I grew up in a military family. While every duty station has a place in my heart, one of those that is particularly special is Guam. I think that it is fair to say that those two years, from 1974 to 1976, may be among those closest to my heart. I loved Guam, and even thought about returning there to teach at one time. And it goes without saying that I loved the people there.

That is why it is really hard to oppose the Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act.

Recognizes the suffering and the loyalty of the people of Guam during the Japanese occupation of Guam in World War II.

Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to make specified payments to: (1) living Guam residents who were killed, injured, interned, or subjected to forced labor or marches resulting from, or incident to, such occupation and subsequent liberation; and (2) survivors of compensable residents who died in war or survivors of compensable injured residents (such payments to be made after payments have been made to surviving Guam residents).

Defines "compensable Guam decedent" and "compensable Guam victim."
Directs the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission to specify injuries that would constitute a severe personal injury or a personal injury. Authorizes the Commission to adjudicate claims and determine payment eligibility.

Requires: (1) claims to be filed within one year after the Commission publishes public notice of the filing period in the Federal Register; and (2) the Commission to make filing period information available to the public through the media in Guam.

Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish a grant program for research, educational, and media activities that memorialize the events surrounding the occupation of Guam during World War II, honor the loyalty of the people of Guam during such occupation, or both.

There is some good stuff in there, but the reparations program is out of the question. The harm suffered came at the hands of the Empire of Japan over 60 years ago, and reparations, if any, should come (or should have come) from the Japanese, not the United States. Furthermore, the precedent of paying reparations to the descendants of those harmed opens up a whole new can of worms – one which makes it impossible for the United States to ever deny any claim for reparations by any group, no matter how remote the ancestral claim.

Memorializing the heroism of the people of Guam during the war, however, is quite important and appropriate. I heard those stories from some of those who survived the occupation. I actually found 30-year-old bullets under my school building, and knew a girl who found a 30 year old Japanese hand grenade in the woods. And I am still moved by the story of the torture and execution (dare I say martyrdom) of Father Jesus Baza Duenas. Let that be done – but the time for US-funded financial reparations for the crimes of Japan has long since passed, if it was ever appropriate.