2019 War in the Pacific National Historical park quarter

War in the Pacific National Historical Park is a protected area in Guam, United States territory. The War in the Pacific National Historical Park quarter is the third release this year of the America the Beautiful quarters. The 2019 America the Beautiful quarters mark the 10th year since the inception of the program in 2010. This year the U.S. mint has come up with some great designs for the next 5 quarters for Lowell National Historical Park in Massachusetts, American Memorial Park in Northern Mariana Islands, War in the Pacific National Historical Park in Guam, San Antonio Missions National Historical Park in Texas and Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness in Idaho.

War in the Pacific National Historical Park

The War in the Pacific or the Pacific theater as it is called by historians started as early as 1937 between Japan and China. Some consider this as the beginning of the Second World War and not 1939.

Japan was in a quest to expand its territories in the 1930’s. They wanted to create a Japanese empire by conquering as many Asia-pacific nations as possible. With fewer natural resources and land, they wanted to make sure their expanding population will have a place to live and rule. The first in line was Manchuria, a province to the extreme North-East of China where different ethnicities claimed ancestry. Japan conquered Manchuria in 1931 and occupied it for nearly a decade. The League of Nations formed after First World War were called upon by China for getting justice. When everyone cried foul, Japan walked out of the league. The Japanese Imperial army kept conquering islands around the Asia-Pacific after the Manchurian conquest, and this became a thorn on the side for many Western powers.

Japan captured Guam which was with the US navy after the First World War. It was just hours after the Pearl Harbor attack. At the end of war, in the Battle of Saipan, the United States army defeated the Japanese and invaded the Mariana islands. After the war, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands became a commonwealth of the United States.

War in the Pacific National Historical Park is a protected area in the United States territory of Guam, in Apra Harbor. It was established in 1978 in honor of those who participated in the Pacific Theater of Second World War. Various sites on the island of Guam are part of the Park. It is unique among the National Park System as it honors the bravery and sacrifices of all those who participated in the Pacific Theater. The park includes former battlefields, gun emplacements, trenches, caves, and historic structures.