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Politics : Sioux Nation -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: SiouxPal who wrote (69851)	6/5/2006 1:24:52 AM
From: Wharf Rat	Respond to of 361225

"According to most historical accounts, the Americans wanted the Japanese soldiers to surrender but they chose to fight to the death." Saipan Mariana Islands History The island was garrisoned by Japanese Lt. General Saito's 30,000 troops. The story of the defense of Saipan was a sad chapter of fighting yet to come in later battles, with fanatical military defense and deaths of civilians. Lt. General Saito and Navy Admiral Nagumo committed heri-kari in a cave on July 9, 1944, the day the island was declared officially secured by the US forces. American Landing US Marines landed on June 15, 1944. The island was the first objective of the 2nd and 4th Marines Divisions of the 5th Amphibious Corps. The Army's 27th Infantry Division was in reserve. 20,000 US Troops went ashore on the south of the island, under heavy Japanese fire. There were approximate 20,000 men in each division for a total of approximate 70,000 if you include such outfits as ship board marines thrown into the fight and such elements as the 29th Marines also known as the Bastard Battalion. They went ashore on D-Day with Approx. 1,200 men and were pulled off the line a little over two weeks later with only 200 men left, not counting replacements. By the end of the battle, there were 3,500 US casualties. Several Japanese counter attacks and Banzai charges bloodied the US forces as they fought their way to the north The civilian population of Saipan committed mass suicide by jumping off cliffs at Marpi Point or committing suicide with hand grenades in caves. An estimated 22,000 civilians died in the battle. The Japanese committed suicide at at least two different locations on the north end of the island, Suicide Cliff, and Banzai Cliff. Torri Gate & Shinto Shrine Arnold Little, 1945 Bruce Petty Arnold Little, 1945 Bruce Petty Torri Gate is an old Japanese Shinto shrine. The arch and relics from it are still there to this day. Mark Little reports: "My father,Arnold A. (Bud) Little was with the 73rd BS 879 BG as a flight engineer on a B-29 Superfortress.He brought back several photos of Torri Gate." Banadero (Last Japanese Command Post) Peter Ording Earl Hinz Here General Yoshitsugo Saito ordered his men to take seven lives for the emperor, then committed harakiri. The Last Command Post is in a cave just below high cliffs next to the Okinawa Peace Memorial. In front of the memorial, there are several relics including a light Japanese tank and guns pacificwrecks.com