Joe, as I promised, here’s a picture of that very poignant scene off the shores of Saipan:
This Sherman sits a couple of hundred yards offshore, at Oleai Beach, in San Jose, Saipan. It was the first relic of the war I saw on my first trip to Saipan two years ago.
I’m not sure of the real story about this vehicle, but on my second trip to Saipan, a tour guide said he thought it was a vehicle that simply broke down during unloading from a ship, quite some time after the island was secured, and not a casualty of combat.
Either way, it’s a powerful reminder of the sacrifices people made during wartime.
Joe, I hope this picture helps you to imagine what it must have been like for your grandfather when he came ashore on that beautiful island during those terrible days of war.
NOTE: I didn’t have any pix of this scene myself, so this is a postcard I bought while in Saipan. This excellent picture was taken by Mitchell P. Warner.
You can’t tell in this picture, but the turret is coverend with barnacles. Perhaps at some point it was totally submerged, or maybe I’ve only seen it at low tide, but every time I’ve seen it, it looked just like this.
This is the only piece of American armor I’ve seen on Saipan. Plenty of Japanese armor, but no American.
Thats really cool J-HULK. Those of us who have had the good fortune to see and walk upon the hallowed ground that our realatives fought so bravely in that war to win, are very fortunatate to have those memories. I’ve walked the sands of Asan beach in Guam and brought home a small reminder of it in the form of some sea shells. Many a young man left there blood on those beaches keeping the world free. Wish I had taken pictures of that scene in all it’s serenity knowing the tremendous scarifices made the day of invasion. Thanks for sharing and letting us remember men like FIGHTNJOES grandfather, and my Father, and all those who will remain eternally young. semper fi, mike
Your certainly welcome, Joe. I’m glad I could be of help to you.
Mike, very well said. I’ve been to Saipan twice now, and it certainly does illicit a wide variety of emotions just being there. The American Memorial Park and its monument to the fallen is particularly powerful and moving.
