2
2
0
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?
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 16
4
4
0
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.
1LT L S Capt (Join to see) LTC Stephen F.
More on my father, CPL Doug Hill.
1LT L S Capt (Join to see) LTC Stephen F.
More on my father, CPL Doug Hill.
(4)
(0)
LTC Stephen C.
Totally agree, CPL Doug Hill. My father put himself through college by stoking open hearth furnaces in a steel mill. However, he was just one of many of the hard core you speak of that just got on with what had to be done.
(0)
(0)
2
2
0
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.
(2)
(0)
SFC Mark Merino
A thunderous round of applause and the loudest "Greatest Generation RESPECT!" I can shout! That is amazing. Did you ever coax any stories out f him?
(0)
(0)
1stSgt Ron Gallegos
After following in his footsteps, NO. He didn't want to traumatize me whenever my time would come to face combat; However, my siblings got ears full just recently. We have since compared notes. He says your War's don't compare and I do not disagree.
(1)
(0)
2
2
0
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
http://www.the442.org/442ndfacts.html
442nd Regimental Combat Team Facts
442nd RCT facts-activation, campaigns, casualties
(2)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google