{"id":265,"date":"2022-02-06T05:23:59","date_gmt":"2022-02-06T05:23:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/330thasg.org\/?page_id=265"},"modified":"2022-02-12T20:15:53","modified_gmt":"2022-02-12T20:15:53","slug":"saipan","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/330thasg.org\/index.php\/saipan\/","title":{"rendered":"Saipan"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"265\" class=\"elementor elementor-265\" data-elementor-settings=\"[]\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-section-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6707ac7 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6707ac7\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ec77a8b\" data-id=\"ec77a8b\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0f399c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"0f399c7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.5.6 - 28-02-2022 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"584\" height=\"781\" src=\"https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Saipan_USGS_1999_map-766x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Saipan_USGS_1999_map-766x1024.jpg 766w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Saipan_USGS_1999_map-224x300.jpg 224w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Saipan_USGS_1999_map-768x1027.jpg 768w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Saipan_USGS_1999_map-1148x1536.jpg 1148w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Saipan_USGS_1999_map-1531x2048.jpg 1531w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Saipan_USGS_1999_map-scaled.jpg 1914w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">1999 US Geologic Survey Map of Saipan.  Saipan International Airport occupies the former location of Isely Field. <\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c97d5a8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"c97d5a8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"584\" height=\"592\" src=\"https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Saipan-and-Tinian-1011x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Saipan-and-Tinian-1011x1024.jpg 1011w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Saipan-and-Tinian-296x300.jpg 296w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Saipan-and-Tinian-768x778.jpg 768w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Saipan-and-Tinian-1517x1536.jpg 1517w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Saipan-and-Tinian.jpg 1572w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">An August 1945 air navigation map of Saipan and nearby Tinian.  The map shows the locations of the three B-29 airfields on these islands: Isely Field, North Field, and West Fields. Isely Field is located near the south shore of Saipan. \n\nIsely Field was developed by significantly expanding the much smaller Aslito Airfield built by the Japanese. Aslito Airfield was renamed Isely Field after it was captured by the Americans.  It was named after US Navy Commander Robert H. Isely who was killed on June 13, 1944, while strafing Aslito Airfield shortly before the American invasion of Saipan. <\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-19d33af elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"19d33af\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-fe315fb\" data-id=\"fe315fb\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-847fe27 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"847fe27\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.5.6 - 28-02-2022 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#818a91;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#818a91;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p>Unlike in WWII when they were enemies, Japan was an ally of England in WWI.\u00a0 In October 1914, shortly after England and Germany went to war, Japan captured Germany\u2019s island territories in the Pacific north of the Equator: the modern-day Northern Mariana Islands (except for Guam, which was a US possession), Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, and Marshall Islands.\u00a0 After WWI the League of Nations gave Japan a mandate to administer these islands.\u00a0 Ultimately, \u201cThe Mandates\u201d would become defacto territories of Japan by the 1930s.\u00a0<\/p><p>Saipan, one of the Marianas, was the Mandate island most heavily colonized by Japan.\u00a0 By one estimate, in 1944 over 25,000 civilians lived on Saipan.\u00a0 By far the majority were non-natives\u2014Japanese, Okinawans, and Koreans. \u00a0(Korea, which had been under Japan\u2019s control since 1905, was a source of cheap labor for the Empire.)\u00a0 Garapan was the island\u2019s largest community.\u00a0 Captain Oba, a Japanese soldier mentioned elsewhere, thought that Garapan looked like a \u201ctypical Japanese seaside village\u201d when he arrive in early 1944. The images that follow show Garapan before and after the US invasion of Saipan.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-40b1e3b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"40b1e3b\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ca33078\" data-id=\"ca33078\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5de3996 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"5de3996\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"584\" height=\"581\" src=\"https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Captured-Japanese-Image-2-Garapan-cropped-1024x1019.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Captured-Japanese-Image-2-Garapan-cropped-1024x1019.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Captured-Japanese-Image-2-Garapan-cropped-300x298.jpg 300w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Captured-Japanese-Image-2-Garapan-cropped-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Captured-Japanese-Image-2-Garapan-cropped-768x764.jpg 768w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Captured-Japanese-Image-2-Garapan-cropped-1536x1528.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Captured-Japanese-Image-2-Garapan-cropped-2048x2038.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Captured-Japanese-Image-2-Garapan-cropped-302x300.jpg 302w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">The building in the center of the photo is the Saipan Branch office of an unidentified Japanese company.  The building just visible on the right margin of the photo is a department store.  The building partially visible on the left is the meeting place for a Japanese businessman\u2019s association. <\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6f36df8 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6f36df8\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2a3a33d\" data-id=\"2a3a33d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7c08ccc elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"7c08ccc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"584\" height=\"405\" src=\"https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Captured-Japanese-Image-1-Garapan-1-1024x711.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Captured-Japanese-Image-1-Garapan-1-1024x711.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Captured-Japanese-Image-1-Garapan-1-300x208.jpg 300w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Captured-Japanese-Image-1-Garapan-1-768x533.jpg 768w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Captured-Japanese-Image-1-Garapan-1-1536x1067.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Captured-Japanese-Image-1-Garapan-1-2048x1422.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Captured-Japanese-Image-1-Garapan-1-432x300.jpg 432w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Street in Garapan prior to the US invasion in July 1944. The business office building and department store shown in the preceding picture are visible in the center of the photo.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8f09154 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"8f09154\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"584\" height=\"469\" src=\"https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Garapan-1-l-1024x822.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Garapan-1-l-1024x822.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Garapan-1-l-300x241.jpg 300w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Garapan-1-l-768x617.jpg 768w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Garapan-1-l-374x300.jpg 374w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Garapan-1-l.jpg 1309w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Col Lyman Phillips, commander of the 330th ASG in Garapan. Garapan was the scene of heavy fighting when the island was invaded and the city was a ruin when the fighting was done.  The two buildings behind him are the shells of the business office and department store shown in the preceding pictures.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1f78fb3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1f78fb3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"584\" height=\"352\" src=\"https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Garapan-2-l-cropped-1024x617.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Garapan-2-l-cropped-1024x617.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Garapan-2-l-cropped-300x181.jpg 300w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Garapan-2-l-cropped-768x463.jpg 768w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Garapan-2-l-cropped-498x300.jpg 498w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Garapan-2-l-cropped.jpg 1239w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Another photo of Col Phillips in Garapan. Again, the two buildings behind him are the shells of the business office and department store shown in the preceding pictures. Ultimately the entire area was bulldozed and the Navy built a large naval facility where the city once was.  <\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5ac9ff5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5ac9ff5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-90d86bc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"90d86bc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>On June 15, 1944 the 2nd and 4th Marine Divisions assaulted Saipan with landings on the southwestern coast of the island.\u00a0 Although the Japanese had not completed their planned defenses, more than 31,000 Japanese soldiers were on the island and they put up a determined resistance.\u00a0 Consequently, on June 16, the commander of the invasion, Lt. General Holland Smith (USMC), committed his reserve force, the 27th Infantry Division to the fight. 2949 marines and soldiers died taking Saipan, and another 10,464 were wounded. Approximately 29,000 Japanese soldiers died.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e32ec7e elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e32ec7e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"584\" height=\"366\" src=\"https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/C-L-Hagen-USMC-Gravesite-photo-1-print-1-of-12-cropped-1024x642.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/C-L-Hagen-USMC-Gravesite-photo-1-print-1-of-12-cropped-1024x642.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/C-L-Hagen-USMC-Gravesite-photo-1-print-1-of-12-cropped-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/C-L-Hagen-USMC-Gravesite-photo-1-print-1-of-12-cropped-768x481.jpg 768w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/C-L-Hagen-USMC-Gravesite-photo-1-print-1-of-12-cropped-1536x962.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/C-L-Hagen-USMC-Gravesite-photo-1-print-1-of-12-cropped-2048x1283.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/C-L-Hagen-USMC-Gravesite-photo-1-print-1-of-12-cropped-479x300.jpg 479w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Marine dead buried on Saipan. Pfc Hagen was killed on the first day for fighting.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-15a54bb elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"15a54bb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"584\" height=\"396\" src=\"https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Dead-Japanese-Soldiers-2-1024x694.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Dead-Japanese-Soldiers-2-1024x694.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Dead-Japanese-Soldiers-2-300x203.jpg 300w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Dead-Japanese-Soldiers-2-768x521.jpg 768w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Dead-Japanese-Soldiers-2-1536x1041.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Dead-Japanese-Soldiers-2-443x300.jpg 443w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Dead-Japanese-Soldiers-2.jpg 1772w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">The numbers of Japanese dead, their close proximity to one another, and the relative openness of the area they are found in are suggestive of a massed attack against a defended American position.   The most notable example of this on Saipan occurred in the early morning of July 7.  Pushed back to the northern portion of the island, the Japanese commander told his men that they were ordered to make a final gyokysai attack.  Gyokysai translates into \u201cbreaking the jewel\u201d or \u201cshattered gem\u201d and refers to an attack where the soldiers are prepared to destroy themselves delivering a devastating, final blow to the enemy.   The Japanese soldiers taking part in this attack overran several American positions and drove over 1000 yards into the American lines.  But the attack was repulsed by the afternoon with over 4000 Japanese dead counted afterward.  They would be part of a staggering death toll; overall, of the more than 31,000 Japanese soldiers that fought on Saipan, only about 2100 may have survived.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-65e1a9d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"65e1a9d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Saipan was the first place that American soldiers encountered significant numbers of Japanese civilians.\u00a0 Japanese officials had told the civilians that if the Americans came they would torture and kill the men, rape (and then kill) the women, and even eat their children.\u00a0 \u00a0Believing these things, the civilians fled for the hills when the invasion started and many retreated with the Japanese soldiers as the Americans advanced.\u00a0\u00a0 I have yet to find a definitive number of civilian deaths on Saipan. \u00a0But, by one analysis about 10,000 died during the fighting.\u00a0 Many of those that died would be killed directly by the fighting, bombing and shelling.\u00a0 Others would be entombed in caves where they hid with Japanese soldiers.\u00a0 A stunning number would also commit suicide rather than be made captive.\u00a0 While American soldiers looked on in disbelief entire families leapt to their deaths from cliffs or threw themselves into the ocean to drown when finally cornered on the northern part of the island.\u00a0 In some cases civilians who were reluctant to commit suicide were killed by their own soldiers.\u00a0 This experience would lead American soldiers to wonder if the entire Japanese nation was prepared to commit suicide rather than surrender.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9a28aa0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"9a28aa0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"584\" height=\"483\" src=\"https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/img293-1024x847.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/img293-1024x847.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/img293-300x248.jpg 300w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/img293-768x635.jpg 768w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/img293-1536x1271.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/img293-2048x1694.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/img293-363x300.jpg 363w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">This relatively well-known photo (now part of the National Archive holdings) is of a marine talking to a civilian woman who had hidden in a cave with four children to escape the fighting.  The photo was taken on June 21, 1944. <\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-619fb4e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"619fb4e\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9276dba\" data-id=\"9276dba\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b93a8e6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b93a8e6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>One characteristic of life on Saipan was Japanese \u201cstragglers.\u201d\u00a0 Although the island was declared \u201csecure\u201d in July 1944, a number of Japanese soldiers who had evaded death or capture in June and July 1944 fled to the hills and continued their resistance.\u00a0\u00a0 For the entire time the 330th ASG was on Saipan, there were areas that were \u201cOff Limits\u201d to American serviceman and women.\u00a0 It was not unheard of for souvenir hunters who ignored the off limit signs in the hopes of finding some leftover war booty to be killed by a straggler.\u00a0<\/p><p>There is evidence that when the 330th ASG first arrived there were stragglers in the general area where they were building their facilities.\u00a0 While working, some 330th ASG members got so smelly and dirty that bathing from their helmets was not enough and they decided to head to the beach to clean themselves and their clothes.\u00a0 Deciding to go to the beach in those early days was not done lightly though.\u00a0 People who did it carried carbines and kept a close watch for snipers.\u00a0 Also, although I have yet to find written confirmation, I have oral and photographic evidence suggesting that men of the 330th ASG were involved in patrols trying to find and capture or kill these Japanese soldiers.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p><p>The largest group of stragglers on Saipan was a band of soldiers (and some Japanese civilians) commanded by Captain Oba.\u00a0 The Americans would unsuccessfully go to great lengths to kill or capture him.\u00a0 He consistently outwitted his would-be captors earning the nickname \u201cThe Fox.\u201d\u00a0 He and his soldiers did not lay down their arms until December 1945 \u2013 three months after the formal Japanese surrender.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-301a953 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"301a953\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a5405e6\" data-id=\"a5405e6\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c5de63b elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"c5de63b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"584\" height=\"851\" src=\"https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Restricted-Area-Map-Complete-703x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Restricted-Area-Map-Complete-703x1024.jpg 703w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Restricted-Area-Map-Complete-206x300.jpg 206w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Restricted-Area-Map-Complete-768x1119.jpg 768w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Restricted-Area-Map-Complete-1054x1536.jpg 1054w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Restricted-Area-Map-Complete-1405x2048.jpg 1405w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Restricted-Area-Map-Complete-scaled.jpg 1757w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">May 1945 map showing restricted and off limits areas on Saipan.  Areas were often designated as restricted due to the danger posed by Japanese soldiers who remained on the island during after it was taken by the Americans.  One large band of these soldiers, led by Captain Oba, would not surrender until December 1945, months after the war was over. <\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d897129 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d897129\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-030584f\" data-id=\"030584f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8af0dc6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8af0dc6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Although the stragglers posed a risk to the American soldiers on Saipan, they were at extreme risk of being captured or killed themselves.\u00a0 With few sources of food, supplies, or medicine, stragglers stole from American stockpiles to survive.\u00a0 The attempt was occasionally fatal.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4ec9d74 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4ec9d74\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-dc59382\" data-id=\"dc59382\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c3585b elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1c3585b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"584\" height=\"352\" src=\"https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Dead-Japanese-Soldier-l-1024x617.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Dead-Japanese-Soldier-l-1024x617.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Dead-Japanese-Soldier-l-300x181.jpg 300w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Dead-Japanese-Soldier-l-768x463.jpg 768w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Dead-Japanese-Soldier-l-498x300.jpg 498w, https:\/\/330thasg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Dead-Japanese-Soldier-l.jpg 1268w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">This photo appears depict a Japanese straggler soldier who died while trying to steal supplies. The photo appears consistent with an incident where a Japanese soldier took his own life with a grenade rather than be captured.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>1999 US Geologic Survey Map of Saipan. Saipan International Airport occupies the former location of Isley Field. An August 1945 air navigation map of Saipan and nearby Tinian. The map shows the locations of the three B-29 airfields on these &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/330thasg.org\/index.php\/saipan\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/330thasg.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/265"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/330thasg.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/330thasg.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/330thasg.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/330thasg.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=265"}],"version-history":[{"count":53,"href":"https:\/\/330thasg.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/265\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":657,"href":"https:\/\/330thasg.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/265\/revisions\/657"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/330thasg.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=265"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}