I am Regina Reyes. My husband is Henry Reyes. I live in Agana Heights. In 1941, when we heard that the Japanese is in Hawaii, we’re to get away in the house. We stay there all day until four o’clock. I go to my other house. Since I just got in my house, they got in with gun and shiny bayonet.

He asked me --- I don’t know what to say about this, pointed the gun, and I said, no, I don’t have.

And then he just pushed me on the wall and do what he want. He raped me.

Afterwards he left, then I went to my in-laws and they questioned me what happened so I said to wait first until I took a shower. The next day, my husband went to Mr. Tomas Ooka who was the commissioner at the time and he told him what happen to me.

Mr. Ooka said that they couldn’t do anything because they did not know his name. They made my husband work from Tai to Agana Heights then we stayed in Famha. My husband kept working but I was left in Famha deep in the jungle.

When the Japanese came, my husband was working in Tai. When we moved to Manenggon, my husband accompanied me then he left again because he was tasked to do some carrying of things for the Japanese.

Then, that night, when the Americans came, a Saipanese Chamorro came to tell me that my husband told him to tell me that he was alright. Since the time my husband and I parted company in Manenggon, that was the last time I ever saw him.

 Real People. Real Stories. A weekly testimonial series provided by the Office of Senator Frank F. Blas, Jr. The testimony of Regina Reyes is recorded in the Guam War Claims Review Commission public hearing held in Hagåtña, Guam on December 8, 2003. This story sponsored by the community involvement of Guam Premier Outlets (GPO).  Photo courtesy of Expressions Studio.