Guam is a U.S. island territory in Micronesia located in the Western Pacific. Guam was invaded 75 years ago during World War II. Now they are one signature away from receiving reparations due to the suffering their ancestors endured during the war.

The U.S. Senate approved reparation being paid up to Guam residents under the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act to surviving spouses or children of residents who lost their lives during the war. The means for compensation are specific in the bill:

“The United States recognizes that, as described by the Guam War Claims Review Commission, the residents of Guam, on account of their United States nationality, suffered unspeakable harm as a result of the occupation of Guam by Imperial Japanese military forces during World War II, by being subjected to death, rape, severe personal injury, personal injury, forced labor, forced march, or internment,” the bill states.

“The United States forever will be grateful to the residents of Guam for their steadfast loyalty to the United States, as demonstrated by the countless acts of courage they performed despite the threat of Imperial Japanese military forces that occupied Guam during World War II,” the bill states.

Reparation disbursement breakdown:

• Rape or severe personal injury such as loss of a limb, dismemberment or paralysis, $15,000.
• Forced labor or a personal injury not specified above, such as disfigurement, scarring or burns, $12,000.
• Forced march, internment, or hiding to evade internment, $10,000.