b46c38f6-4330-4943-b3e5-25da4a46382d

Evangelista, Juan_WAPA-246_WAPA 4170_OralHist_Video.mp4

Juan Evangelista is happy with the nickname “Johnny,” and says most people call him that. He was born October 14, 1923 in Yigo, Guam. His father worked in construction and his mother did housework. His father passed away when Johnny was young. He attended school until the 6th grade and then went to livery school. He wanted to be a construction worker but because of his young age instead he became a baker. When he was a bit older he was able to become a contractor and was employed doing that work when the war broke out. When the Japanese invaded Guam and occupied the island, all the people were told that when they saw a Japanese soldier they had to bow. He said the Japanese were unfriendly and strict. When he and a relative were forced to accompany some Japanese out to recover a body, they played a practical joke on the soldier, distracted him by shouting “Americans, Americans,” so they could run away. Mr. Evangelista described how the Japanese struck one of his friends with the butt of his rifle for not bowing. He also described how they mistreated an old woman in the plaza because they thought she knew where George Tweed was hiding. The following day, another Japanese soldier who spoke English wanted Johnny to tell him where the Americans were. Mr. Evangelista has a very good sense of humor. He told them the Americans are back in the States. Mr. Evangelista knew George Tweed because they lived in the same village. He said Tweed rented an apartment and had an old American Plymouth. However, he described Tweed as an unfriendly person who beat his son. He said Tweed came back once to the island with a car for Mr. Artero but that there had been other Chamorro people who had helped him he did nothing to recognize their loyalty or help. Although the Chamorro people helped him hide out on Guam during the Japanese invasion, Johnny did not have a high regard for George Tweed. The Japanese had begun a rice field and Johnny also worked in the rice field. When the Japanese were recruiting young men to work at the air field, Johnny faked a stomach ache, wound up in a hospital and underwent an appendix operation. After that he was assigned to light duty and became a cook in the mess hall for the Japanese. There was one Japanese soldier Johnny thought was half German who seemed to be friendly to him, however, when the Americans began bombing the island he drew his sword and ordered Johnny to tell him where the Americans were. Johnny had been given a badge, or a pass, that he wore on his clothing that gave him the ability to move freely in the plaza. There he would build a fire and cook out in the plaza and one morning he heard some Japanese talking. They were setting mines along the roadway for the American tanks. Johnny took the mines and put them under the mess hall where he was working. Shortly afterwards the American planes bombed the governor’s house and he escaped to Agana Spring. While at the Spring Johnny came upon a group of American soldiers hiding in the jungle and told them where some Japanese were hiding. At one point when he was helping the Americans hunt for Japanese he came upon a soldier eating a cucumber. He approached the soldier, pointed his gun at him, and told him to get up. The soldier pulled out a knife and refused to stand up. He was able to restrain the soldier and capture him. On another patrol looking for Japanese soldiers, he was accompanying some GI’s and came upon 9 Japanese soldiers hiding in the jungle. Because it was the dry season, the movement alerted the soldiers to his presence and he was shot in the back of the neck. He was able to make it to the road way and some Seabees picked him up and took him to the hospital. Mr. Evangelista said he thanks God that he is alive and was able to survive the war. He said he hopes this never happens again, and that the younger generation will never have to experience what he did. He hopes it will never happen again.

U.S. National Park Service, War in the Pacific National Historical Park

This digital asset is in the public domain. This digital version was made possible through the National Park Service by a grant from the National Park Foundation through generous support from the Mellon Foundation. When using this asset for any purpose, including online, credit 'Courtesy U.S. National Parks'.

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War in the Pacific National Historical Park, Code: WAPA

Guam , Guam
War in the Pacific National Historical Park, Guam , Guam
Latitude: 13.3905000686646, Longitude: 144.654006958008

ICMS (Interior Collection Managment System) : WAPA-00246
NPS Museum Number Catalog : WAPA 4170

War in the Pacific Oral Histories

2025/03/07

T. Stell Newman Visitor Center, Collections room, Safe and Shelf SLF D-01

Public Can View

Rose Manibusan, Jennifer Craig

Organization: American Memorial Park
Role: Chief Interpretation
Address: Micro Beach Road, Garapan, Mp 96950
Email: wapa_interpretation@nps.gov

Sunday, April 6, 2025 1:08:18 AM

Sunday, April 6, 2025 1:08:18 AM

Evangelista, Juan_WAPA-246_WAPA 4170_OralHist_Video.mp4

mp4

2221.7 MB

Historic

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