World War II
Virtual Museum

Aerial photo of the "Marpi" area, at the north end of Saipan island near the end of World War II. Note the extensive building of roads, military housing, and other buildings during the U.S. occupation of Saipan after the battle. Fighter airstrip is shown in the photo.

Aerial photo of the "Micro Beach" area of Saipan, at the end of World War II. This is the area which is now incorporated as The American Memorial Park. Note the many buildings within the current park boundaries, and in the surrounding Garapan area; the "inner cove" and "outer cove" marinas at Smiling Cove, and the busy harbor area including "Baker Dock" ship docks.

Three buddies, after the battle, in Saipan.

Source: Garofalo?

Two buddies on a bike. Saipan, after the battle.

Source: Garofalo?

The Cobbler's Shop, after the battle in Saipan.

Source: Garofalo?

Johnny Plotner: "On my way back to the West Coast after being home on a 30 day leave. Ogden Utah, Feb.1945."

Johnny Plotner, "Petty Officer Of The Deck duty, 1945".

Additional Note: Letter from John C. Plotner, March 6, 1997. "I was on the USS Wadleigh (DD 689), twin stacks, torpedoes, 5", 40mm and 20mm guns. Two 5" guns were forward, three aft. Two 40mm guns were forward, three aft. The 40mm were all mounted above the main deck with two forward and three aft. I think there were seven 20mm, I can't remember, but they were deck mounted. The 40mm were fired from a gun sight located well above the guns. In combat, I fired a 40mm from a position on the after stack and it was about 15-20 feet above the twin 40mm. I had a sight setter who was supposed to judge distance and set the appropriate range into my gun sight but the one I had wasn't worth a #%!^, so I fired by observing my tracer shells (I think every 5th shell was a tracer). I complained to my Gunnery Officer about my sight setter and his reply was "What the hell, you do alright without him".

When I think back about the "hate" we had for our enemy I also must remember they fought for a cause too. It was quite different from ours but, never the less, it was their philosophy and belief and, although we didn't understand it, we fought for our own beliefs. Perhaps it comes with age, but with all the fighting and dissention that goes on in the world today, somehow I feel I have a much better understanding of world problems. I can't change them, I just can't but help feel that someday there will be some kind of a solution so that all mankind can live in harmony and peace, but maybe that isn't the way it is meant to be.

Any number of times we picked up survivors at sea and when they were brought aboard they cowered in apparent fear. There was no need for that but I've often wondered if, after finding out about their treatment, their thoughts may have changed, but I'll never know."

Source: Plotner, J.

Captain Ben W. Ditto escorting surrendering Japanese soldiers in from their hiding places on Saipan, months after the battle has ended.

Source: Giuliani, Lawrence

Captain Ben W. Ditto, with Japanese soldier who has just surrendered, months after the end of the battle.

Source: Giuliani, Lawrence

Japanese soldier who has just surrendered, on Saipan.

Source: Giuliani, Lawrence

Captain Lawrence Giuliani (left) and Captain Ben W. Ditto (2nd from left) interrogating two Japanese soldiers who have just surrendered on Saipan. Also pictured is Japanese Navy Lt. Commander (2nd from right, facing camera, wearing hat) who assisted in bringing Japanese soldiers in for surrender.

Source: Giuliani, Lawrence

Captain Lawrence Giuliani alongside jeep with Japanese soldier who has just surrendered on Saipan.

Source: Giuliani, Lawrence

Japanese Navy Lt. Commander (left) who was captured on Okinawa, then later volunteered to assist on Saipan, bringing in Japanese soldiers who were holding out, for surrender. Pictured alongside POW's who have just surrendered.

Source: Giuliani, Lawrence

Newspaper article: The sinking of the Cruiser Indianapolis. The Indianapolis was torpedoed and sunk while enroute from Tinian to the Philippines, after having delivered the atomic bomb components to Tinian. Newspaper article published same day as the VJ-Day announcement.

Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph, Wed. Aug. 15, 1945.

The Guns Are Silent

General Douglas MacArthur's address on board the USS Missouri at Tokyo Bay, upon the surrender of the Japanese Empire, September 3, 1945: "The Guns Are Silent".

From the commemoration program brochure for the United States Commemorative Activities 1-3 September 1995.

Captain Oba's Company

The story of Captain Oba's company of Japanese soldiers who held out after the Battle for Saipan hiding in the caves and jungles, carrying out occasional guerrilla actions against U.S. forces. On Dec. 1, 1945 Captain Oba and about forty-six other members of his force surrendered to U.S. forces. These were the last organized hold-outs of the Japanese forces in Saipan. Click here for the pictorial story.

2nd Marine Division Corporal Marvin A. Delgado after the war, 1946. Note campaign ribbons.

Source: Delgado, M.A.