Tomorrow, 15 June, 8 days after D day marks 70 years since the landing on the Island of Saipan and Tinian in the Northern Marianas islands located in the western Pacific. The significance of this D day in the Pacific has largely been over shadowed by the European effort. Saipan at the time was one thousand miles closer to Japan than any other US held territory, which placed Japan within range of land based aircraft. Nearly 3,000 of our troops gave all in taking these islands that had been occupied by Japan since WW I. At one time they were part of the Spanish empire. Upon Spains defeat by the US in the Spanish American war, near by Guam (135 miles to the south west) was claimed by the US, but the northern Marianas were quickly sold to Germany. Upon Germanys WW I defeat, Japan acquired those islands. Most likely more information than you wanted to know, but what our men did there deserves recognition of all freedom loving Americans. SALUTE, and thank you to those true heros!
Posted on: Sat, 14 Jun 2014 15:50:46 +0000
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