WWII Pacific Special: US Marines Attack Japanese in the Battle for Saipan

The Northern Marina Scouts

Battle of Saipan

By: Lieutenant Scott E. Rutter US Army (Retired)

–Senior Warrior Maven columnist and contributor

D-Day the 6th of June is a significant event in the European campaign that was focused at the destruction of the axis of evil, but half way around the world another major offensive began to bring the end of fighting in the Pacific. I am humbled to tell a story of total dedication and commitment demonstrated half way around the world by Asian Pacific Islanders from the Northern Mariana’s Islands during World War II. Today these islands are known as the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

The Marianas are located approximately 80 miles from Guam and 8 hours east by plane from the State of Hawaii. Saipan is the capital city and most populated island of the Northern Mariana Islands. This story is just one example of many that highlight the reason why we celebrate the significant and invaluable contributions people of Asian Pacific descent have made to the United States of America and her armed forces.

On 31 January 2000, the US Marine Corps held a formal recognition ceremony and on 17 March the US Marine Corps held a Purple Heart Ceremony in the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. These ceremonies were unparalleled and long overdue. They would not have been possible without the determination and focus of former Representative Juan Babauta and his staff. From the very initial documentation to the years of applications within government agencies, the work of Representative Babuta seemed for a very long time to be fruitless. Then in 1999, the Department of Defense formally recognized the magnitude of the contribution of the indigenous people of the North Mariana Islands and placed them on active duty for their service during WWII.

These actions are of major significance to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the United States of America, the United States Marine Corps, and to all of service members who fought in the Pacific Theater during World War II. After more than fifty years, the Chamorro and Carolinian Marine Corp Scout veterans of the Battle of Saipan and those that have departed this world were finally recognized and honored for their gallant and heroic actions. Although the contribution of these individuals has always been evident, they officially joined the ranks of the over 70,000 U.S. Marines, Soldiers, Sailors and Airman that fought in Saipan and Tinian during World War II.