Displaced Beachbums

When we found out we were moving to Guam, most everyone we told expressed surprise and the inevitable question was either: Why would an army person be going to Guam? and How did FM manage such a great gig?  To be honest, no one was more surprised about our move to Guam than myself. 

It all started when FM put in his application for Professor of Military Science (PMS). With the application, he was asked to list the top 15 Universities (from a list of available positions) he would like to be assigned. Once he made his list, he showed it to me for my “approval” and I mostly agreed with his choices.  University of Hawaii was his first choice and since I’m from Hawaii (the Big Island) and my Dad got his undergraduate degree from UOH, it would have been ideal to be there for a few years. Unfortunately, every other applicant put Hawaii as their top choice. The other schools FM listed were OK with me since we had a connection to them. One was my Alma Mater, two were in towns we used to live in and liked a lot, several were very close to family or good friends but then I see the University of Guam listed as number 11.  Hmmm…island life sounded nice but I knew how far away from family and friends we would be. We’d already been in Germany for 5 years and, as much as we loved it, it was a long flight to visit anyone. I knew living in Guam would double the flight time so I took University of Guam (UOG) off the list.

When FM came home last October and said he’d been selected for a Professor position, I was on the edge of my seat waiting to hear where we’d be going.  I should have known something was up when he started giving me hints rather than just telling me. First he said it was his 11th choice which I remembered as #11 being Kansas State U. Then he said it was in the Western Region. Montana State? No, it’s way west.  My heart skipped a beat when I thought it was Hawaii.  It was then he thought he’d better go ahead and tell me: Guam.

Needless to say, I was surprised. My stubborn FM put UOG back on the list and doesn’t ‘remember’ me taking it off the list.  Guess that is why I married the man ~ he continues to push me in directions I might normally not go but it usually ends up being the best choice.  Since, the distance was my only concern, our move to Guam has, so far, been a good move and FM loves working at the University.

FM and I attended the 25th Anniversary of the Guam National Guard last Sunday. Had I known what a big deal it was going to be, I would have dressed more formally.  The Governor was there as well as elected officials and all the top brass from the Air Force, Navy and Army.  I’m still counting it as dinner with the Governor even though he was a couple of tables away from us.

I sat next to a woman who is obviously ‘connected’ in Guam. She knew everyone who walked by and I got to meet a lot of people including the Governor and his wife (again, wish I had dressed more appropriately). It’s an election year in Guam and the political banter is flying. I don’t know the players yet but I’m slowly learning who’s who in Guam politics.  As far as the Governor, I thought his questions to my dinner partner were thought-provoking.  You learn a lot about a person, not only by the answers they give, but by the questions they ask.  

It’s hard not to become interested in politics here. The daily newspaper does a great job exposing every detail  ~ sometimes it starts sounding like a made for TV movie.  The current scandal is the newly elected Superintendent of Schools ~ the drama of it all would be comical except Guam schools DESPERATELY need an intelligent, tough, organized, budget-focused person at the helm and from what I’ve read in the Pacific Daily News, the new Superintendent is not that person.  But, we all know you can’t believe everything you read in the newspapers. 😉  Bottom line: I hope the Board of Education makes the right decision and makes it soon, since the Guam schools start up again in a few weeks and those children deserves the best Guam has to offer.

A little bit of Guam history….

Days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, on 10 December 1941,the Japanese forces overtook the US garrison in Guam. The island remained under the brutal control of the Japanese until 21 July 1944, when the Marines & Army troops began the battle to liberate Guam and to use the island strategically in the war against the Japanese. The troops were supported by the Navy, Coast Guard and the people of Guam.

The official battle went on until 10 August with 1,800 soldiers killed and 5,600 soldiers injured. Actual removal of Japanese resistance took another 12 months. Strangely, several Japanese soldiers refused to surrender and went into hiding ~ Sgt. Shoichi Yokoi was finally taken captive in 1972, after 28 years, by Chomorro hunters who found him hiding out. Guess he didn’t get the memo to pack it up and go home.

Tomorrow will be the 62nd anniversary of Liberation Day. It’s a holiday here on Guam and there will be many festivities happening including a Miss Liberation Day crowning, a huge parade down Marine Corps Drive, fireworks, etc. After seeing clips of the floats from prior years, I’m especially interested in seeing the parade.

Happy Liberation Day to Guam!