck Cruz was a man I greatly admired. He was a military veteran and a true American patriot. He was also a very good mayor who took very good care of his town.
Thanks for sharing that!
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Your Productions are really interesting thank you.
Thanks for your work.
My pleasure. Thanks for watching.
Always appreciate your effort and hard work. 👍🇺🇸
Very sad story. Thank you providing remembrance for these people and sharing the memorial. Thank you for remembering the civilian casualties.
Great video, thank you.
As always, come for the amazing and pure content, stay for the honest and tangible comment section stories.
Well done JD!
I was stationed in Guam and heard of FAHA but didn’t know the story. Thank you, sir
Glad that I could share the story and show the place.
My coworker told me a story of his Dad during WW2 in Guam. His Dad and his brother(Uncle) were forced to build a airfield .Their extended families had hidden in the caves as far as they could get from the Japanese. One day, both were able to escape from their work detail and got back with their families. Their families ate what ever they could get their hands on or was given to them. After the War, his Dad was in LE in Guam ,had a family and life was good for him. His brother had PTSD, really suffered,had a lot of trauma
Hey J D, I was wondering if you were a history major in school. If not, you sure do show a great ability to make history "very interesting " as you so often say. Thanks for doing so.
Thanks! Only took one history class in college and that was because it was required. Everything that I know is just from what I read in books and learn from people who are smarter than me (which isn't hard to find).
Thanks for again a great history lesson
Thanks for the history lesson.
In your travels was there any mention of George Tweed and his miraculous escape from capture for over two years on Guam? Many Guam Islanders were murdered and tortured for helping him and refusing to turn him in.
Wow I haven't heard of this one this is new to me crazy amd like you said you don't hear about it in history books bit I lived there for a very long time been to the site you first showed but never seen or heard of the massacre site wow ones again great content and thnx for the videos
It's so sad that man inhumanity to man was so horrifically done to innocent people who were just simply trying to live their lives. Thank you for sharing this so that their memories will not be forgotten or remain unknown to the world. My their memories be blessed and at peace.
Glad to share the story. Hope that the video serves to help more people learn about it.
That is so sad I never knew that story happened thanks for bringing history alive
Interesting piece of an increasingly forgotten time in history. I lived there in the 50's and artifacts from WW2 were very prominent and visible. We lived in civilian housing near Jona the local kids knew were the caches of Ack-Ack rounds were hidden. Thanks for your top notch videos, they help in keeping Guam's past visible.
beautiful footage and a lovely reflection on FAHA - shame on the mass murder on so brutal scale - while it looks like such a scenic beautiful place
Do love the beginning of the old Spanish fort and the guns. That was cool. Very tragic story about the native people. I agree, there are 3 parties to war, and the civilians suffer the most. Not only do their homes and lives get turned upside down but to have innocent loved ones killed on top of that is the most horrifying
Lots of history on that island.
A great episode ❤.
No Words...
Thank you for an Incredible Story
Chuck in Michigan
U.S. Navy Retired
Did not know this thank u sir!
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Excellent video. Thank you. Could you! Or have you do videos on more of the Japanese atrocities? For instance Unit 731 .
Not yet.
Excellent, so many short narratives that are generally forgotten amidst the greater battles and horrors…thanks. And….RIP “Pee Wee”. Andrew
Thank you for sharing this story. So tragic buy I'm glad they fought back.
Horrific what was done to those souls during the Japanese occupation. Another wonderful video.. Thank you JD.
Thank you for bringing this story to lite. Understandably, and sadly in all sides of war there are atrocities that are committed. Like you eluded to it's rarely something that is covered in today's public school history classes. These stories need to be heard so that we can learn from the mistakes made in the past and hopefully avoid repeating them. God Bless
Yes, atrocities were committed by all participants. But don't kid yourself; the record shows that the Japanese were in a class far, far above any other country in committing atrocities. Their level of fanaticism was unequalled.
Excellent video, the civilians are the true victims of war, that was awesome that they rebelled and fought back true heroes. Great story from real history, I can't say how much I enjoy your videos, thank you.
Absolutely. Thank you.
Wow I live on Guam and I have never been there! Thanks for the history lesson!
Once again of course JD has done a magnificent job I’m covering another heart wrenching story on the island of Guam. One thing I’ve always found to be very ironic about our relationship with Japan is that they will not allow us to go to places like Iwo Jima without jumping through who knows how many hoops. But yet they can come to an American island where their military committed so many atrocities. Don’t get me wrong I’ve met some very very nice and polite Japanese and my time over there. But fair is fair. But then again they are spending their money in an American territory.
Yeah, the whole thing with Iwo Jima is a bit of a burr under my saddle.
Thank you for pointing out that its often the civilians that face atrocities during times of war.
Insightful and terribly sad. Godspeed to those so horribly wronged. 🙏🙏
Never knew this, thanks.
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Love your channel. Wondering if Iwo and Peleliu are a possibility for a vid.
Both on my list :)
@@TheHistoryUnderground Most glad to hear that. Have you read "With the Old Breed, written by Eugene Sledge?
Another great job be safe in your travel 🙏🏼🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
damn. id never even heard of this. thank you for posting.
Glad to shine a light on it. Hopefully people will share this video and help others learn about it as well.
I'd almost forgotten how beautiful Guam is!! Hafa Adai!!
Hafa Adai! 👍😊
I spent 16 months on Guam in the 70’s and I never knew of this.
After the war, there were war trials carried out on Guam and in Manila against Japanese officers and soldiers who committed atrocities such as this one. It would be interesting to find out if the officers that ordered this were tried if they survived the invasion.
I visited Guam for a few days while in the Navy, I had no idea about the massacre or I would have went and paid respect.
The Japanese were brutal for sure. The survivors of any Japanese pow camp could attest to that. The one thing I read was that the Japanese were really shamed when their countrymen came home from captivity by the Americans. They were in good shape, well clothed & well fed. Apparently at the beginning of the war they believed we, Americans would do horrible things to them. Hence the treatment of allied prisoners.
Awful how many of them conducted themselves during the war.
Likely shamed and dishonored because they didn't die for the emperor, and 'gave up' and were captured by the allies. The Japanese took the bushido code very seriously- and nothing was lower than surrender, or summitting to the enemy- really tragic stuff, but it shows you the mindset of the enemy we were up against, and how little they valued life.
I still feel that the Japanese and Russian atrocities during WW2 are overshadowed by the Nazis and by the Allied bombings in Germany. I did not know of this, but I am not surprised and thank you for bringing history to light.
It's strange how the human rights atrocities committed by the Japanese have been largely overlooked.
@@TheHistoryUnderground it is, almost like we have to forget how evil they were and that's why the USA had no options left other than Big Boy in order to stop the madness.
@@TheHistoryUnderground it’s political.
The allied bombing of Germany was not an atrocity, it was against the enemy to force them to surrender . What would you have done dropped daisies or begged them to surrender ?
@@eddiekulp1241 that was my point. The things Russia and Japan did are a lot worse than the Allied bombings of Berlin, but they are used as sticks to beat us with, whilst some seriously disgusting acts are overlooked. Have a good one :)
Sad. You're right. It's not in the history books. I don't know half of what you and a lot of folks know of WW2 but all that I have watched, I've never heard of this. Pure evil. Great video. Thanks
My only Uncle was based on the Yorktown and was shot down over Guam with his pilot and gunner on June 12 , 1944..They were going down in flames still trying to hit their targets according to another Navy man . They have never been recovered to this day . I found out that there is a parade every year to celebrate the people being freed . My Uncle had such courage - I will always honor his short life and his sacrifice ..
Thank you for alot informations and enjoyed your videos of Guam as Japanese and 17years of U.S navy spouse.Just wanted to tell thank you for your service to all the soldiers both U.S and Japan.
Appreciate that.
Hi mate enjoyed the video been reading and a book called Normandy 44 by James holland great book can't wait for the next video mate 👍👍
That's a really good book.
Sorry abt that. Anyway as I was trying say, my husband was in the USAF, and we were stationed on Guam for 3 years (1983-!986). A beautiful island and beautiful people. We explored a lot of the island. Being there 3 years, I never heard of these areas you featured or the massacres. I don't know why. Heard stories of Japanese hiding in the many caves on the island. Wish I had known abt the areas you visited, would have liked to visit them and learn the history. Thanks for sharing this.
Just heartbreaking
Definitely.
I’m in the process of reading Ian Toll’s Pacific War trilogy (on Vol 2)…highly recommend for anybody that wants the in depth story of the war in the Pacific theater.
Agreed.
The locals risked so much for George Tweed, the subject of the movie "No Man is an Island." The military ended up taking the property of Antonio Artero, a rancher who had sheltered him; not a good way to repay him.
I was stationed on Guam. In 1974-1975. We helped with the Vietnam evacuations. Tent Cities and c-rations.
I'm in Guam right now. I visited Pearl Harbor last week. I will make the effort to find this site while I'm here.
Awesome
Like Gregg said another solemn video of what happened. And we often forget about the civilian perspective, especially with the war in Ukraine at the moment. When will it end? Why does in start?
My experience in Ukraine completely altered my perspective on war and how it affects the civilians.