SAIPAN HISTORY

HERE WE ARE OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN.
Following are some historicial and island facts. Thought you might be interested.........Saipan is a tiny island in the Pacific Ocean 300 miles north of Guam. The idyllic beauty of this tropical paradise belies its terrible past as a major WWII battleground. During the U.S. island hopping campaign in WWII, Saipan was the location of the prized airstrip that would put American bombers within range of Japan. As a result, the island was heavily defended and the battle for Saipan became one of the bloodiest of the war. To this day evidence of that battle is everywhere - from Japanese skeletons and equipment in forgotten jungle caves, to rusted Japanese tanks by the side of the road, to the shallow reefs still strewn with bullets and destroyed submarines and fighter planes just visible below the turquoise waters. The caves of Saipan still contain remains of Japanese troops who held out during prolonged guerrilla warfare. As late as 1952, a few stragglers surrendered, unaware that the war had ended years before.
Saipan is the fastest growing island in Micronesia. A historic World War II site, the island retains the feeling of an isolated tropical paradise. Today Saipan is modern, with it’s villages developing to small towns. Most of the island is protected by a fringing coral reef with beaches considered some of the best in Micronesia.The eastern side of the island has towering cliffs and rugged rocks, creating a stark contrast in scenery and a storm break. There are remnants and remembrances of WWII scattered throughout the island and ceremonies are often held by survivors and families from both sides of the conflict. So there you are and here we go. ..Now you have a very nice day! ............GED..........