Yank in New York, New York

Guam recalls joyful return as Chamorros greet Americans

On Guam the Chamorro people welcome US troops with smiles and handshakes as reconstruction begins after Japanese occupation. A Guam family, the Johnstons, recounts wartime moves, forced labor, radio access, and the brutal memory of a husband and father who died in a Japanese camp. The piece captures daily life under occupation, resilience of residents, and the rapid shift to liberation as American bombardment signals a new chapter.