Emotional testimony heard for bill that would ask for second round of war reparations

The testimony was passionate today on a bill and a pair of resolutions that revisit the emotional war claims issue.

The measures seek to open a new round of reparations applications and remove any deadline for filing claims.

Discussion of the brutal World War II Japanese occupation of Guam frequently evokes strong emotions.

The memories of those dark days, passed down to other generations haven't dimmed the passion.

Lillian Terrell is the daughter of Barcelisa Camacho Espinosa, who was a young teen from the San Ramon district of Hagatna during the war.

And while Barcelisa joined many others in seeking redress over the years, she died before ever receiving compensation.

"The one I was really upset when I went down there they told me my mom never filed," Terrell said.
"That's not her fault. I really want my mom to be heard, her story and her family's story. They saw men's heads cut off, my Auntie Maria. My mom was ran after by a young man whose arm was cut off, trying to kill them on the road up to San Ramon."

"It's very sad that a lot of the people that suffered were not given their, you know," Terrell said. "They waited. They waited long I'm pretty sure."

Ralph Rivera is the son of Angustia Tainatongo another war survivor who also has since passed on.

"I cannot fathom the atrocities and the fear that they all went through," he said. "I hope the rhetoric matches the action. And I'm sorry if I'm coming off a bit passionate here, but folks we have one job to do. Three thousand six hundred-fifty days is how many days since my mom got promoted to heaven. We failed her. We did. Us. And everyone else that's not here today that are survivors of the war. How dare we! How dare we wait this long."

The bill introduced by Vice Speaker Tina Barnes asks congress to open a new round of war claims.

The resolutions, one by Barnes and the other by Sen. Telena Nelson, ask the president to remove any future reparation filing deadlines.