A moving, historic moment

  TINIAN-For the first time in almost seven decades, over 160 U.S. Marines joined the CNMI yesterday in honoring fallen soldiers on the very ground that was, at the height of World War II, the busiest airfield in the world, with military planes taking off or landing every 90 seconds.

Tinian’s historic, moving, and well-attended Memorial Day ceremony dwarfed yesterday’s ceremonies on Saipan and Rota.

Crowd estimate was 500 to 700, including the over 160 Marines from Marine Aircraft Group-12 out of Japan participating in Exercise Geiger Fury, the largest military exercise the CNMI has seen in years.

“The playing of Taps and the laying of the wreath, that got to me. It was a touching, impressive ceremony. You can’t help but think of those who sacrificed their lives in the name of freedom and peace. I thought about those I personally knew who lost their lives. Even one is too many,” Tinian resident and retired U.S. Army captain Vincent King, 52, told Saipan Tribune.

His wife, Zoey, described the ceremony as “emotional and moving.”

King, holding a POW-MIA [Prisoners of War-Missing in Action] flag, said it was the first Memorial Day ceremony he has ever attended on Tinian.

The Battle of Tinian was fought from July 24 to Aug. 1, 1944, some 68 years ago.

Mayor Ramon Dela Cruz said for such a short period of time, 328 U.S. service members lost their lives and 1,571 were wounded.

“Each and every one of those sacrifices, those precious lives lost, the pain that those wounds must have caused, every one of them must not be forgotten,” he said.

In the ongoing War against Terror, Tinian also lost three of its own-U.S. Army PFC Victor Michael Fontanilla, US Navy Seaman Ana Camacho, and U.S. Army Sgt. Julian Manglona.

“The late Fontanilla is our first cousin. We’re honored to have him as a family. We always remember him as a fun loving person,” said Rikkie Farrell, 16, along with her sister Richeena, 17.

Quoting President Barack Obama’s 2011 Memorial Day remarks, Mayor Dela Cruz said, “Our nation owes a debt to its fallen heroes that we can never fully repay. But we can honor their sacrifice, and we must.”

“We haven’t seen a crowd as big as this for ceremonies like this. It was my idea to bring my four kids here, aged 7 to 16, because I want them to have an idea how those people who lost their lives while serving in the military should be honored and remembered. We have so many relatives currently serving,” said resident Teruko King, 32.

‘Historic significance’

Tinian was the launching pad for the atomic bombs that were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki to hasten the end of World War II.

The island, with an estimated population of 3,136 as of 2010, is again playing an important role for the U.S. military as it hosts Exercise Geiger Fury 2012. Two-thirds of Tinian lands are leased by the U.S. Department of Defense.

Lt. Col. Michael Taylor, commanding officer of U.S. Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, said in his remarks at the Memorial Day ceremony that having Marines and sailors on Tinian has “incredible historic significance.”

In 1944 on Tinian, the namesake of the ongoing exercise, Maj. Gen. Roy Geiger, directed the amphibious assaults of the 2nd and 4th Marine Divisions.

“It was these Marines that battled a committed, disciplined, and well dug-in enemy and drove them from this strategically important island,” Taylor said. “It was the Seabees who worked 20-hour days to construct what was, at the time, the largest airfield in the world.”

Taylor also spoke of the sailors of USS Indianapolis who delivered to Tinian the materials needed to construct the atomic bombs, many of whom would perish on the return trip when their ship was sunk by a Japanese torpedo. Due to the secrecy of their mission, no distress signal was ever sent.

“It was the Airmen who loaded those bombs onto aircraft very near to where we gather today. The brave pilots and aircrew who accurately delivered those bombs to their targets, hastening the end of World War II and undoubtedly saving countless Japanese and American lives,” he added.

Taylor said Memorial Day is not only a day to honor those who gave their lives in military service to the nation, but also a day to be with family.

“Although the over 160 Marines and sailors here on Tinian are away from their families on this holiday, the community of Tinian has welcomed us and made us feel like part of their family,” he added.

U.S. Marines Lance Cpl Nicholas Thompson, 20, of Michigan, said as a child, he thought that Enola Gay was launched from Guam. He said he now knows it was launched from Tinian.

U.S. Navy Corpsman Scotti Hargrove, 23, said she’s always been interested in learning about wars, especially World War II, so it was such an experience stepping foot on Tinian.

“I also enjoy the weather here,” said Hargrove, of South Carolina. She added that Tinian people have been hospitable.

Another U.S. Navy Corpsman, Ruben Fonseca, from California, said “Tinian has a lot of history to it.”

“I didn’t know that Tinian is a U.S. territory. This place blows my mind. There’s a wealth of culture and history; lots of World War II remnants. This is a very special place,” he said. “There’s also a fusion of different cultures here and it works out so well.”

Fonseca, who has been with the U.S. Navy for 10 years, said he considers Tinian “America’s hidden diamond.”

A flyover performed by four F-18s, which flew in a “Missing Man Formation,” also wowed the crowd of children and adults during the ceremony. Many were seen waving miniature American flags.

‘Friendship Day’

Tinian’s Memorial Day ceremony was followed by a so-called “Friendship Day” wherein the civilian community got to interact with military personnel and see military equipment, transforming historic North Field into a hub of activities.

Boni Gonzales, 46, said he’s been on Tinian for 21 years but this is only the first time he attended Memorial Day because his sons J.R., 5, and Benni, 10, wanted to see real military planes and vehicles.

Jessilyn San Nicolas, 14, a student at Tinian Junior and Senior High School, said she wants to be a Marine someday, as she and her friend Thia King, 12, and Audrein Cruz, 11, got to ask some Marines questions about what they do and how their vehicles and equipment work.

U.S. Marine PFC Justin Buford, 24, of Illinois, said that people on Tinian have been very welcoming. He said the ongoing training will help him do a better job as a motor transportation personnel. This is Buford’s first training outside of Iwakuni, Japan where he is stationed.

U.S. Marine Cpl Samuel Roberto, 22, of Guam, said this is his first time on Tinian.

“It reminds me of home. We have the same weather, same music, same food, except there are fewer people here,” the engineer mechanic said.