ON April 6, 2024, Saipan Southern High School’s Manta Ray Battalion JROTC cadets and their senior Army instructor, CSM (Ret.) Richard Basa, participated in a World War II 80th anniversary tour conducted by M. Gordon Marciano.
Forty-one cadets rose early on a Saturday morning to embark on a journey of historical discovery. After arriving at Saipan Southern High School from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m., the cadets boarded their bus, ready to absorb the knowledge waiting them. Led by the knowledgeable Mr. Marciano, the cadets traversed the island, immersing themselves in the history of WWII sites, including Sugar Dock, Green Beach, Blue Beach, Yellow Beach, Red Beach, As Lito Complex, Route 36, Suicide Cliff, and Banzai Cliff.
C/SSG Guinto, Colton said: “I enjoyed the experience on the tour of the island of Saipan. It showed me that there is more than you think of the lore at all of the shrines. I believed they didn’t have a background, but most of them did and had a story behind all of them, and I learned about a lot of things about the Japanese and the war.”
C/SFC Deblois, Jamie said, “I enjoyed the many sceneries and opportunities I got to experience on the WWII Tour. There are many sites I got to see for the first time, like the As Lito complex, Suicide Cliff, and Route 36. I connected with my fellow cadets and learned much about what happened during the Battles of Saipan and Tinian. Overall, I enjoyed this experience and hope to pass down the historic facts I gained on this tour.”
C/CPT Pangelinan, Kiani, reflecting on the tour, said, “The experience was truly profound. It opened my eyes to places and stories I was unaware of. The tour allowed me to empathize with our veterans’ hardships and made me appreciate my circumstances. It was an unforgettable experience that has left a lasting impact on me.”
The Manta Ray Battalion, under the leadership of Senior Army Instructor CSM (Ret.) Richard Basa, would like to extend our deepest gratitude to Mr. Gordon Marciano. His expert guidance and insightful teachings during this extraordinary journey have significantly enhanced our cadets’ understanding of our island’s history.
We are truly blessed to have had this opportunity and will carry the invaluable lessons learned on this tour into our future endeavors. Mega Hooah Cadets!
Led by their senior Army instructor, CSM (Ret.) Richard Basa, 41 JROTC cadets of Saipan Southern High School’s Manta Ray Battalion participated in a World War II 80th anniversary tour conducted by Gordon Marciano.
