Amazing WWII History of Saipan

So I've always preferred math and science in school and was never too keen with history.  However, I must admit that the World War II history that is woven into the culture and the landscape on Saipan is quite amazing!

Japan took over control of Saipan from Germany after WWI.  Much of the Japanese culture is still prevalent today.  Guam, on the other hand, was controlled by the US.  During WWII, Saipan was considered a point of strategic and tactical importance for both countries.  The native people (the Chamorro) were more or less stuck in the middle and forced to choose a side (which typically was the country who'd controlled their respective island for the past 20 years).  US attacked Saipan on 13 June and Marine and Army forces landed 15 June 1944.  The Battle of Saipan lasted until 9 July 1944 when we lay siege and took over the Last Japanese Command Post (see pictures below).  Legend has it that the 2 remaining Japanese commanders committed sepuku, a ritual suicide (you can read more on that if you wish...a little gross for some in this audience), rather than being taken alive.  This site on the northern part of Saipan was the last stronghold before Japan lost complete control of Saipan.

Japanese places of military importance

Defense outside bunker of the Last Command Post.

Defense outside bunker of the Last Command Post.  The bunker is located in the rock behind the Flame Tree limb.

 Small tank used to defend area below Last Command Post.

 Back door to Japanese bunker at Last Command Post.

 Inside view of the Japanese bunker at Last Command Post.

This is the view of the Japanese bunker that US troops would have come upon as they ascended from the coast.

 The resonating attitude of the Japanese soldiers was that suicide was better than being taken prisoner b/c they assumed they'd be tortured and probably killed anyways.  So, as American troops steadily took over the island many Japanese soldiers, Japanese civilians, and even Chamorros supporting the Japs killed themselves.  Two sites of mass suicide were on the northern side of the island: Suicide Cliff (as the namesake implies) and Banzai Cliff.

This commemorative plaque stands atop Suicide Cliff and describes its significance.

To avoid capture many Japanese jumped from Suicide Cliff into the jungle below.

Similarly, many chose to off themselves by jumping from Banzai Cliff into the rocky treacherous edge of the Philippine Sea

 There is still a great deal of history for me to explore, but I thought this would interest some of you as much as it did me.  Another interesting note:  There are always at least 2 active military Maritime Prepositioning Ships anchored just off the coast of Saipan to support our military if the need ever arises.

  

Please leave comments below if you'd like.  I'd love to hear what you think!  And if there is anything you want me to write about while I'm here, please leave a comment below or email me.

Much Love,

Chris

All pictures presented in this post are property of the author.  Unauthorized use of these pictures is prohibited unless given explicit permission by the author.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU HAD ALMOST A DAY TO KILL?  A mind-numbing plane ride is probably not anywhere near the top of that list.

10am (Houston time) Thursday morning flight to Guam with a stop in Hawaii; land in Guam Friday evening 6pm (Guam time).  Just a short 16 hour hop across the largest ocean on earth...no big deal!  Flying over the ocean brought to mind two movies.  The first is the scene from Jurassic Park when the helicopter is flying over the ocean and I remember how beautiful that looked.  Then, without warning, clips from Alive (the one where the rugby team crashed in the Andes mountains) flooded my imagination....if we crash in the ocean (not the mountains like the movie but you get my point), I'm probably going to die out here or get stranded on an island the size of a football field with a hundred strangers.

Anyway, I obviously made it here alive.  I walked off the plane like some sort of stiff zombie.  To say that I was tired (in mind and butt) is a gross understatement.

My colleague and I spent the next several days on Guam wandering through the jungle in search of ideal locations to set up some experiments for my research.  After all, that is the whole reason why I flew half way around the world.  Ohh, I guess some of you don't know why I'm in Guam.  Here's the gist:  All the forest birds species have gone extinct on the island of Guam b/c a snake species was accidentally introduced about 50 years ago.  The snakes are largely blamed for completely wiping birds off of Guam.  As many of you may know, birds play an important role in pollinating plants.  So as tragic as the situation is, it provides an excellent opportunity for me to examine how this effects the natural forests.  Using Saipan (which has no snakes and healthy bird communities), I can compare the forest on Guam to Saipan to basically see if the forests are different from each other and, if so, how they are different. So my short term life goal for the next three months is to get at that question.

On April 18th, we flew to Saipan to similarly search the forests of Saipan for suitable experiment sites.  And I've been here since.  It's been just over a month since I arrived in the Marianas and I'm in a beautiful island paradise which I will get to enjoy trampling through the jungle rather than laying on the beach tanning and drinking a daiquiri.  Ohh well, 'tis life.  It's actually probably a good thing I'm not laying on the beach b/c Jackie would not be happy if I left her for three months, vacationed without her, and bummed around!!

However, as I travel between field sites, I will do my best to photograph and document some of the cultural/historical aspects of the islands.  The rich, authentic, untouched WWII history here is amazing!

Check back later.  I'll try to write again and post some pictures once or twice a week.

Much love to my fam and friends!


ps-I don't have my phone so don't bother calling.  I have email access so shoot me an email at roy.chris.roy@gmail.com if you'd like to get in touch.  I will be back state-side 12 July.