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| -Short Attention Span Theater- |
| "Pied Piper" of Saipan dies |
| 2006-09-05 |
Guy Gabaldon, who as an 18-year-old Marine private single-handedly persuaded more than 1,000 Japanese soldiers to surrender in the World War II battle for Saipan, has died...Using an elementary knowledge of Japanese, bribes of cigarettes and candy, and trickery with tales of encampments surrounded by American troops, Gabaldon was able to persuade soldiers to abandon their posts and surrender. The scheme was so brazen — and so amazingly successful — it won the young Marine the Navy Cross..."My actions prove that God takes care of idiots," he wrote. If he was right, there's hope for the rest of us. |
| Posted by:Ulelet Uniting8249 |
| #8 Thanks folks for the article and the links on Guy Gabaldon. This man was an inspiration! This self-initiative is so typical of the American enlisted personnel. But what payoff! Think of the many descendents of these prisoners that would never have been born if it was not for this great man. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2006-09-05 23:08 |
| #7 You do share the most fascinating nuggets of information, JosephM! |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2006-09-05 18:48 |
| #6 Maybe they should name the next Arliegh Burke that comes off the ways after him |
| Posted by: Cheaderhead 2006-09-05 14:36 |
| #5 Interview with Guy Gabaldon. Heartening and tragic. Worth the read. |
| Posted by: ed 2006-09-05 09:54 |
| #4 ". . . have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life . . ." Deutoronomy 30:19. |
| Posted by: Mike 2006-09-05 09:12 |
| #3 Oh ye of little faith... Guy Gabaldon... |
| Posted by: Clereng Glomolet2652 2006-09-05 07:17 |
| #2 A 1,000 Japnese soldiers surrendered? Maybe 1,000 civillians.... |
| Posted by: 6 2006-09-05 07:05 |
| #1 Gabaldon's story is almost as famous here as George Tweed's - actor Jeffrey Hunter played both men during his film career. LIFE Magazine (1945) > despite their defeat on Guam and the island being declared "secure" by military commanders, up to 50 Japanese soldiers a day were being killed or injured. mostly killed, one year after the Battle for Guam. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2006-09-05 00:35 |