This week's hero is...
Guy Gabaldon
Guy Gabaldon was born on March 22, 1926 in Los Angeles, California. As a boy, he grew up shining shoes in order to help his family. When he was 12, he had to move in with a Japanese-American family (the Nakanos) due to the Gabaldon's poverty. While he lived with the Nakano family, Guy learned about Japanese culture and how to speak the Japanese language. Everything changed when World War II broke out in 1941.
The Nakano family was forced to move to an internment camp after the Attack on Pearl Harbor. With no where else for him to go, Gabaldon enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. In 1943, he was shipped out to the pacific as part of the 2nd Marine Division. He was assigned as a scout and observer and would be part of the Invasion of the Japanese held island of Saipan. Gabaldon didn't know it at the time, but his ability to speak Japanese would become very useful.
On June 15, 1944, the battle of Saipan officially began. For the next three weeks, the American forces engaged in vicious combat with the Japanese garrison that resulted in thousands of casualties on both sides. By the month of July, Saipan had been mostly captured and the bulk of the Japanese forces had been depleted. However, thousands of Japanese soldiers refused to surrender and hid in caves and the dense jungle of the island. If Americans ever approached to demand their surrender, the Japanese would ambush them from hidden positions. They would continue to fight until the Americans used flamethrowers and napalm to set fire to the caves and trees. This would cause all those inside to burn to death.
One of the most tragic parts of the invasion of Saipan was that thousands of Japanese civilians found themselves caught in the crossfire of the battle. Many of them were killed in bombing raids and artillery strikes. They were also forced to accompany Japanese soldiers into the caves. This resulted in thousands of them being killed there. Thousands more committed suicide during the battle when approached by Americans (due to hearing horrible propaganda from the Japanese military).
During the battle, PFC Gabaldon had been wounded but did not see as much combat as many of his comrades did. However, he was able to contribute in a much different way. He decided to use his ability to speak the Japanese language in order to convince them to surrender instead of fighting to the death or committing suicide. On July 6, Gabaldon left his post and approached seven Japanese soldiers who had become isolated from their own lines. After speaking to him, they decided to surrender. After returning to American lines with his prisoners, Gabaldon was reprimanded for deserting his post and threatened with a court-martial if he did it again.
Despite this warning, Gabaldon went out again and this time, returned with 50 Japanese prisoners of war who had been convinced to surrender. After this, he was granted the privilege of, "lone wolf" operator. This meant that he could conduct himself in whatever mission that he wanted. He also gained himself a nickname, "The Pied Piper of Saipan". His defining moment came when he convinced a group of 800 Japanese soldiers and civilians hiding near a cliff to surrender. All in all, Guy Gabaldon would successfully convince more than 1,500 Japanese to lay down their arms without further bloodshed. He continued to do this until he was severely wounded in an ambush near the end of the campaign on Saipan.
Despite Guy Gabaldon's best efforts, the vast majority of the Japanese garrison continued to fight on. On July 7, the garrison launched the largest banzai charge in the whole of World War II. This charge would later be considered to be one of the most savage and brutal fights in the entire war. Saipan was finally declared secure, on July 9. By then, the Americans had suffered 13,790 casualties (3,246 killed or missing). Of the Japanese garrison of 29,000, nearly all either fought to the death or committed suicide. A further 30,000 civilians had been killed or committed suicide as well.
Private First Class Guy Gabaldon survived his wounds. He later fought in the battle of Tinian before being given an honorable discharge. For his heroism on Saipan, Gabaldon received the Navy Cross and the Purple Heart. He passed away on August 31, 2006 at the age of 80.
Guy Gabaldon should incredible bravery and compassion during is combat experience in World War II. It takes great courage to confront a fanatical enemy and convince him lay down his arms. By doing this, Guy saved thousands of people from dying unnecessary deaths when it could have been avoided. I believe that he should be revered as one of America's greatest heroes of World War II.
https://www.navysite.de/ships/lha2about.htm
On June 15, 1944, the battle of Saipan officially began. For the next three weeks, the American forces engaged in vicious combat with the Japanese garrison that resulted in thousands of casualties on both sides. By the month of July, Saipan had been mostly captured and the bulk of the Japanese forces had been depleted. However, thousands of Japanese soldiers refused to surrender and hid in caves and the dense jungle of the island. If Americans ever approached to demand their surrender, the Japanese would ambush them from hidden positions. They would continue to fight until the Americans used flamethrowers and napalm to set fire to the caves and trees. This would cause all those inside to burn to death.
One of the most tragic parts of the invasion of Saipan was that thousands of Japanese civilians found themselves caught in the crossfire of the battle. Many of them were killed in bombing raids and artillery strikes. They were also forced to accompany Japanese soldiers into the caves. This resulted in thousands of them being killed there. Thousands more committed suicide during the battle when approached by Americans (due to hearing horrible propaganda from the Japanese military).
During the battle, PFC Gabaldon had been wounded but did not see as much combat as many of his comrades did. However, he was able to contribute in a much different way. He decided to use his ability to speak the Japanese language in order to convince them to surrender instead of fighting to the death or committing suicide. On July 6, Gabaldon left his post and approached seven Japanese soldiers who had become isolated from their own lines. After speaking to him, they decided to surrender. After returning to American lines with his prisoners, Gabaldon was reprimanded for deserting his post and threatened with a court-martial if he did it again.
Despite this warning, Gabaldon went out again and this time, returned with 50 Japanese prisoners of war who had been convinced to surrender. After this, he was granted the privilege of, "lone wolf" operator. This meant that he could conduct himself in whatever mission that he wanted. He also gained himself a nickname, "The Pied Piper of Saipan". His defining moment came when he convinced a group of 800 Japanese soldiers and civilians hiding near a cliff to surrender. All in all, Guy Gabaldon would successfully convince more than 1,500 Japanese to lay down their arms without further bloodshed. He continued to do this until he was severely wounded in an ambush near the end of the campaign on Saipan.
Despite Guy Gabaldon's best efforts, the vast majority of the Japanese garrison continued to fight on. On July 7, the garrison launched the largest banzai charge in the whole of World War II. This charge would later be considered to be one of the most savage and brutal fights in the entire war. Saipan was finally declared secure, on July 9. By then, the Americans had suffered 13,790 casualties (3,246 killed or missing). Of the Japanese garrison of 29,000, nearly all either fought to the death or committed suicide. A further 30,000 civilians had been killed or committed suicide as well.
Private First Class Guy Gabaldon survived his wounds. He later fought in the battle of Tinian before being given an honorable discharge. For his heroism on Saipan, Gabaldon received the Navy Cross and the Purple Heart. He passed away on August 31, 2006 at the age of 80.
Guy Gabaldon should incredible bravery and compassion during is combat experience in World War II. It takes great courage to confront a fanatical enemy and convince him lay down his arms. By doing this, Guy saved thousands of people from dying unnecessary deaths when it could have been avoided. I believe that he should be revered as one of America's greatest heroes of World War II.
https://www.navysite.de/ships/lha2about.htm
https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/04/us/04gabaldon.html
https://www.wearethemighty.com/pied-piper-corporal-guy-gabaldon
http://www.wtj.com/articles/gabaldon/
https://www.wearethemighty.com/pied-piper-corporal-guy-gabaldon
http://www.wtj.com/articles/gabaldon/
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