Guam War Claims Review Commission, 2003-04

Abstract

In 2003, U.S. Public Law 107-333 created the Guam War Claims Review Commission with the objective to "determine whether there was parity of war claims paid to the residents of Guam under the Guam Meritorious Claims Act as compared with awards made to other similar affected U.S. citizens or nationals in territory occupied by the Imperial Japanese Military forces during the World War II, and to provide a report, no later than June 10, 2004, including comments or recommendations."

During the Naval Government, 1946-49, Public Law 79-583, passed on August 1, 1946, created the Second Land and Claims Commission. It authorized the economic rehabilitation of the Island of Guam. Public Law 79-594, the Land Acquisition Act, passed on 2 August 1946, created the Third Land Claims Commission. It authorized the Department of the Navy to acquire private land needed for permanent military installations on the island. This Lands and Claims Commission processed claims for death or personal injury to residents of Guam. The work of the Commission initiated a program for land registration and probate of estates of deceased persons. Death claims were submitted to the Secretary of the Navy with the recommendations of this Commission.

Copies of the documentation generated by the six commissions during the Military Government and the Naval Government of Guam are found in MARC’s collection of documents from the National Archives, Record Group No. 38 NCWR 78-81. This record group contains monthly and quarterly reports, individual land claims, and reports on the rehabilitation of the island. This documentation has been catalogued and digitized. In addition, a finding guide to this collection was prepared for the Guam War Claims Review Commission, entitled Guide to the Documents Compiled for the Guam War Claims Review commission, 2003-04. The documents are available in digital format as well.