Sandy and Tom: PAGO PAGO, AMERICAN SAMOA

PAGO PAGO (pronounced Pango Pango), AMERICAN SAMOA

1 FEBRUARY 2014

The Samoa Islands have been populated for 3,000 years, but known to the western world for little more than two centuries. The Samoan archipelago includes the US territory of American Samoa and the independent nation of Samoa (formerly Western Samoa). American Samoa, the only US territory south of the equator, consists of seven islands: five rugged, highly eroded volcanic islands and two coral atolls. The land area totals 76 square miles. Approximately 70,000 people live here, most on the main island of Tutuila where Pago Pago is located.

The people are the most friendly we have encountered. They all wave at our tour bus in every village we encounter and they all smile at us. They have round faces and round bodies. Our female tour guide referred to her race as “fluffy”. They are lightly brown and have beautiful skin.

In February 1941 the Rose Atoll was made a Naval Defense Area by President Roosevelt. In July 1941 the first Samoa Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve was organized. In January 1942 the island was fired on by a Japanese submarine. There was some damage and only minor injuries. The submarines hung around all during the war but there were no more encounters. The U.S. Navy ended it administration of American Samoa February 1951.

The citizens elect a Governor. He then appoints a person to the US House of Representatives to represent the Samoan people.