American Memorial

https://www.nps.gov/amme/index.htm https://https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Memorial_Park American Memorial Park on the island of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, was created as a living memorial honoring the sacrifices made during the Marianas Campaign of World War II. Recreational facilities, a World War II museum, and flag monument keep alive the memory of over 4,000 United States military personnel and local islanders who died in June 1944. The park has baseball, bicycling, running, tennis, picnicking, and swimming. American Memorial Park honors the American and Marianas people who gave their lives during the Marianas Campaign of World War II. At the park, memorials stand in tribute to the courage and sacrifice of the US Servicemen and Chamorro and Carolinian civilians who were killed in the battles between the United States and Japan that took place on Saipan, Tinian, and the Philippine Sea in 1944. The park is centrally located along the western shoreline of Saipan, adjacent to downtown Garapan. From airport, proceed north on Airport Road (Tun Herman Pan Highway) until the road ends at Monsignor Guerrero Road (Highway 16). Turn left and continue until the road ends at Beach Road. Turn right until the road ends at the American Memorial Park Mall. Turn left onto Micro Beach Road. The parking lot is on the right. The American Memorial Park Visitor Center and Pacific Historic Parks Bookstore The American Memorial Park Visitor Center is open on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. The park is centrally located along the western shoreline of Saipan, adjacent to downtown Garapan. From airport, proceed north on Airport Road (Tun Herman Pan Highway) until the road ends at Monsignor Guerrero Road (Highway 16). Turn left and continue until the road ends at Beach Road. Turn right until the road ends at the American Memorial Park Mall. Turn left onto Micro Beach Road. The parking lot is on the right. American Memorial Park There are no campgrounds in the park. Lawn at American Memorial Park Large lawn in front of the memorial. A popular place for visitors. Ampitheater at American Memorial Park Rehearsing at the American Memorial Park ampitheater The ampitheater is where many performances take place. Visitor Center at American Memorial Park The visitor center is open daily. The visitor center is a popular place to learn about Saipan's role in WWII history. Walking the path at American Memorial Park. People walking the paths at the American Memorial Park. The paths at the American Memorial Park are always in use. The beach at American Memorial Park. Crystal clear blue swimming at the park. The beach is an inviting place to swim and relax. NPS Geodiversity Atlas—American Memorial Park, Northern Mariana Islands Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park. beach and hills Climate Change Clues from Monitoring As climate changes, significant changes in weather conditions impact the natural environment by shifting patterns of precipitation, promoting extremes in storm behavior, and influencing bird migration, invasive species spread, coral reef decline, and much more. The Pacific Island Network (PACN) undertakes systematic long-term monitoring of a wide variety of natural resources to accurately determine if change is occurring and why. Precipitation seen over the lush valleys of Kalaupapa National Historical Park. Updated Species Database Will Help Boost Amphibian Conservation Across the National Park Service To steward amphibians effectively, managers need basic information about which species live in parks. But species lists need constant maintenance to remain accurate. Due to recent efforts, the National Park Service now has an up-to-date amphibian species checklist for almost 300 parks. This information can serve as the basis for innumerable conservation efforts across the nation. A toad sits on red sand, looking into the camera. Chamorro Women at Camp Susupe The July 1944 Battle of Saipan, between American and Japanese forces, had devastating effects for the surviving Indigenous civilians. These Chamorro women lost their homes in a war not of their making. When the bombardment began, they carried only what they valued most: their children and a cross. They lived in bleak conditions in U.S. internment camps for two years before rebuilding their homes and villages. Black and white photo of two women holding religious items flanking distressed older woman in crowd Series: Home and Homelands Exhibition: Loss What does it mean to lose a home or homeland? What are the consequences? The story of the Pacific West is of competing visions of home, and the women who built and sustained the dreams held by their communities. The stories in this thread touch upon many of the darker moments in American history, including colonialism, forced removal, incarceration, war, and death. They show women bravely fought back at the cost of their own lives. Some had no choice but to endure. Thick white paper peeled back to reveal collage of women. Reads Pacific Islands Conservation Corps Via a partnership among the National Park Service, AmeriCorps, and the Kupu ʻĀina Corps, a conservation nonprofit in Hawaii, five young adult residents of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands are working on wildfire recovery and climate change-related resilience projects in parks in those two U.S. territories. A young intern carries supplies to pick up trash on the beach Project Profile: Pacific Islands Conservation Corps Program The National Park Service will implement climate restoration projects primarily involving youth adults from American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam. An intern with equipment to pick up trash

American Memorial Park Northern Mariana Islands Saipan National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior “I have always considered Saipan the decisive battle of the Pacific [for it] breached Japan’s inner defense line and opened the way to the home islands.” —Lt. General Holland Smith AP PHOTO The Human Cost Sacrifice, Honor, and Remembrance American Memorial Park honors the sacrifices of American military personnel and island residents involved in the World War II Marianas Campaign. In mid-1944, thousands lost their lives fighting over The fighting for Saipan came at a heavy price. The villages of Garapan and Chalan Kanoa were leveled, and the human toll was staggering. American forces suffered over 3,250 killed in action and more than 13,000 wounded. Fighting almost to the last individual, the Japanese defenders experienced devastating casualties, with nearly the entire 30,000-man garrison lost. Battle of Saipan June 15–July 9, 1944 (4) July 9. Rather than surrender, hundreds of Japanese civilians commit suicide, many by leaping off the cliffs on the island’s northern end. the strategic island of Saipan. The park is now a “living memorial” and place of remembrance that offers visitors diverse cultural, natural, and recreation opportunities. During the weeks of battle, desperate civilians were caught between the opposing forces. As American troops advanced across the island, they found Chamorro and Korean laborers—including women and children—hiding in caves. On July 9, Marines encountered a final horror at Marpi Point. Japanese propaganda had led civilians to believe they would be tortured by occupying forces. Rather than risk capture by the Americans, hundreds of Japanese civilians jumped to their deaths from high cliffs. Others committed suicide with grenades or were killed by Japanese soldiers. Marpi Point 4 (3) July 7. Several thousand Japanese soldiers directly assault American lines in the largest all-out attack of the war. Mt. Marpi Makunsha Tanapag 3 Philippine Sea A Critical Assault (2) American military personnel give descriptive names to areas that experience fierce fighting and high casualties. Va eH 1 P a c ifi c Oc e a n 4th Marines Army’s 27th Infantry Division 0 Aslito Airfield 3 Kilometers 0 3 Miles Air battle as seen from USS Birmingham. US NAVY / NATIONAL ARCHIVES US MARINE CORPS / NATIONAL ARCHIVES (1) June 15. Americans land on Saipan. Japanese defenders use the island’s rugged topography to launch an effective counterattack. A I N A NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN Islands P hilip pine S e a ri a i l i na P h Japanese carriers sunk, June 19–20, 1944 M a p p i TO M ILE ST American soldiers often put their own lives in jeopardy to save non-combatants like this woman and her children. Many islanders hid in a system of caves, which were also occupied by Japanese defenders. Trapped and fearful, they endured sickness and starvation. Battle of Saipan, June 15–July 9, 1944 Hawaii Allied military advance, 1942–1945 Saipan Tinian Guam Allied B-29 bomber bases Ma rs ha a r o l i n e I s l a n d s I n C la n e s ll The US Marine Corps broke a 144-year tradition and enlisted the first African American marines in 1942. Known as “Montford Point Marines” after their segregated camp site at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, they first entered into combat on Saipan. s Japan ust Aug ese-occ upied territory as of Sea O 0 10 Battle of the Philippine Sea, June 19–20, 1944 C hi na ST Volcano Islands 30°N 15 00 I O 0 u ST M ILE n y uk LE MI 500 sl a Ry Sou th KYO KY TO C H I N A OT OK YO Tokyo ds A J A P O S Turning Point ds EQUATOR itory terr ied 42 p u cc 19 se-o ust ane Aug Jap as of 2 194 So I N D I A N O C E A N m o n Is la Cook 3rd Class Timerlate Kirven (left) and Steward’s Assistant 2nd Class Samuel J. Love, Sr., display Purple Hearts awarded for wounds received on Saipan. n s 90°E lo d —Japanese Vice Admiral Miwa Shigeyoshi Over 3,250 Americans died in the battle for Saipan, while an estimated 30,000 Japanese perished. Chalan Kanoa US ARMY / NATIONAL ARCHIVES American troops had been ashore just a few days when the Japanese Navy decided to destroy the US Navy in a final decisive battle. Waves of Japanese aircraft attacked the American fleet from June 19 to 20. As well-trained, experienced American pilots shot down nearly 500 Japanese planes, US submarines sank enemy aircraft carriers. The Japanese fleet would never recover. Their troops on other islands could no longer be resupplied, reinforced, or evacuated. The lopsided battle was soon referred to as the “Marianas Turkey Shoot.” “Our war was lost with the loss of Saipan.” pl De ath US Army reinforcements land on Saipan. 2 P 2nd Marines Battle of the Philippine Sea Saipan fell to the Americans on July 9, 1944, after the deaths of nearly the entire Japanese garrison. The loss of Saipan led directly to the resignation

American Memorial Park National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Northern Mariana Islands, Saipan Getting to know our American Memorial Park: A cultural and natural treasure Carolinian culture Natural resources of American Memorial Park purple land crab Remnant wetland park area ocean mud flats mangrove forest and wetland fiddler crab beach morning glory bike path road surrounding district mangrove ironwood tree Pacific reef heron collared kingfisher In the early 1800s, the Caroline Islands suffered a major typhoon, prompting some islanders to resettle elsewhere. Large proas (canoes) filled with refugees navigated north to Saipan. The village of Arabwal was established by them on the western shores of the current Garapan area. The mangrove forest and wetland in the park are home to crabs, birds, and young fish. Mangroves, especially suited to grow in salt water, stabilize the shoreline, absorb nutrients, and filter sediments from runoff coming from the land. Mariana common moorhen nightingale reed-warbler Chamorro culture Bird refuge Visitor Center historic sites cultural site Remembering our history More than 3500 years before the arrival of the Spanish, Chamorro people settled the Pacific islands now called the Marianas. They carved ancient reef limestone lattes (tall support columns) so their palapalas (thatched and grasswoven huts) were raised well above ground. “American Memorial Park will serve as the surrogate memory and living legacy for future generations to comprehend and appreciate the sacrifices, ordeals, and lessons of this segment of World War II history.” — John Jarvis, Regional Director NPS Pacific West Region, 2005. A few species of forest and wetland birds found only in the Mariana Islands are found here in the park. Some may face possible extinction, including the Commonwealth bird, the Mariana fruit dove (Ptilinopus roseicapilla). Did you know that ranger-led tours of the park are available for individuals, families, or school groups? Stop by the American Memorial Park Visitor Center for more information. Please respect this park by helping us keep it clean and preserve it for future generations. NP National Park Service www.nps.gov/amme F IC PA CI American Memorial Park S ND NET W ISLA O RK Inv g rin ent ory & Monito Pacific Island Network Inventory & Monitoring Program Integration & Application Network National Park Service science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/pacn/ University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science www.ian.umces.edu