9 July 1944: U.S. secures Saipan: 3,200 U.S., 27,000 Japanese KIA, & many civilian suicides. Pictured here is Pfc. Guy Gabaldon--'The Pied Piper of Saipan'--who enlisted in the USMC at age 17 and served as an interpreter on Saipan and Tinian during the Marianas campaign. Gabaldon was credited with convincing more than 1,500 Japanese, both soldiers and civilians, to give up. Recommended for the Medal of Honor, he was finally awarded the Navy Cross on 23 Nov. 1960. From his citation: "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."