Has anyone on RallyPoint been to Saipan?

SFC Mark Merino — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 04:42:53 -0500

3,000 Marines gave their lives to secure the island just following D-Day invasion in Europe. My wife says Saipan is absolutely gorgeous. She has burned thru 4 passports just going there from Japan. Has anyone ever been there? More importanly, does anyone have family who served during the campaign in WWII?

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Dec 6 at 2014 5:41 AM

SFC Mark Merino — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 05:41:33 -0500

I doubt anyone thought it was beautiful in 1944.

Response by SFC Richard Haugh made Dec 6 at 2014 6:48 AM

SFC Richard Haugh — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 06:48:57 -0500

Lived there and taught JROTC at Saipan Southern High School... Met Lee Marvin's family member who visited the island roughly about the 60th Anniversary of WWII as the neighbor island of Tinian played a significant part in our bombing of Japan. Lots of US Marine history on the island of Saipan... Lets also pay tribute to the Wind Talkers and Marianas Scout who helped the US Marine find their way through the Saipan jungles and discover the many island caves.

Response by CMSgt James Nolan made Dec 6 at 2014 8:58 AM

CMSgt James Nolan — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 08:58:02 -0500

SFC Mark MerinoNope, but with the transfer I am taking, I will be stationed in N/Cal, covering investigations in N/Cal, Nevada, Hawaii, Guam and Saipan, so I will be going there for work. Very excited to see that part of the world and it's history.

Response by MSgt David Mizelle made Dec 6 at 2014 10:14 AM

MSgt David Mizelle — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 10:14:46 -0500

Been there when I was in Guam. Small but beautiful island. However, not much to do there.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Dec 6 at 2014 10:37 AM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 10:37:39 -0500

Hi SFC Mark Merino -- we currently have 6 RallyPoint members located right now in Sapian. Here is the link to connect with them. I will also tag them here for you.

https://www.rallypoint.com/locations/saipan-northern-mariana-islands/current

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Dec 6 at 2014 3:14 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 15:14:51 -0500

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Dec 6 at 2014 9:59 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 21:59:06 -0500

I had no idea that Saipan was home to a company from the famous 442nd Regimental Combat Team from WWII. Japanese Americans, mostly from internment camps located throughout the US, volunteered to fight for the very country that locked them up as "enemies to the security of the United States." Below are some of their stats that show they were one of the fiercest fighting Infantry units of WWII. Forever immortalized by the classic movie "Go For Broke" starring Van Johnson. RallyPoint members who are EOA/EOR's should familiarize themselves with this unit. Greatest Generation RESPECT!!!
http://www.the442.org/442ndfacts.html

442nd Regimental Combat Team Facts

442nd RCT facts-activation, campaigns, casualties

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Dec 6 at 2014 10:44 PM

LTC Stephen C. — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 22:44:49 -0500

SFC Mark Merino, I've never been to Saipan. However, my father, LTJG Jack Curlee, served aboard USS LST 78 and made more than one landing on Saipan, 1945 timeframe. The photo of the ship is when beached on Okinawa.

More on my father, CPL Doug Hill.

Response by 1stSgt Ron Gallegos made Dec 7 at 2014 10:42 PM

1stSgt Ron Gallegos — Sun, 07 Dec 2014 22:42:15 -0500

My Father was with the 4th Division Marines that saw action on four of the following Islands- Saipan, Tinian, Roi Namur, and Iwo Jima. The Movie Wind-Talkers was supposed to be about the Battle of Saipan.

Response by SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 15 at 2014 12:50 AM

SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 15 Dec 2014 00:50:58 -0500

Can't say that I have, but I was fortunate enough to spend a week on Midway Island. A lot of history there!

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Dec 15 at 2014 1:01 AM

SFC Mark Merino — Mon, 15 Dec 2014 01:01:06 -0500

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Jan 4 at 2015 4:17 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Sun, 04 Jan 2015 16:17:09 -0500

Courtesy of the History Channel....

http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-saipan

Battle of Saipan - World War II - HISTORY.com

Find out more about the history of Battle of Saipan, including videos, interesting articles, pictures, historical features and more. Get all the facts on HISTORY.com

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Jan 5 at 2015 12:56 AM

SFC Mark Merino — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 00:56:42 -0500

Greatest Generation RESPECT!!! Semper Fi.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DolFpb_U1JA

Saipan Pictures: Then And Now

Saipan is rich in history. Here is a collection of "Now" pictures compared to "Then" pictures. Whenever possible I tried to take the picture from the same lo...

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Jun 23 at 2015 11:46 AM

Capt Richard I P. — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 11:46:19 -0400

I have not, but I did serve in the Marine Artillery Battalion 3/10 which called itself "Saipan" and whose motto was "seven for one!"

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jun 23 at 2015 1:33 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 13:33:43 -0400

I agree it's beautiful. I was there a couple times along with Tinian. It was funny in the early 90's on Tinian watching the wide bodies going in and out of Saipan for the golf and casinos. It was cheaper for a Japanese citizen to fly there, play a few rounds and fly home than to pay greens fees back home. Tinian was the milk and eggs center of the Marianas and wanted a piece of the Saipan action. They put in some stuff without the big airport can't compete.

Response by SCPO Donald Johnson made Jun 23 at 2015 2:46 PM

SCPO Donald Johnson — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 14:46:28 -0400

I have, though my experince is probably not relevant to your needs. I was about 6 years old. For a frame of reference it was 1959. My father, a first class SK, was stationed at the communications station on the island. My family was there for a short time. I remember the beaches, jungles and some of the left overs from the war. Off the one beach we swam at there was the remains of a tank. Years later as a sailor on liberty in Hawaii I walked past a book store and saw a book about Saipan, with that scene captured on the cover.

I remember we leaved in Quonset huts. And that a neighbor, working in her garden, dug up some unexploded ordance which caused a panic.

For a kid it was a beautiful place.

As a sailor I've been to Gaum, refueling stop for ships transiting the Pacific for a West Pac cruise.