The marine who talked hundreds out of Saipan's caves
A recent story featured in an MSN news article revisits the extraordinary story of Marine Corps veteran Guy Gabaldon, widely known as the “Pied Piper of Saipan,” who, during the World War II Battle of Saipan, persuaded hundreds of Japanese soldiers and civilians to leave the island’s caves and surrender, saving countless lives during one of the Pacific’s most brutal campaigns. His story has also been told beyond history books, including the memoir Saipan: Suicide Island and the Hollywood film Hell to Eternity, which brought his life and service to a broader audience. What is less widely known, and deeply meaningful to our Commonwealth, is that Guy later made Saipan his home. He lived in San Antonio village, raised his family here, mentored young people in the CNMI, and one of his adult children went on to work in our islands’ tourism industry. As we celebrate Liberation Day on July 4, his story is a reminder that patriotism is not only found in the battlefield, but also by the lasting bonds we form with the places and people we serve.
