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Guy Gabaldon The Marine Who Got 1,500 Japanese soldiers And Civilian To Surrender – Alone!
The story of Guy Gabaldon might sound like a fictional story, but he did capture more than 1500 Japanese on his own. At the beginning of his mission, he even had to confront the authorities to do so. But let’s start from the beginning of the story.
Guy, also known as Gabby or Pied Piper from Saipan, was born to a Mexican-American family on March 22, 1926 in LA and had 6 brothers. When he was 12 he moved in with a Japanese-American family, the Nakano, and there he learned some Japanese, but not only the language, but also their traditions and culture. When WWII began they were sent to a relocation camp and Guy, shortly after, at the age of 17, decided to join the Army.
When he was only 18 he was sent to Saipan. Saipan is part of the Mariana Islands, and is located about 1250 miles away from Tokyo. Since it was an important Japanese strategic stronghold, it was crucial to free it from Japanese invasion. This operation was called Operation Forger and started on June 15th, 1944, when the 2nd and 4th marine division landed on Saipan. They were later joined by the Army’s 27th Infantry. This battle was a bloody one, the results were 3000 American, 30,000 Japanese and about 900 local civilians dead, till the Island was secured by July 9th.
The first time he went out on this self-imposed mission of capturing the enemy, he managed to get two Japanese prisoners. He was then threatened with a court-martial for leaving his duties. Still, he ignored it and the next day went out again, this time he managed to capture over 50 Japanese. He was then given free rein and permission to work as a “Lone Wolf” and worked at night, mostly.
Once, they saw him surrounded by more than 800 Japanese, some of them still armed, but they were his prisoners, he had captured all of them in just one day. To get them to give in,, he would approach the caves and their hiding places and bid them to surrender. He would falsely tell them they were surrounded and that if they came out peacefully they would not harm them. He also promised them dignity and to get them back to Japan when the war was over.
He didn’t enjoy all the killing, and he thought that his deeds could save thousands of lives, and he did save 1500 lives. Capturing the enemies kept them alive. But this wasn’t the only advantage, by capturing them he could also get more information.
All in all, by July 9, he had captured more than 1500 Japanese and local civilians, being his main weapon the knowledge of Japanese, cigarettes and candy.
After serving for two years in the Army, he was wounded by a machine gun and so ended his service.
He got his Silver Star upgraded to a Navy Cross for his heroic deeds, and though he was nominated to get a Medal of Honor, he didn’t get it. He claims that the reason for that is his Mexican procedence.
After war, he did many things and lived in many places, including Saipan itself, for about 20 years. He was invited to a TV show called “This is your life”, and movie was made about him in 1960 called “Hell of Eternity”. He claims, nonetheless, that Jeffrey Hunter is nothing like him. He also wrote a book in 1990 called “Saipan: Suicide Island”.
In August 31, 2006 he died of heart disease at the age of 80.
https://www.warhistoryonline.com/featured/guy-gabaldon-marine-got-1500-japanese-soldiers-civilian-surrender-alone.html
http://articles.latimes.com/2005/nov/13/local/me-then13
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Gabaldon
The story of Guy Gabaldon might sound like a fictional story, but he did capture more than 1500 Japanese on his own. At the beginning of his mission, he even had to confront the authorities to do so. But let’s start from the beginning of the story.
Guy, also known as Gabby or Pied Piper from Saipan, was born to a Mexican-American family on March 22, 1926 in LA and had 6 brothers. When he was 12 he moved in with a Japanese-American family, the Nakano, and there he learned some Japanese, but not only the language, but also their traditions and culture. When WWII began they were sent to a relocation camp and Guy, shortly after, at the age of 17, decided to join the Army.
When he was only 18 he was sent to Saipan. Saipan is part of the Mariana Islands, and is located about 1250 miles away from Tokyo. Since it was an important Japanese strategic stronghold, it was crucial to free it from Japanese invasion. This operation was called Operation Forger and started on June 15th, 1944, when the 2nd and 4th marine division landed on Saipan. They were later joined by the Army’s 27th Infantry. This battle was a bloody one, the results were 3000 American, 30,000 Japanese and about 900 local civilians dead, till the Island was secured by July 9th.
The first time he went out on this self-imposed mission of capturing the enemy, he managed to get two Japanese prisoners. He was then threatened with a court-martial for leaving his duties. Still, he ignored it and the next day went out again, this time he managed to capture over 50 Japanese. He was then given free rein and permission to work as a “Lone Wolf” and worked at night, mostly.
Once, they saw him surrounded by more than 800 Japanese, some of them still armed, but they were his prisoners, he had captured all of them in just one day. To get them to give in,, he would approach the caves and their hiding places and bid them to surrender. He would falsely tell them they were surrounded and that if they came out peacefully they would not harm them. He also promised them dignity and to get them back to Japan when the war was over.
He didn’t enjoy all the killing, and he thought that his deeds could save thousands of lives, and he did save 1500 lives. Capturing the enemies kept them alive. But this wasn’t the only advantage, by capturing them he could also get more information.
All in all, by July 9, he had captured more than 1500 Japanese and local civilians, being his main weapon the knowledge of Japanese, cigarettes and candy.
After serving for two years in the Army, he was wounded by a machine gun and so ended his service.
He got his Silver Star upgraded to a Navy Cross for his heroic deeds, and though he was nominated to get a Medal of Honor, he didn’t get it. He claims that the reason for that is his Mexican procedence.
After war, he did many things and lived in many places, including Saipan itself, for about 20 years. He was invited to a TV show called “This is your life”, and movie was made about him in 1960 called “Hell of Eternity”. He claims, nonetheless, that Jeffrey Hunter is nothing like him. He also wrote a book in 1990 called “Saipan: Suicide Island”.
In August 31, 2006 he died of heart disease at the age of 80.
https://www.warhistoryonline.com/featured/guy-gabaldon-marine-got-1500-japanese-soldiers-civilian-surrender-alone.html
http://articles.latimes.com/2005/nov/13/local/me-then13
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Gabaldon
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Thank you my friend SGT John " Mac " McConnell for sharing a wonderful true-to-life account about the exploits of USMC Private Guy Louis Gabaldon who learned to speak Japanese when "he was 12 he moved in with a Japanese-American family, the Nakano, and there he learned some Japanese, but not only the language, but also their traditions and culture."
On March 22, 1943, Gabaldon's 17th birthday, he joined the United States Marine Corps. He received his basic training at Camp Pendleton, completed the Enlisted Marine Japanese Language School at Camp Elliot in San Diego, and was assigned to Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, as a scout and observer.
"The first time he went out on this self-imposed mission of capturing the enemy, he managed to get two Japanese prisoners. He was then threatened with a court-martial for leaving his duties. Still, he ignored it and the next day went out again, this time he managed to capture over 50 Japanese. He was then given free rein and permission to work as a “Lone Wolf” and worked at night, mostly.
Once, they saw him surrounded by more than 800 Japanese, some of them still armed, but they were his prisoners, he had captured all of them in just one day. To get them to give in,, he would approach the caves and their hiding places and bid them to surrender. He would falsely tell them they were surrounded and that if they came out peacefully they would not harm them. He also promised them dignity and to get them back to Japan when the war was over.
He didn’t enjoy all the killing, and he thought that his deeds could save thousands of lives, and he did save 1500 lives. Capturing the enemies kept them alive. But this wasn’t the only advantage, by capturing them he could also get more information.
All in all, by July 9, he had captured more than 1500 Japanese and local civilians, being his main weapon the knowledge of Japanese, cigarettes and candy."
His commanding officer Captain John Schwabe, recommend him for the Medal of Honor noting that he had "single-handedly captured more than ten times the number of prisoners taken by legendary Medal of Honor recipient, Sgt. Alvin C. York, in World War I." Private Guy Louis Gabaldon was awarded the Silver Star for his valor.
In 1960, the Marine Corps elevated his Silver Star Medal to the Navy Cross, the second highest US military decoration for valor.
Navy Cross CITATION:
For extraordinary heroism while serving with Headquarters and Service Company, Second Marines, Second Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Saipan and Tinian, Mariana Islands, South Pacific Area, from 15 June to 1 August 1944. Acting as a Japanese Interpreter for the Second Marines, Private First Class GABALDON displayed extreme courage and initiative in single-handedly capturing enemy civilian and military personnel during the Saipan and Tinian operations. Working alone in front of the lines, he daringly entered enemy caves, pillboxes, buildings, and jungle brush, frequently in the face of hostile fire, and succeeded in not only obtaining vital military information, but in capturing well over one thousand enemy civilians and troops. Through his valiant and distinguished exploits, Private First Class GABALDON made an important contribution to the successful prosecution of the Campaign and, through his efforts, a definite humane treatment of civilian prisoners was assured. His courageous and inspiring devotion to duty throughout reflects the highest credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.
He passed away on August 31, 2006 in Old Town, Florida at age 80.
Rest in peace Guy Louis Gabaldon!
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC Ivan Raiklin, Esq. Capt Seid Waddell Capt Tom Brown CW5 (Join to see) SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT MSG Andrew White SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx SSgt (Join to see) TSgt Joe C. SP5 Mark Kuzinski SPC (Join to see) SrA Christopher Wright Cpl Joshua Caldwell SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
On March 22, 1943, Gabaldon's 17th birthday, he joined the United States Marine Corps. He received his basic training at Camp Pendleton, completed the Enlisted Marine Japanese Language School at Camp Elliot in San Diego, and was assigned to Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, as a scout and observer.
"The first time he went out on this self-imposed mission of capturing the enemy, he managed to get two Japanese prisoners. He was then threatened with a court-martial for leaving his duties. Still, he ignored it and the next day went out again, this time he managed to capture over 50 Japanese. He was then given free rein and permission to work as a “Lone Wolf” and worked at night, mostly.
Once, they saw him surrounded by more than 800 Japanese, some of them still armed, but they were his prisoners, he had captured all of them in just one day. To get them to give in,, he would approach the caves and their hiding places and bid them to surrender. He would falsely tell them they were surrounded and that if they came out peacefully they would not harm them. He also promised them dignity and to get them back to Japan when the war was over.
He didn’t enjoy all the killing, and he thought that his deeds could save thousands of lives, and he did save 1500 lives. Capturing the enemies kept them alive. But this wasn’t the only advantage, by capturing them he could also get more information.
All in all, by July 9, he had captured more than 1500 Japanese and local civilians, being his main weapon the knowledge of Japanese, cigarettes and candy."
His commanding officer Captain John Schwabe, recommend him for the Medal of Honor noting that he had "single-handedly captured more than ten times the number of prisoners taken by legendary Medal of Honor recipient, Sgt. Alvin C. York, in World War I." Private Guy Louis Gabaldon was awarded the Silver Star for his valor.
In 1960, the Marine Corps elevated his Silver Star Medal to the Navy Cross, the second highest US military decoration for valor.
Navy Cross CITATION:
For extraordinary heroism while serving with Headquarters and Service Company, Second Marines, Second Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Saipan and Tinian, Mariana Islands, South Pacific Area, from 15 June to 1 August 1944. Acting as a Japanese Interpreter for the Second Marines, Private First Class GABALDON displayed extreme courage and initiative in single-handedly capturing enemy civilian and military personnel during the Saipan and Tinian operations. Working alone in front of the lines, he daringly entered enemy caves, pillboxes, buildings, and jungle brush, frequently in the face of hostile fire, and succeeded in not only obtaining vital military information, but in capturing well over one thousand enemy civilians and troops. Through his valiant and distinguished exploits, Private First Class GABALDON made an important contribution to the successful prosecution of the Campaign and, through his efforts, a definite humane treatment of civilian prisoners was assured. His courageous and inspiring devotion to duty throughout reflects the highest credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.
He passed away on August 31, 2006 in Old Town, Florida at age 80.
Rest in peace Guy Louis Gabaldon!
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC Ivan Raiklin, Esq. Capt Seid Waddell Capt Tom Brown CW5 (Join to see) SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT MSG Andrew White SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx SSgt (Join to see) TSgt Joe C. SP5 Mark Kuzinski SPC (Join to see) SrA Christopher Wright Cpl Joshua Caldwell SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
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