Figure 1.--The Marianas campaign was turning point in the Pacific War. The Japanese hoped that well entrenched islan garrison coul repell an amphjibious invasion. In the Marshalls and Gilberts, the American Marines proved they coud not. Thus in the Marianas, the Japanese for the first time since the Solomons campaign committed the Imperial fleet. There were civilians in the Marianasa. The civilians included Japanese (mostly on Saipan), Korean, Chamoro, and Carolinians. Here we see a scene on Saipan several months after the terrible fighting, dated February 16, 945. A Marine holds a Chamorro boy on his shoulders. The wire service caption read, "After the invasion of the Marianas, some members of the Secoind and Fourt Marine Divisions, veterans of Guadcanal znd Tarawa, returned to the States for awell-earned rest. Staff Sergeants Stanford Optowsky, a Marine Corps Combat Correspondent, and ndy Knight, Combat Photographer, revisited Saipan to make up an illustrated open letter for the boys back home ...." Source: U.S. Narine Corps.

The Marianas campaign was turning point in the Pacific War. The Japanese hoped that well entrenched islan garrison coul repell an amphjibious invasion. In the Marshalls and Gilberts, the American Marines proved they coud not. Thus in the Marianas, the Japanese for the first time since the Solomons campaign committed the Imperial fleet. There were civilians in the Marianasa. The civilians included Japanese (mostky on Saipan), Korean, Chamoro, and Carolinians.

Wire Service Caption

Here we see a scene on Saipan several months after the terrible fighting, dated February 16, 945. A Marine holds a Chamoro or Japanese boy on his shoulders. The wire service caption read, "After the invasion of the Marianas, some members of the Secoind and Fourt Marine Divisions, veterans of Guadcanal znd Tarawa, returned to the States for awell-earned rest. Staff Sergeants Stanford Optowsky, a Marine Corps Combat Correspondent, and ndy Knight, Combat Photographer, revisited Saipan to make up an illustrated open letter for the boys back home ...."

Open Letter Home

The open letter hime to Marines stateside preparing for the next invasion read, "Quite a few months have passed since your departure from this area after two log years of Pcific fighing. How is 'statesude' duty with Mom's good cooking, the old girl friends, juke boxes and those air conditioned cockjtail lounges? Perhaps you're wondering wshast Saipan looks like today-- well, you know from past experiencesd whast miracles the Seebees abd Army Engineers have worked, ans it's the sane here. You wouldn't know that old coral and mud of a few months back. The latest news bulletins have revealed that the faed B-29s are based here and have been blasting Tokyo. Kind like to take a tour of the island ad see for yourself, so hop into our jeep and let us show you some of the more interesting sights."

"The Chamorros, original inhabitants of Saipanprior to the importationof the Japs and Koreans, have been quick to appreciate democratic American administration. The youngsters especially go for the Ynks, stansing by the roa and waving to all jeeps ad trucks thst go by, in much the same fashion that you high-signed the railroad engineer when you were a kid. That youngster sitting on the shoulder of a befriended narine, ponys proudly to the flag he has adopted --'Old Glory'."

Created: 3:33 AM 4/1/2010
Last updated: 3:33 AM 4/1/2010