Jesus Baza Dueñas (March 19, 1911 – July 12, 1944) was a Catholic priest and local leader on Guam during World War II. He was tortured and beheaded by Japanese forces for refusing to disclose the location of a U.S. service member hiding in Guam.
Dueñas was born on March 19, 1911, to his parents of Luis Paulino Dueñas and Josefa Martínez Baza in Hagåtña, Guam, with siblings Pedro, Eduardo, among others.
Educationedit
Dueñas studied for the priesthood in Manila, and became the second Chamorro Catholic priest when he was ordained in 1938. During the World War IIJapanese occupation of Guam, Japanese forces who suspected Dueñas of knowing the whereabouts of a fugitive American serviceman tortured and, on July 12, 1944, killed him.
Japanese occupationedit
In December 1941, Japan invaded and occupied Guam. In early 1942, Father Dueñas was appointed temporary head of Guam's Catholic church.[1] He sometimes told local people not to cooperate with the Japanese, and his independence and status on Guam worried them. The Japanese kept a close watch on Dueñas and wanted to exile him, but worried that relations with local people would worsen if they did so. Japan decided to send to Guam two more cooperative Catholic priests, Monsignor Dominic Fukahori and Father Petro Komatzu, but Duenas at personal risk often refused to co-operate with them.
Friends and associates operated secret radio receivers and kept Dueñas well informed on the progress of the war.
Father Dueñas knew much about the movements of the six American servicemen who had escaped capture during the December 10, 1941 Japanese ground invasion, and about those who helped and harbored them. He is also said to have known about the plans of Japanese search teams searching for the fugitives and their helpers.[2]
Arrest and beheadingedit
The Japanese had long suspected that Dueñas knew a great deal about the only American to escape capture, George Tweed. In July 1944, Dueñas was informed about Japanese plans to arrest him, but refused to escape.[2] He told the men who hoped to assist him that the Japanese would retaliate against their families, reportedly saying, "Go look after your families. God will look after me. I have done no wrong."[3] When he was captured and interrogated about the whereabouts of Tweed, Dueñas is said to have responded, "It is for me to know, and for you to find out."[2] He added that he answered only to God and "the Japanese are not God."[4] After torturing him for three days, the Japanese beheaded him and his nephew, Eduardo Camacho Dueñas, on July 12, 1944, at Tai, Mangilao.[3]
Legacy and honoredit
In early 1945, the body of Fr. Dueñas was exhumed from a crude grave. When his body was buried at St. Joseph's Church in Inarajan, hundreds of people and the island's highest officials attended the ceremony. The Father Dueñas Memorial School (FDMS) was established in 1948 in his memory. In 1970, Guam officially designated July 12 as "Father Dueñas Day."[3]
Referencesedit
^Father Jesus Baza Duenas, An Heroic Martyr By Eric Forbes, OFM. Guampedia
^ abcTony Palomo. "A man of courage and conviction". Retrieved 2007-07-09.
^ abcFather Dueñas School: History From the Father Dueñas Memorial School Website, accessed July 26, 2011
^"This month in Guam history — July". Pacific Daily News. Retrieved 2007-09-15.
External linksedit
Father Jesus Baza Duenas, Guampedia.
Father Duenas' Execution Site, From Significant World War II Sites on Guam, by the National Park Service.
January 01, 1970
jesus, baza, duenas, jesus, baza, dueñas, march, 1911, july, 1944, catholic, priest, local, leader, guam, during, world, tortured, beheaded, japanese, forces, refusing, disclose, location, service, member, hiding, guam, jesus, baza, dueñasborn, 1911, march, 19. Jesus Baza Duenas March 19 1911 July 12 1944 was a Catholic priest and local leader on Guam during World War II He was tortured and beheaded by Japanese forces for refusing to disclose the location of a U S service member hiding in Guam Jesus Baza DuenasBorn 1911 03 19 March 19 1911Hagatna GuamDiedJuly 12 1944 1944 07 12 aged 33 Ta i MangilaoCause of deathBeheadedResting placeSt Joseph s ChurchInarajan GuamOccupationPriestParent s Luis Paulino Duenas father Josefa Martinez Baza mother Contents 1 Early life 2 Education 3 Japanese occupation 4 Arrest and beheading 5 Legacy and honor 6 References 7 External linksEarly life editDuenas was born on March 19 1911 to his parents of Luis Paulino Duenas and Josefa Martinez Baza in Hagatna Guam with siblings Pedro Eduardo among others Education editDuenas studied for the priesthood in Manila and became the second Chamorro Catholic priest when he was ordained in 1938 During the World War II Japanese occupation of Guam Japanese forces who suspected Duenas of knowing the whereabouts of a fugitive American serviceman tortured and on July 12 1944 killed him Japanese occupation editIn December 1941 Japan invaded and occupied Guam In early 1942 Father Duenas was appointed temporary head of Guam s Catholic church 1 He sometimes told local people not to cooperate with the Japanese and his independence and status on Guam worried them The Japanese kept a close watch on Duenas and wanted to exile him but worried that relations with local people would worsen if they did so Japan decided to send to Guam two more cooperative Catholic priests Monsignor Dominic Fukahori and Father Petro Komatzu but Duenas at personal risk often refused to co operate with them Friends and associates operated secret radio receivers and kept Duenas well informed on the progress of the war Father Duenas knew much about the movements of the six American servicemen who had escaped capture during the December 10 1941 Japanese ground invasion and about those who helped and harbored them He is also said to have known about the plans of Japanese search teams searching for the fugitives and their helpers 2 Arrest and beheading editThe Japanese had long suspected that Duenas knew a great deal about the only American to escape capture George Tweed In July 1944 Duenas was informed about Japanese plans to arrest him but refused to escape 2 He told the men who hoped to assist him that the Japanese would retaliate against their families reportedly saying Go look after your families God will look after me I have done no wrong 3 When he was captured and interrogated about the whereabouts of Tweed Duenas is said to have responded It is for me to know and for you to find out 2 He added that he answered only to God and the Japanese are not God 4 After torturing him for three days the Japanese beheaded him and his nephew Eduardo Camacho Duenas on July 12 1944 at Tai Mangilao 3 Legacy and honor editIn early 1945 the body of Fr Duenas was exhumed from a crude grave When his body was buried at St Joseph s Church in Inarajan hundreds of people and the island s highest officials attended the ceremony The Father Duenas Memorial School FDMS was established in 1948 in his memory In 1970 Guam officially designated July 12 as Father Duenas Day 3 References edit Father Jesus Baza Duenas An Heroic Martyr By Eric Forbes OFM Guampedia a b c Tony Palomo A man of courage and conviction Retrieved 2007 07 09 a b c Father Duenas School History From the Father Duenas Memorial School Website accessed July 26 2011 This month in Guam history July Pacific Daily News Retrieved 2007 09 15 External links editFather Jesus Baza Duenas Guampedia Father Duenas Execution Site From Significant World War II Sites on Guam by the National Park Service Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jesus Baza Duenas amp oldid 1005845495, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
