Kim's Place ... Travel ... Fredericksburg

This plaque honors the courage and loyalty of the people of Guam, innocent men, women and children who were swept into a war not of their making, forced to labor under the heels of tyrants, tortured, mutilated, murdered and raped. Yet, despite all, they emerged from their hiding places by the hundreds to greet their liberators with handmade American flags, and supported our troops by serving as spotters and guides. They represented the largest group of American civilians held in captivity by the Japanese in World War II.

On the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of their liberation, General Lemuel C. Shepherd, USMC, and Commanding General of the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade on July 21, 1944, told the people of Guam, "When I get to heaven, the men who died on Guam assuredly will ask me, 'Lem, was Guam worth it?' I will look them straight in the eye and say, You're damn right it was - they were fellow Americans."