Through sea erosions Saipan and the other Mariana Islands were formed. The 1st people's to arrive were the Chamorros - who probably came down through the Philippines - though this is not confirmed just speculated. Of course the Spaniards were the 1st people to take control of the island and removing many Chamorros from Saipan to other parts of the Mariana Islands. The Spaniards ruled up until the Spanish American War. The US wanted to Guam and not necessarily the other Islands so the Spanish sold Marianas to the Germans. The Germans had the Mariana Islands up until the WW-I when Japan took over and the island was under military rule. After Japan attacked many strong holds of the US including Pearl Harbor (Guam/Philippines) the Japanese last control of the island in 1945. What is interesting is that you hardly ever hear about Saipan though these islands were a major factor in the War. From Tinian the atomic bomb air strikes were conducted from those islands.
Because the Japanese did not believe in being captured many plunged to their deaths from Banzai Cliff. As you can tell - I'm still having technical difficulties.
Ok - not sure how to get past the bottom picture. Oh well, I'll figure it out as I go. My new favorite saying - Good Grief.
Here we go though I think my font has changed. I can see my humble following laughing and falling out of my favorite "hand chairs" reading this. I'm glad I can provide entertainment. Ok back to the story.
Not too long ago, this monument was built to remember those who died on this cliff. It was not just the Japanese soldiers that were jumping to their deaths it was also families - some pushing the kids off ahead of them and some holding their babies as they jumped.
Here are 2 monuments that have been put up recently along with "apparently" paving the road. The "cliff" behind this 2nd photos is Suicide Cliff. Apparently the Japanese jumped from here as well.
After the war - a US Naval Technical School was set up by the CIA to train Chinese Nationalists how to fight a war against the Chinese Communists. (1952 - 1962). In 1962 Saipan reverted back to Civilian Control. The buildings that were built during the CIA training era is now the Governor's Offices.
Over the period of 4 Presidents (Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan) the Chamorros and the Carolianians became US Citizens in 1986 and was given the right to govern themselves with the $$$ support of the US government.
Who are the Carolianians?
ReplyDeleteThere are 2 native people of Saipan. The Chamorros and the Carolinians. To be honest I'm not even sure if I have met 1 yet. I know some Chamorros but I don't think I've heard anyone say I'm a Carolinian. 1 of our guys his mom is from Saipan, I would have to ask him who they are. I know that sounds bad.....but most folks will tell you where they are from and what nationality.
ReplyDeleteI will get you an answer and let you know.
Nancy:
ReplyDeleteI asked the guy at the office (who is Chamorro) and he said that the Carolinians are darker complexed and have a more Micronesian look to them. Apparently the current governor of Saipan is Carolinian.
Hope this helps.
found this info:
ReplyDeleteCarolinian people
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Carolinian, or Refaluwasch, people are an Austronesian ethnic group who originated in the South Pacific, eastern Caroline Islands, with a total population of around 8,500 people. It is thought that their ancestors may have originally immigrated from Asia and Indonesia to Micronesia around 2,000 years ago. Their primary language is Carolinian, called Refaluwasch by native speakers, which has a total of about 5,700 speakers. The Carolinians have a matriarchal society in which respect is a very important factor in their daily lives, especially toward the matriarchs. Most Carolinians are of the Roman Catholic faith.
The immigration of Carolinians to Saipan began in the early 1800s, after the Spanish reduced the local population of Chamorro natives to just 3,700. They began to immigrate mostly sailing from small canoes from other islands, which a typhoon previously devastated. The Carolinians have a much darker complexion than the native Chamorros.