CHamoru resilience during WWII honored at Guam Museum exhibit

By Pacific Island Times News Staff

A compelling photography exhibit, "So We Leapt - Para I Hinanao-ta Mo’na: Guam after Liberation & CHamoru WWII Survivors," will open at 10 a.m. on July 12 at the Guam Museum in Hagåtña.

The exhibit, which will run through Aug. 18, features several never-before-seen images that offer a powerful glimpse into Guam's post-liberation era and honor the enduring spirit of the CHamoru people.

"So We Leapt - Para I Hinanao-ta Mo’na" showcases over 100 photographs captured by Army photographer Frank Buchman between 1944 and 1946.

Many of these images depict everyday life for CHamorus across the island during a challenging period in Guam's history. The photos have been meticulously curated and digitally restored by Pulitzer Prize winner Manny Crisostomo from a collection of over 500 prints, negatives and color transparencies taken by Buchman.

Complementing Buchman’s historical works are more than 200 contemporary portraits of WWII liberators and CHamoru survivors, all in their 80s and 90s.

These powerful images were captured for “Hasso,” a passion project by California Superior Court Judge Johnny Cepeda Gogo, formerly of Sinajana.

In November 2024, Gogo, Crisostomo and award-winning investigative reporter Rob Perez, formerly of Santa Rita, visited Buchman and his family in 

Pittsburgh. During their visit, Buchman signed one of the Guam flags, donated additional images for the exhibit, and shared his vivid recollections of his experiences on Guam and the photographs he took nearly 80 years prior.

The captivating story of how this collection came to light is narrated in a

companion book, also titled "So We Leapt - Para I Hinanao-ta Mo’na: Guam after Liberation & CHamoru WWII Survivors."

The book will be released on the same day as the exhibit opens and will be available for purchase for $50 at the Guam Museum, and online in August at Sanlagu.com.

Crisostomo, Gogo and Perez will be on Guam to attend the exhibit opening and book launch. Buchman, who sadly passed away this Memorial Day at the

 age of 103, will be represented by his daughter, Jane Buchman Tweedlie.

The museum will remain open until 4 p.m. on opening day; general museum hours are 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday.