Veteran, book author says he loves the ‘new Saipan’

Retired Major Rick Spooner of the U.S. Marine Corps returned to Saipan for the first time since 1944 to promote his second book, “A Marine Anthology in the Spirit of Semper Fidelis.”

The book is the second one he wrote about World War II, which begins at Belleau Wood in France and travels through the Philippines, China, and Haiti, and talks more about the Japanese side of the war. Retail price for the book is $32.95.

The first book was “The Spirit of Semper Fidelis: Reflections from the Bottom of an Old Canteen Cup,” which also costs $32.95.

Spooner held a book signing event at the American Memorial Park Visitors Center on July 2.

Before the event, Park Ranger Nancy Kelchner presented Spooner a cake made by Herman’s Modern Bakery depicting his second book which he signed on top using cake icing.

“Initially, I never thought of writing a book,” Spooner told reporters. “I had no interest in writing a book. But a publisher came to me and asked me if I would and heard about some classes that I held for Marines on history and he said he thought it should be written up.”

According to Spooner, it was never difficult for him to write the book. “But sometimes, I’d feel emotional as I wrote the books.”

Spooner talked about how he remembered Saipan during the war. “When I first saw Saipan, I thought I’d gone to hell. It was miserable. It was an awful place. The smell of death was everywhere.”

Spooner, who became a Marine private in 1942, felt very lucky having survived the war and served in the Marine Corps until his retirement in 1972.

“You never stop being a Marine. It’s not a job, it’s a vocation—like being a priest. You never stop,” he said.

Spooner disclosed that he is working on his third book, a novel, which will touch on the Marines’ mission in Shanghai, China in the 1930s.

Aside from writing a book, Spooner also runs a restaurant, Globe & Laurel, at the Marine Base in Quantico, Virginia with his wife Gloria.

Spooner said one out of his four children is also a retired Marine Major, while three out of 17 grandchildren are also Marines.

Now that he’s back for a visit, Spooner said he loves the new Saipan.

“I think Saipan is so different. I come here now and it smells good, it smells clean. No smell of death. It’s wonderful,” said Spooner.