The founder of an international car rental company has historic ties to Guam’s liberation. 

The international chain Enterprise Rent-A-Car was founded in 1957 by Jack Taylor. But before he founded his company, he served in the United States Navy and was part of the liberation of Guam from the Japanese forces. Taylor served aboard the USS Essex and USS Enterprise and participated in most of the major battles in the Pacific during the last years of World War II, including campaigns in the Marianas and Palau. He named his company after the aircraft carrier he once served on. 

General Manager of Enterprise Rent-A-Car Guam Pete Borja shared their excitement in finding out the news about their founder’s Guam ties.

"To see that we’re actually working for a company in which the founder was involved in the liberation of Guam, that for us, it blew our minds, to be honest with you. We didn’t know the finer details about that and this recent finding is just very exciting and it touches our heart because he was involved to liberate Guam."

Borja's son, Peter Borja Jr. is the Guam branch's marketing team leader. He's been doing the research uncovering Taylor's involvement of the island's liberation. 

"We did not know that Mr. Taylor himself was involved in the bombing missions to liberate Guam," Peter Borjas said. "That’s huge. This is coming so quickly on the heels of what will become the liberation day activities tomorrow and so that is something we all appreciate that Mr. Taylor himself and the rest of those squadrons did for Guam. Our heartfelt appreciation to those men and women and their service in liberating Guam."

Taylor passed away at age 94 in 2016 in St. Louis, Missouri.