Saipan 1944 - Piercing Japan's Pacific Defences

Find out how US forces managed to pierce Japan's Pacific defensive perimeter in the Mariana Islands at Saipan in a terrible fight in 1944 that included the largest Banzai charge of the war.
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Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Mark Felton Productions. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Mark Felton Productions does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.

[@worldofdoom995]

My grandfather fought in Saipan with the 4th Marine division, he was later wounded at Tinian and was given a medical discharge, he was traumatized for years after the war ended. He never took my family to the beach, my mother believes that they reminded him of combat during the war. Anyhow, thank you for covering this battle.

[@oldtimer3824]

frankcastle498 my Grandfather served and hated the Japanese and wouldn’t talk to my Mom for a month after she bought a Japanese car in 1982.

[@MoonBurn13]

frankcastle498 See my original comment. Saipan was the point where my father became an atheist.

[@jillvalentinefan77]

My grandfather fought on Saipan as well. Much respect those Marines.

[@SuperDiablo101]

My great uncle was on one of the first waves on Normandy and survived and I've never seen him at the beach as well

[@OVERHERE-OVERHERE]

frankcastle498 My uncle Charlie was a Seabee in Saipan the horrors of war made him a recluse...RIP

[@joebombero1]

I went on an all-day deep sea fishing trip from South Padre Island into the Gulf Of Mexico back in 1999. My brother and I shared the boat with a group of seven elderly men. It turned out they were Marines from World War II having their annual reunion. Those guys were still hard core, not one getting sick despite downing at least a dozen beers each. Saipan was one of the stories they shared.

[@samrparker1224]

It's absolutely insane that this man can put out content of this quality almost every day

[@grumblesa10]

Almost reminds me of when the History Channel did, well, history....

[@danieljennerman7549]

My maternal grandfather was in the Army on Saipan. He was always very reserved about what he'd mention about the war, aside from being there and having very little respect for the prisoners that they took. Sadly, he passed in 2006 and took his personal experiences with him. The men who survived uninjured didn't leave undamaged.

[@petersurdo4984]

You're dropped off on an island and you fight an enemy to the death. This is not just hell but a horrifying hell. A living nightmare.

[@RandomDudeOne]

U.S. Marines were the toughest soldiers of the war. SS was best at murdering women and children in death camps.

[@Betterifitsfree]

You paint a realistic picture of what it was like.

[@mikeytrains1]

My great uncle was on Saipan! He had joined up with the 2nd Marines and I believe this was his first engagement, I happen to have his division’s patch and his pacific victory medal somewhere. He died last year on Paris’ liberation day. Miss you Uncle Tom!

[@stewiegriffin6503]

My grandfather was on Saipan too. He died 1944 heroically defending the island from US forces. Miss you grandfather Hikomishi

[@MrEvanfriend]

Do you mean the 2nd Marines specifically or do you just mean the 2nd Marine Division? When you say "Second Marines", it refers to the 2nd Marine Regiment, which is a subordinate unit of the 2nd Marine Division, but not the same thing as the Division itself (my battalion belonged to the Seventh Marines, which is part of the First Marine Division, for example). The patch for the 2nd MarDiv is a red arrowhead shaped thing with a hand holding a yellow torch with a red 2 on it, and the Southern Cross in yellow stars in the background. I believe that at one point, the patch had GUADALCANAL on it, like 1st MarDiv's patch still does. Interestingly enough, Marines do not wear division patches on any of our uniforms, and have not for some time (though we did in WWII). However, Army personnel who were attached to Marine units or were prior service Marines can and do wear Marine Corps patches. My friend from the Corps who later joined the Army wore a 1st MarDiv combat patch.

[@Ulquiorra4163]

No mention of Sgt.Thomas A. Baker's Medal of Honor action during the banzai charge? Baker stood his ground amid heavy rifle fire and took serious wounds but kept on fighting, grabbing fallen weapons when he couldn't reload in time, some of his kills being at point-blank range. Once he was out of ammo fully, he fought with his bare hands till he was mortally wounded and the perimeter broke and forced the Americans to regroup. Knowing he was dying and slowing them down, he ordered them to prop him against a tree, give him a .45 and go. When US Army forces retook the area, they found Baker still there, clutching his empty pistol, all 8 rounds well spent in the 8 Japanese soldiers scattered out in front of his resting place. RIP Sgt.Thomas A. Baker

One of our older club members was on Saipan, he's since passed years ago. He would just say it was hell on earth, the smell and bodies were overwhelming.

[@michaelcummingsherrera1232]

My father fought in Saipan with the 4th Marine Division. He would later end up on Iwo Jima and on Mt. Suribachi the day the flags went up.

[@TheNoodleMan12]

Member of the USAF born and raised on Saipan here. Its great to see that my island isn't completely forgotten, it's a bit of a shame that 99.99% of Americans have no clue that Saipan exists. Thank you for some knowledge on the island's history!

[@Betterifitsfree]

99.99% of Americans couldn't find Iraq or Afganistan on a map unless it was labelled for them.

[@anakinskywalker4086]

I know someone who was at this battle, he was a LST driver, he talked about how they had to sleep in foxholes on the first night, cause his LST ran aground, he also talked about all the flares that were shot up during the night.

[@OVERHERE-OVERHERE]

My uncle Charlie was a Seabee in Saipan,Could not sleep in his cot, Japanese soldiers would sneak into your tent with a bayonet and stab at the cot,You would be sleeping underneath your cot with a weapon and shoot through the cot you would’ve been sleeping in, The war had a negative effect on my uncle Charlie he died a Recluse...Buried at Calverton national cemetery Long Island New York, Rest in peace uncle Charlie.

[@asheland_numismatics]

Best history channel on KZbin!

[@rascallyrabbit717]

Also lindybeige and tik

[@shammons556]

Mark and The History Guy are my two favorites

[@hansgronkvist830]

I cast a vote for Kings & Generals

[@harryschaefer8563]

My father was a SeaBee and helped build the runways on Tinian for the B29s. He visited Tinian with a reunion group some time in the 90s and reported the the runways were still in good shape.

[@BROOKS39]

I travelled to Saipan via Guam from Cairns a few years ago. I got the rare chance to swim out to the Sherman tank that still sits out on the reef. A bit of a surreal moment to reflect on what actually happened there over 70 years ago

[@richardbool4232]

Interesting fact the Actor Lee Marvin fought in the battle of Saipan He won the purple Heart and learned to act whilst in the Marines ( He stated in an interview he learned to act unafraid when the enemy attacked)

[@TheOldbsa]

My father was a Navy Hospital Corpsman (medic) attached to the Marines in that battle. He hit the beach with the second wave. He didn't talk much about it except he hit the beach carrying only a .45 cal pistol but picking up a BAR and keeping it for the rest of battle. He also was with the Marines on Okinawa.

[@WalkaCrookedLine]

My family visited Saipan in 1969. What was amazing was the evidence of ammunition expenditure. Above the high tide lines, the invasion beaches were solid sheets of expended brass shell casings, still there 25 years after the invasion.

[@amywright2243]

Fantastic video! My grandfather was in the Army at Saipan. He rarely talked about it. Once he blurted out, if you turn your gun sideways, you can saw men in half. He told us he fell asleep under a tree on Saipan and woke up in hospital in Honolulu. His records were lost in the Archives fire.

[@lukoil10]

Mark Felton piercing through the WWII archives once again!!

[@chiron14pl]

My father was in the 2nd Marine Division and was wounded on D+1. I've seen plenty of still photos, but this was the first live film I've seen of the battle. Thanks for your research.

[@rotaman8555]

I lived on Saipan for several years. I am familiar with the locations mentioned in this video. There are sobering reminders of the war all over the island: old bunkers and tunnels, rusty tanks and artillery pieces, artifacts dug up during construction projects. Thanks to the brave men who sacrificed their lives there.

[@sarjim4381]

The Japanese had used small scale banzai charges as far back as the Russo-Japanese war in 1905 and during the Sino-Japanese war in 1930's, but most of those were against troops armed with slow firing bolt action rifles and only a few machine guns. The first massed banzai charge against well armed modern forces was on Attu in the Aleutians in 1943. After all night repetitive charges by Japanese soldiers mostly using bayonets and swords, 2,600 of them were wiped out by massed machine gun and artillery fire, with only 29 soldiers too badly wounded to commit suicide captured. The US lost 549 killed and wounded, but the ratio demonstrated the futility of such tactics. Still, this last stand was in line with the Japanese bushido code of warfare, and the defense of Attu was romanticized in Japan as each soldier assuming the role of a samurai, something previously limited to officers and nobility. This set the stage for the tremendous waste of soldiers on Saipan. As the war grew ever closer to the home islands, banzai charges were discouraged, since it was possible to evacuate some surviving troops from doomed islands to others to fight again. There were still some smaller scale banzai charges, particularly on Okinawa, but the Japanese high command came to recognize that Americans weren't going to break and run under massed banzai charges. The bushido code really didn't work in modern warfare.

[@peterpiper_203]

I love when I come home from work and the Doctor has posted a new video for us to enjoy You sir are a Rock Star

[@Walter-wo5sz]

I spent 3 weeks working on a radar on Saipan in the mid 1980's. I crawled thru some of their bunkers on the shore and caves in the mountains. I can't imagine how some of those positions were taken unless the Japanese just ran out of ammo.

[@davidthefirst6195]

This channel puts mainstream documentary channels to shame with its excellent content

[@truckee68]

A little trivia: at 7:36 the Marine throwing the grenade is Guy Gabaldon. Look him up, one hell of a Marine. The camera catches the moment he loses his watch.

[@HootOwl513]

Gabaldon had been ''adopted'' by Nisei Japanese/Americans when he was orphaned on the streets of Los Angeles in the Depression. He learned fluent ''street'' Japanese. After Pearl Harbor, his new family was interned. He went to Alaska and worked in a cannery until '43, when he turned 17. He enlisted in the USMC. After boot he wes sent to Enlisted Marine Japanese Language School at Camp Elliot, SD Calif. He was assigned to H&S Co. 2/2 as a scout-observer. His unit deployed to the invasion of Saipan. As an interpreter he went out to Jap positions and tried to influence the enemy troops to surrender. He was called the "Pied Piper of Saipan'' . He claimed to have talked 1500 Japanese combatants and civilians into surrendering to Americans on both Saipan and Tinian. His CO put him in for a Medal of Honor, -- saying he captured 10 times the number of enemies that Sgt Alvin C York did in WWI -- but he was awarded a Silver Star. [Upgraded to Navy Cross in 1960] The movie "Hell to Eternity'' was based on his experiences. He ran, unsuccessfully, for Congress in 1964 [R-Calif.] and passed away on 31 AUG 2006 in FL. Semper Fi.

[@josh656]

My favorite related story is Mark's episode on the Japanese vs. the crocodiles on the Solomon Islands.

[@markfryer9880]

The amazing thing is that this landing was conducted a week after D-Day and with operations going on all around the world. The Japanese really woke up the sleeping giant at Pearl Harbor.

[@RandomDudeOne]

U.S. was the only country really fighting a world war. They were involved one way or another in every theater of action.

[@Betterifitsfree]

A sleeping giant with very large ass-kicking boots.

[@tbrads7876]

The history channel before it stopped covering history! Actually even better!

[@Wimbold]

I swear to god, the people here are obsessed with The History Channel.

[@BigChrisButler]

T Brads agreed

[@danielbenedict8818]

Wimbold the history channel is a disapointment and deserves all the ridicule thrown at it! However, I question that it ever produced anything near the caliber of Mark Felton’s Content.

[@jebsails2837]

My late father served as a Navy Pharmacist Mate with the 2MarDiv. After hostilities subsided, he told of how the POW's knew Japan was doomed when they first saw of our B-29's. Narragansett Bay

[@jeremys9838]

In grade school I heard a whole lot about this because my history teacher was from Saipan

[@jamesd2128]

One other terrible thing about Saipan was the mass suicide by thousands of Japanese civilians after the battle was lost. They had been thoroughly brainwashed to believe a brutal fate awaited them if they surrendered to the Americans. Suicide Cliff and Banzai Cliff on the northern part of the Island were where most of them met their fate.

[@joyceblackmon1745]

I imagine the semi auto battle rifles we had (30 carbine& Garand) were a god sent during a banzai attack. These two advesarys were warriors, God rest the souls of the ones who never made it home

[@donnicoll1570]

Opening music. Content and delivery that is what sets Dr Mark Felton apart from other history channels. I learn so much each and every time. I thank you.

[@randallchuck6376]

Thank you for your high quality and fascinating videos. My father was Marine Officer who fought on Saipan. He talked about the bonsai and tank battles. I just forward this video to my children so they can see and learn so they can tell their children when time comes. God Bless you. Your work matters. Best regards and respect always.

[@evilfingers4302]

The Battle of the Philippine Sea was the True Carrier War, where a total of 24 carriers (15 US vs 9 Japanese) and over 1000 planes combined from both sides were involved.

[@petergraves2085]

And that Battle is well-described here - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Philippine_Sea

[@bigsteve6200]

Film Actor Lee Marvin was a young Marine Private First Class on Saipan. He was wounded and recieved a Purple Heart. Semper Fi.

[@robashton8606]

Another high quality Felton video. This channel is an essential for any student of 20th century history. Always impressive, never disappointing and frequently surprising, Felton's videos often cover aspects and incidents that I was previously unaware of, and I like to think that I'm reasonably well read where twentieth century conflicts are concerned. Mr Felton seems to have a knack for finding newsreel footage and what is, presumably, declassified War Ministry film that is a refreshing departure from the often-seen stock that accompanies productions with the resources of a TV company to call on. Even when the video is one which covers a subject I was already aware of, it is still a treat well worth watching. Excellent stuff, as always.

[@657449]

Desperate times. An oncle told of a story of two navy planes chasing a Kamakazi plane over the fleet. The pilots knew that they would be flying into friendly fire but they did anyway. All three planes were shot down.

[@rikey564]

This channel is getting better and better

[@terrylyn]

Yet another gripping story. One thing I like about these videos they are not over-extended for additional revenue, they are as long as needed to tell the story.

[@AngloFrancoDane]

Thank you, my Dad was with the Second Marines on Siapan and Tinian. I had never seen most of this footage before.

[@michaelmyrick614]

Dad got a Purple Heart on Saipan, with 4th Marine Division. He still had Japanese shrapnel in him when we buried him

[@itscoolhesmybrother.6701]

I lived on siapan for 2 yrs "97-99" stood in front of the bomb pits for fat man and little boy on tinian. There are Japanese zero's, tanks and landing craft in the lagoon you can snorkel. You can find bullets EVERYWHERE!

[@carlosfajardo850]

I swear he sounds like the voice actor for World War two in colour

[@robertjo3146]

I'm a huge fan of your videos Mark! Keep up the great work!

[@buckshot6481]

Thank you for keeping this history alive.

[@tnbspotter5360]

This guy's narration voice sounds like it's from that period, too.

[@bigblue6917]

You have to admire anyone who took part in these battles knowing what the Japanese were like. And each battle started with a landing.I think they all deserved bravery medals. And when you ask them their reply was usually 'I was just doing my job'

[@qtig9490]

Thank you for letting the recorded audio that accompanies those videos of the landing and ensuing battle play out unmolested by voice overs or music. It helps us have some understanding of how gutwrenching it must have been for these young brave men to go into the jaws of a determined enemy ready to fight to them to the death. An opposed beach landing. Brutal.

[@unclesamuk8687]

Mark you should do a WW2 battle for mindanao, particularly in the Davao area where large garrisons of japanese stayed. The battle in Calinan district is one of the bloodiest, it was called "abaka hell" where numerous abaka trees littered the forest. My grandpa fought together with the americans during those days.

[@gwaters8067]

Mark Felton aka The David Attenborough of WW2

[@Rohilla313]

Those mass Banzai charges simply made no military sense at all. Absolute madness.

[@Bornie205]

Such detail. So impressive. Thank you

[@davequaschnick2559]

Ah late lunch with Prof. Mark. Best meal Ever!

[@lard_lad_AU]

Mark’s narration is so clear and concise that the Google auto subtitles are completely error free

[@BoostedPastime]

165,000 shells. Now I know why my grandfather who was at D day couldn't hear well

[@brianrobson5208]

Marvellous stuff Mark, Can not see why anyone would give it a thumbs down 👍👍👍

[@soapek7949]

Not only you make great videos, but also upload them daily! Mad lad

[@auerstadt06]

Actor Lee Marvin fought on Saipan.

[@javiervonsydow]

Amazing presentation, analysis, production, the selection of the footage, most importantly the summarized analysis of the strategic importance of these actions, of the tactical situations; impressive. Thank you, Mark Felton!

[@kylem9503]

My grandfather fought in Siapan as a US Marine.

[@dannynrny473]

May God bless him.

[@hunty1970]

Another great episode, Mark. Thank you.

[@samuelmahmud1909]

I love your channel very informative and knowledgeable

[@aaronlopez3585]

Truly a masterful presentation in every aspect thank you Dr Felton.

[@vvvppp6021]

The first time i hear about Saipan was in a movie called ''Windtalkers'' with Nicolas Cage, amazing job like always Mark!!

[@YosefCardoso]

For the rest of my life I'll hear that music in the beginning and automatically think of Mark Felton

[@croc106]

Another awesome video. Thank you!

[@Roller_Ghoster]

Banzai!!! Its Mark Felton time!!!

[@canuckloyalist4681]

People who think dropping the two a bombs was a mistake should watch this.

[@kappazo2268]

I visited Saipan in 2003 as a port visit. There are several damaged AMTRACs and gun emplacements left. This is also the first battle where Japanese civilians committed suicide by jumping off cliffs. I visited one and there were mini grave markers along the ledge in Japanese and Hongul.

[@scottriley1913]

When I see Mark Felton I drop everything and get a new first class history lesson everyday and I used to teach this in professional military PME.

[@brockbest]

Well done Mark !!! Another fantastic video, I can't wait to see the next one.

[@bropellerjohnson919]

I look forward every day to your uploads!! Amazing content

[@robertmartyr2041]

when an enemy just won't give up you just have to do what you have to.

[@nicck]

Every video you do must be an absolute tonne of hard work. Searching for historical info, searching for relevant footage and stills... It's really amazing.

[@TheJazsa80]

Mark, whatever you're doing keep doing it. I've yet to watch one of your video's that I didn't find interesting in some way. Your video format is fantastic and narration even more fantastica. Good work!

[@drpancakes7897]

Thank you Mark very very nice!

[@ronmelys2854]

watched many of your videos they're always quality and informative. thanks!!

[@dylanjacoby3790]

Keep up the good work man wonderful video

[@garymcaleer6112]

Amazing history, and footage, as usual, Mark. Your time is well spent as a military historian.

[@rayrenzi4860]

Very informative and well put across. Thanks

[@00hate00]

Great content as usual

[@RS-km5su]

Wow, ths channel has it all. I hope that he keeps going for many years to come.

[@rever-mi6qz]

keep up the great work Mark! Your channel is the clearly the best history channel on youtube!

[@bokke6]

Wow! Thanks so much Mark..I made this suggestion a few weeks ago. Brilliant as usual! Thank you Sir.

[@ethanmyshorts6984]

Another beautiful short documentary.. Thank You.

[@randalljeffs7272]

I love this channel

[@Lrover16]

Amazing documentary in such short time. Well done!

[@johnmunro4952]

Beautifully presented bite sized history morsels...nom nom nom nom nom nom nom nom nom nom nom

[@sophrapsune]

Absolutely insane, on so many levels.

[@sicsempertyrannis6541]

It would be nice to see a video on the landings at Inchon.

[@davidchristopher5976]

Wasn't much to it. I used to work for one of the chosen frozen and he made the landings at both. Google Ray Hooker Cottrell. He has some stuff on KZbin and a biography. He was only 17 and was a sergeant. Amazing story.

[@davidchristopher5976]

Task Force faith mean anything to you? He was a part of it. Talks a lot about it. Truman sacrificed them by not bombing the massed Chinese.

[@Native_love]

I love your video's! Thank you!

[@punkyquah6312]

Could you do a video on the mass suicide of German civilians after the loss of the Germans. love your videos they are definitely the best of their genre and probably the entirety of KZbin

[@menwithven8114]

And the raping and looting from Russian soldiers that was a big cause of those suicides.

[@28ebdh3udnav]

Thats something that was and is still rarely covered. Even in the USSR, there was mass suicide.

[@peterball3079]

Indeed i concur Punky :)

[@Mike9201984]

That sort of perspective would probably get him banned from KZbin

[@seth1422]

I’m surprised there was no mention in the video of the Japanese civilians on Saipan, and the mass suicides there. The “suicide cliffs” of Saipan are one of the most harrowing vignettes of the Pacific War.

[@tonyfitzpatrick6944]

Only after viewing these films do we realize the sacrifice and see/hear the trauma of battle and it is still filtered. We will and cannot forget the sacrifice the USA and allies gave for us and our future generations.

[@bobbyray9825]

Thank you Mark.

[@randomcoyote8807]

More Pacific Theatre stuff! Fantastic! Thank you for this look at the fighting that took place on "other side of the Earth"!

[@whirving]

could you do a video on the ANZAC clean up operations on the islands that were "hopped" by the main (mostly US) forces? I don't know all that much about this effort, but it sounds horrific.

[@hard2describe791]

Bloody love your vids man. Great start riff too.