(DiscoverSaipan) — From July 31 to August 5, Walt Goodridge, local author and owner of DiscoverSaipan, hosted seven midshipmen and two officers from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
The students — a mixed group of sophomores and juniors — are taking part in a Language, Regional Expertise, and Culture Program or LREC as part of their studies at the Naval Academy. This also includes a battlefield study of the Battle of Saipan and the Battle of Tinian.
“This was the ideal group to offer my “WWII Pilgrimage/Amelia Earhart” tour as well as my “Tinian to Hiroshima” tour,” according to tour organizer and guide, Walt Goodridge. “They already have a working knowledge of Saipan’s and Tinian’s significance in world history. They had tons of questions and — after seeing the actual battle sites and interacting with the local population in the 75-year plus aftermath of those battles — I’m sure they’ll leave with a deeper appreciation of how these islands fit into the bigger picture.”
The group’s five-day itinerary included all-day tours of Saipan and Tinian to experience the culture, history and people of the CNMI, as well as trekking to experience the islands’ beauty and scenery, and wrapped up with a world class diving experience with FishGuyzScuba.
The group’s program managers are Col. Maria “MJ” Pallotta, Ph.D. (USMCR) who is the director, Center for Experiential Leadership Development, as well as Capt. Bob Qu (USMC), a professor in the History Department at the Naval Academy.
The group departs to return to Maryland on Friday, Aug 5.
For more info and photos, check out the Naval Academy midshipmen’s LREC blog at https://marianaslrec.weebly.com/blog or discoversaipan.com for links to more photos and videos.
John Castro-Mames, program coordinator for the seafaring traditions program under the Commonwealth Council for Arts and Culture, front, with, from left, Charlie Sewell, Ellie Dabney, Molly Mangan, Capt. Bob Qu, Aidan Otero, Ava Izenour, Becca Vavasseur, Col. Maria “MJ” Pallotta, PhD., Carson Hillier, along with Willy Kaitabu and guide Walt Goodridge.
On Mount Tapochau, from left, Eva Chamorita, guest guide and contributor to Latte in the Marianas book, Ava Izenour, Col. Maria “MJ”, Pallotta, PhD., Aidan Otero, Ellie Dabney, Molly Mangan, Becca Vavasseur, Charlie Sewell, Carson Hillier, Capt. Bob Qu, Willy Kaitabu and Walt F.J. Goodridge, guide.
From left, Walt Goodridge, guide, Becca Vavasseur, Ellie Dabney, Captain Bob Qu, Colonel Maria “MJ” Pallotta, PhD., Tinian Mayor Edwin P. Aldan, Ava Izenour, Molly Mangan, Charlie Sewell, Carson Hillier, Aidan Otero, Willy Kaitabu.
At the House of Taga on Tinian: Capt. Bob Qu, Molly Mangan, Aidan Otero, Charlie Sewell, Becca Vavasseur, Ellie Dabney, Ava Izenour, Carson Hillier and Col. Maria “MJ” Pallotta, PhD.
