By BC Cook
For Variety
SAIPAN, June 1944. Huge Japanese and American forces converged on the island to determine the outcome of the war in the Pacific. But that was only part of the story. We often talk about the battle of Saipan from the point of view of the Americans or the Japanese, and there are good stories to be told, such as that of Guy Gabaldon or Admiral Nagumo. What of the islanders caught in the middle? What would it have been like to live on Saipan as violent destruction swept over it? Countless communities have suffered as armies moved through leaving death, destruction, rape and pillage. All a person could do was hide or get out of the way until the violence passed. On Saipan, locals could not get out of the way.
As preparations for battle intensified, they knew trouble was near. Most able-bodied Chamorro men were forced to work for the Japanese, so the few men left behind joined the women to prepare their families, stashing food or scouting out a hiding place. Perhaps a family member knew of a hidden cave or isolated spot in the hills. The major towns like Garapan and Chalan Kanoa would be hit the hardest so islanders prepared to evacuate as soon as they could.
The American bombardment of the towns and landing beaches along Oleai, Susupe, CK and San Vicente devastated those areas. Nearly everyone was killed. There were not many places to hide from a 16-inch shell from a battleship. The only way to save themselves was for islanders to move inland but constant bombing by aircraft made that difficult.
Then the armies came ashore and the land battle began. Anyone caught in the open was likely killed. A dangerous option was to surrender to American soldiers without getting shot. American tactics involved tossing grenades into buildings to clear out enemy troops, so a person would have to shelter inside to survive the blast, then shout to the soldiers that they were not the enemy and hope they believed them. The Japanese often pretended to be civilians then shot at the Americans as they came near. After a while the Americans did not listen to such claims and shot on sight. Many families hid in caves but the common tactic was to toss explosives into the cave first and check for survivors after. Many families were perished that way.
Very few islanders lived to see July. Some estimate that 90% of the Saipan population was killed. Perhaps it is more amazing that anyone survived at all, considering the size of the battle. Those who lived still faced many trials. The Americans busied themselves with all the post-battle activities which included weeding out Japanese hiding in caves and disposing of unexploded bombs. There was no food or shelter. Saipan was a dangerous place for months after the heavy fighting ended so islanders moved into camps where they were out of harm’s way and fed. Many islanders who hid were afraid to come out and suffered from starvation. Those in the camps suffered in other ways.
Everyone who lived through those days has a story to tell. If you have not already, ask your grandparents to share theirs. And pray we never go through anything like that again.
Dr. BC Cook taught history for 30 years and is a director and Pacific historian at Sealark Exploration (sealarkexploration.org). He currently lives in Hawaii.
