World War II
Virtual Museum |  |
The Surrender Of Captain Oba's Company
on Saipan, Dec. 1, 1945
On December 1, 1945, the last forty-seven or so remaining
Japanese soldiers holding out on Saipan, under their leader Captain Oba,
surrendered to U.S. forces on Saipan.
Newspaper article from the Saipan newspaper The Daily Target, Dec.
2, 1945: "REMNANTS OF JAPANESE FORCES ON SAIPAN AS THEY SURRENDERED
YESTERDAY. Signal Corps Photos by Sgt. Ralph Crowell (see photos
below). Here, graphically, is the surrender yesterday of the remnants
of holdout Japanese on Saipan - 90 days after V-J Day and 16 months after
the battle ended here. At top, the Japanese 'garrison' lines up for formal
surrender. At right, Capt. Oba, commander, bows over his sword to Lt.
Col. Howard G. Kurgis, USMC, 18 AAA CO, who accepted surrender. Lower
left, the Japs lay down their arms. And lower right is a closeup of Capt.
Oba. SEVEN JAPANESE CIVILIANS GIVE UP: Seven Japanese civilians,
four women and three men, surrendered to American authorities Friday as
part of the final ceremony whereby enemy forces became PW's. All of the
civilians except for one woman surrendered on Kagman."
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American Japanese sergeant and U.S. Command entering into truce
with Captain Oba, at Saipan. Museum Donor's accompanying letter
states: "...through my efforts and methods we made contact with
Captain Oba and he finally agreed to surrender. The photos...show
the peaceful way he came out of the hills and surrendered to our
C.O., Col. Kergis."
Photos and commentary from: Giuliani, Lawrence.
Identification of Japanese soldiers by unknown Japanese
donor.
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Newspaper photo of Captain Oba, from "The Daily Target",
Dec. 2, 1945.
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Captain Oba surrenders to Colonel Kurgis, commanding officer of
18AAA Battalion.
Source: Giuliani, Lawrence
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American Japanese Sergeant Okamoto in discussion with Oba's Lieutenant
during surrender ceremony.
Source: Giuliani, Lawrence
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Captain Oba's company surrender their colors.
Source: Giuliani, Lawrence
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Surrendering arms.
Source: Giuliani, Lawrence
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Surrendered Samurai swords.
Source: Giuliani, Lawrence
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Captain Oba (sitting, front-middle, wearing white collar) and company
posing for photograph before proceeding to POW camp.
Source: Giuliani, Lawrence
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From left to right: Colonel Kurgis (commanding officer of 18AAA
Battalion), Captain Oba, Japanese Navy Lt.Commander who assisted
as translator and moderator, Captain Ben W. Ditto, Captain Lawrence
Giuliani.
Source: Giuliani, Lawrence
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American Japanese Sergeant Okamoto (standing) conversing with Captain
Oba (in jeep, on right), and a Japanese Navy Lt. Commander who assisted
as translator and moderator (in jeep, on left).
Source: Giuliani, Lawrence
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Oba's soldiers boarding trucks, bound for POW camp.
Source: Giuliani, Lawrence
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Surrendered rifles from Oba's Company.
Source: Giuliani, Lawrence
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Off to POW camp.
Source: Giuliani, Lawrence
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On arrival at POW camp, Oba's soldiers are searched for weapons.
Source: Giuliani, Lawrence
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At POW camp, strip search for weapons.
Source: Giuliani, Lawrence
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Oba's Lieutenant.
Source: Giuliani, Lawrence
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