Leanne Teeter

3^rd Period

5/21/01

"Suddenly, WHAM! A shell hit right on top of us! I was too surprised to think, but instinctively all of us hit the deck and began to spread out. Then the shells really began to pour down on us: ahead, behind, on both sides, and right in our midst. They would come rocketing down with a freight-train roar and then explode with a deafening cataclysm that is beyond description," described a first lieutenant in the 3d Battalion, 24th Marines, John C. Chapin at the Battle of Saipan. Saipan is an island of about 72 square miles in area. It is located in the Northern Mariana Islands, south of Japan. During World War II, the Japanese had control of Saipan, along with most every other island in the western Pacific Ocean. By July 9, 1944 however, they were all turned over into American hands.

Early morning June 15, 1944, the landing ships moved into position off of the island of Saipan. This order had been given by Vice Admiral Richmond Kelly Turner. At 8:40 in the morning, the boats for Operation Forager began to unload along a four-mile wide beach, Chalan Kanoa. Among the first wave, was a brave Marine Everett Hampton in the fourth division. Hampton had been training for two years in the Marine Corps. In January of 1944, he and his division traveled to the Marshall Islands ready for action. As a Sargent, in June they landed on Saipan.

Prior to this landing however, the Americans landed some Marines on the north coasts, Tanapag Harbor as a deception. Unfortunately, the Japanese did not fall for the trick and didn’t send many reinforcements. The real invasion was towards the western side of the island later that morning.

On the beaches, the Americans received heavy gunfire from hundreds of feet above. On the first day of fighting, only a few units of the 4^th division made it to the first line. On the night of the 16^th, the Japanese, under the control of General Yoshitsugo Saito, launched a counter attack. This attack however was over by dawn the next morning. On the 17^th, Lieutenant General Holland Smith pulled troops out of reserve and sent them into action.

On June 19^th, a huge carrier battle took place a few miles off the coast of Saipan. This has come to be referred to as The Great Marianas Turkey Shoot. The United States had won a decisive battle here by June 20^th. The U.S. lost about one hundred and thirty aircraft, while the Japanese lost about five hundred aircraft. The next several days on land were spent making their way to Mount Tapotchau, a mountain occupied by the Japanese. By the 25^th, the Americans were able to take control of this mountain.

There were thousands of citizen deaths on Saipan, several suicidal. The Japanese soldiers were able to convince the Saipanese that the Americans would torture and/or rape them. The people believed this so much that when the Americans arrived, several jumped off the sides of steep cliffs.

On June 30^th, the U.S. had control of the entire central region of Saipan. The soldiers now concentrated on moving General Saito out of the north. All looked hopeless for the Japanese. However, on the 7^th of July, they launched one last counter attack. Directly after giving this order, General Saito killed himself by stabbing a knife into his stomach. Admiral Nagumo followed his lead and shot himself as well. This attack began as a good start for the Japanese. They had managed to push back our lines slightly, but were all but gone by evening. The island of Saipan was officially declared secured at 4:15 PM on July 9, 1944.

Everett Hampton joined the Marine Corps as a volunteer when he was 18 years old. In April of 1944, he was promoted to a Corporal; by May of the same year, he was promoted to a Sargent. After D-Day on Saipan, Hampton with his division was sent next to Tinian and landed there July 24, 1944. They fought vigorously for 35 days to capture the island. Later in the war, Tinian was the island that held the atomic bombs that were dropped on Japan in 1945.

On February 19, 1945, Hampton landed on the Island of Iwo Jima. Everett Hampton was wounded twice in battle, once was with a grenade on Iwo Jima. He received two purple hearts, two bronze stars, and The Order of the Long Leaf Pine.

Beginning at about 2 A.M. on the 19^th, the American’s navy opened fire. After about an hour, the planes swarmed in and bombed the island. Once again, the navy’s guns produced heavy fire. At about 8:30, they sent over the first wave of marines. These marines were shocked when they first came on shore. The ash covering the island was so deep, the men sunk to their thighs. The island is only about 8 square miles in area, and most every place on the island was in Japanese targeting range.

The mountain, Mount Suribachi, was needed in order to have control of the island. It is about 550 feet tall, and was most of the source of the Japanese gunfire. There were also lots of Japanese hidden under ground, killing the Americans above them. It took the Americans about four days in order to reach the top of the mountain and raise the flag. On March 26, 1945, Iwo Jima was declared secure. A total of 19,217 American soldiers were killed, compared to an estimated 20,000 Japanese deaths.

Hampton was under the command of General Clifton B. Cates. Cates was an outstanding General by Hampton’s opinions and did a great job in battle. General Cates retired on June 30, 1954. He died after a long illness June 4, 1970, and was buried in Arlington Cemetery June 8^th.

Everett Hampton was satisfied with Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill, except that they prioritized in Europe. This meant that it was harder for the troops in the Pacific Theatre to get supplies such as food, water, ammunition, artillery, and reinforcements. Hampton wasn’t very fond of Truman though, mainly because Truman disliked and wanted to dispose of the Marine Corps. However, Hampton did agree that Truman’s decision to drop the Atomic bombs on Japan was the wisest decision. Mr. Hampton believes that the Japanese would have fought to the death otherwise, wiping out both Japanese soldiers and citizens. This is because they had such high loyalty to their Emperor, they probably would not have surrendered.

I really enjoyed interviewing Mr. Everett Hampton. He was in some very important battles, but ones that you don’t always hear about. I found his stories of Saipan, Tinian, and Iwo Jima extremely fascinating. The magnitude and the length of the fighting really surprised me. I had never imagined such complex plans and maneuvers, also the time it took to take over a small island.

Never underestimate a determined Marine. Brave men such as Everett Hampton risked their lives for their country and brought an end to the treacherous war. Honor their patriotism and faithfulness; just like the Marines love to say, "Always faithful."