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Curator’s Corner to feature the Battle of Saipan
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Posted on Jun 30 2011
The American Memorial Park will present a “Curator’s Corner” on Saturday, July 2, focusing on the Battle of Saipan, the first major Japanese community to be encountered by American troops in World War II. The presentation will take place at the Visitor Center from 12:30pm to 1:30pm followed by Maj. Rick Spooner’s book signing.
The Empire of Japan had controlled Saipan since World War I. The island was defended by over 30,000 Japanese military personnel dug into the limestone cliffs and dry valleys. The ensuing Battle of Saipan in June of 1942 will be discussed during this presentation.
“Saipan was part of the defensive perimeter around the Japanese home islands. It was unlike anything our military had faced in the Pacific Theater—a civilian population living on Japanese soil in an urban center with 6,000 buildings. The loss of Saipan altered the entire war. America could now launch non-stop bombing raids from air bases less than 1500 miles from Tokyo,” said James Oelke, the park’s museum curator.
This is a special Curator’s Corner offering at the American Memorial Park’s Visitor Center. The public is welcome and admission is free.
