(continued)

Father and son bonded in these surroundings. We shared long discussions with periods of silence as we both absorbed the past over 50 years ago and attuned to the present and created memories for my son to share alone or with others in the days when I will not be around.

We visited all the appropriate places of interest on Saipan including the American Memorial Park; Garapan, two beautiful golf courses; last Command Post; the many Japanese monuments; the Invasion Beaches; and dinner with Governor Pedro Tenorio and friends.

Hap at American Memorial Park

Hap at American Memorial Park

Our final two hours on Saipan were on top of Mount Topatchau from which your field of vision covers almost all of the island and the ocean and Tinian beyond. I felt myself mesmerized looking SE at Isley Field. It was and is etched forever in my mind.

City of Garapan, Saipan from Mount Topatcho

We rode the new deluxe yacht from Saipan to Tinian. We toured the island if Tinian and visited all segments of North Field and the now filled in Atomic Bomb pits. There are monument-type memorials to those Bomb Groups who operated out of Tinian. Several of the runways are in good enough condition to use for special purposes.

Hap at the Bomb Pit on Tinian

There is now a Las Vegas type gambling casino on Tinian - elegant, but obviously a failure. Japanese film productions now come to Tinian to shoot movies along the crystal clear turquoise waters.

Our Pacific Journey was like a dream as son, Dan, and I shared together and absorbed the memories of those long ago days. They were important days in my life and now will, in a way, become a part of Dan's life in the years ahead as he reflects back on events and places we have visited and shared on this our Pacific Journey.
We departed on an early 727 flight from Saipan to make our connection at Guam. We boarded our Continental flight at Guam and headed North to our next stop - Tokyo. Tinian and Saipan passed below as we climbed on course over the very same ocean and similar route utilized by the B-29's flying from Guam, Tinian and Saipan to bomb mainland Japanese targets during the period of November 24, 1944 to August, 1945.

On the way to Tokyo

Dan and I talked about this segment of WWII and my life as we continued north. Two hours and 55 minutes from "wheels up" at Guam to touchdown at Narita International Airport. This was in contrast with those 7.5 to 8 hour high altitude B-29 legs to Tokyo. A smooth flight all the way and a special bonus today versus days of yore. There was no flak and no fighters!

Later that day after visiting the city of Narita we boarded a Northwest flight for our return to San Francisco. Nine and a half hours later we touched down at San Francisco International Airport.

I would categorize our Pacific Journey of Father and Son to be a wonderful and memorable trip - a trip that allowed dreams to come true and dreams to be created.

In our ongoing telephone conversations we talk often about out Pacific Journey; sharing once again our memories of that trip and feeling the special bonding triggered by our trip together into the past, the days of WWII and my days of youth.

I will always remember! I feel sure that Dan will also!

 

- Hap Halloran, May 1999

 

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