World War II
Virtual Museum

Civilians are lead back to safety by U.S. soldiers.

From: Breaching The Marianas: The Battle For Saipan. Marines In World War II Commemorative Series. By Captain John C. Chapin, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve (Ret.). Published by History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, Washington, D.C. as part of the U.S. Department of Defense observance of the 50th anniversary of victory in that war.

Saipanese children in camp (post-battle, Camp Susupe), Summer 1944.

Source: Bach, E.R.

Seabee Bill Williams standing by truck full of Saipanese children, enroute to Christmas party. "We had a Christmas party at the 117th Naval Construction Battalion Base for the children of Camp Susupe on December 25, 1944...I went and loaded up the truck with kids and had this photo taken at our base when I got back there. I'm sorry more of the children were not visible in the photo. The photo was taken on 12-25-44."

Source: Williams, W.E.

Cecilia Taitano's story of World War II survival: "I Survived!".

Picture of Rosa T. Aldan, subject of this story, June 20,1996 (Photo damaged by scribbling marks).

Translation of September 3, 1991 interview with Antonio R. De Leon Guerrero, who was Vice-Mayor of Saipan for 24 years after the end of World War II. Many recollections of life in the Northern Mariana Islands before the war, during the Japanese Administration, and being drafted by Japanese Navy for duties in the occupation of Guam, 1942.

Recorded by Yoshiaki Kamisawa. Translated by Norman Havens. Reprinted from: Marianas Oral History Series, Journal of the Pacific Society, January 1993, Vol. 15, No.4.

Biographical account of Segundo T. Sablan, recruited to swim into Guam on the day of the Japanese invasion of Guam in 1941.

Author: Judi Sablan-Abasta (his daughter), June 8, 1994.

Brief recollections of Luis C. Crisostimo's wartime experience as an interpreter for the Japanese occupation forces in Guam during World War II.

Accounting of CNMI natives conscripted to participate in the occupation of Guam, 1941-1944. Author: Antonio R. Deleon Guerrero, Feb.8, 1984. Note: This document seems to have stirred controversy in the community as to whether these persons should be "recognized" or "reviled", as there were apparently bad memories toward those who participated in the occupation of Guam, but this record indicates that these persons were conscripted by the Japanese military government and had no choice in the matter.

A TIME OF AGONY, Saipan 1944
An account of World War II experiences on Saipan, by Sister Maria Angelica Salaberria, M.M.B.; with Foreword by Sister Remedios P. Castro M.M.B.; and notes by Father Jose Maria Tardio S.J.

A detailed listing of the names, dates, and cause of death of Saipan natives who died during World War II.

Listing Of Saipan Natives Who Died In World War II.