Santiago M. Babauta, Manuel S. Villagomez and Nicolas Q. Muna are expected to show up at American Memorial Park to receive their Marianas Medallions tomorrow, according to Military and Veterans Affairs executive officer Ruth Coleman.
Antonio C. Tenorio and Ignacio Sablan are very sick and will be represented by their family members during the ceremony.
There were more than 60 members of the Marianas Scouts on Saipan.
The surviving Scouts will receive the Marianas Medallion from Gov. Benigno R. Fitial and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3457 Commander Mariano Fajardo.
Another World War II veteran, Anthony Praxel, a member of the 313th Bomb Wing’s 99th Bomb Squadron, is also expected to arrive today to attend the commemoration at the park. He will also receive the same medallion.
At Garapan Elementary School today, students and the teachers will also honor veterans during their flag-raising ceremony.
Babauta, now 83, was a member of local constabulary before he joined the Marianas Scout in 1944.
He was among those who risked their lives coaxing Japanese snipers out of caves after the American forces invaded Saipan.
Villagomez was among the locals recruited to help U.S. Marines clear the Northern Islands of the remaining Japanese soldiers.
He also helped bring in the last of the Japanese holdouts on Tinian.
Muna likewise helped convince Japanese soldiers and civilians to surrender to the American soldiers.
