All language subtitles for The Pacific War in Color Series 1 4of8 The Enemy Underground 1080p

\h\h\hNarrator: BY 1944,
THE AMERICAN WAR MACHINE

IS AT FULL THROTTLE.

\hTHEY ARE PUSHING JAPAN
BACK ACROSS THE PACIFIC,

ISLAND BY ISLAND.

\hBUT THE NEXT ISLAND
IS DIFFERENT - SAIPAN.

AS THEY HIT THE BEACH,

\h\h\h\hMan: I COULD SEE THE
BULLETS STRIKING THE WATER.

Narrator: AND FLY INTO FIRE.

\h\hMan: A ZERO ZOOMED
RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME.

\hNarrator: RELIVE AN
HISTORIC NAVAL BATTLE

WITH COLOR COMBAT FOOTAGE

AND UNCOVER A SIMMERING RIVALRY
THAT SAIPAN BLOWS WIDE OPEN.

\h\hHEAR THE VOICES
AND FEEL THE FIGHT.

\h\hMan: HE SAID, BY
THIS TIME TOMORROW,

SOME OF YOU WON’T BE HERE.

♪

♪

Narrator: HAWAII,
\h\hJANUARY 1944.

\h\h\hTHE ATTACK ON PEARL
HARBOR WAS TWO YEARS AGO.

AFTER A ROUGH START
TO THE PACIFIC WAR,

AMERICA IS FINDING ITS FOOTING.

INSTEAD OF A BATTLEGROUND,
HAWAII IS NOW A PLAYGROUND

FOR TROOPS ON LEAVE.

THE FIGHTING SEEMS
\h\hVERY FAR AWAY.

\hBUT THE WAR’S LEADERS ARE
RIGHT HERE IN PEARL HARBOR,

\hHOTLY DEBATING THE
COMPETING STRATEGIES

OF ADMIRAL CHESTER NIMITZ AND
\h\hGENERAL DOUGLAS MACARTHUR.

\hMACARTHUR WANTS TO FOCUS
THE ACTION IN HIS COMMAND

- THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC.

\h\hNIMITZ WANTS TO PUSH UP HIS
TERRITORY, THE CENTRAL PACIFIC,

WITH AN ISLAND-HOPPING CAMPAIGN
OF AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULTS.

THE GILBERTS WERE A DISASTER.

THE MARSHALLS WENT BETTER.

\h\h\h\hTHE NEXT STEP IS THE
MARIANAS, INCLUDING SAIPAN.

THE MARIANAS ARE A FAR LARGER
\h\h\hAND MORE DISTANT TARGET.

INVADING WOULD BE A
LOGISTICAL NIGHTMARE

AND GIVE ISLAND-HOPPING
\hAN EXTRAORDINARY TEST.

NIMITZ IS CONFIDENT.

MACARTHUR IS SKEPTICAL.

\hHE THINKS ISLAND HOPPING
IS INEFFICIENT AND BLOODY.

\h\h\h\hBUT ONE AIRPLANE’S
POTENTIAL TIPS THE SCALE.

News Reader: WHEN THE WORKERS
\hREPORTED FOR THE FIRST TIME,

FEW OF THEM GUESSED
\h\hTHE EXACT NATURE

OF WHAT THEY WERE BUILDING.

\h\h\h\hTHEY WERE BUILDING THE
MIGHTIEST AIRCRAFT IN HISTORY.

\hNarrator: A NEW WAR
PLANE IS IN PRODUCTION

- THE BOEING B-29.

IT WILL BE THE POST
POWERFUL BOMBER YET

WITH THE GREATEST RANGE.

IF NIMITZ CAN TAKE THE MARIANAS

FROM THERE THE B-29
\hCOULD REACH TOKYO.

IF ENGINEERS CAN GET IT TO FLY.

\h\h\h\h\hMan: EARLY ON,
WE HAD ENGINE PROBLEMS.

WE HAD LOTS OF PROBLEMS.

\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: AT A
TRAINING GROUND IN KANSAS,

\hCREWS HANDPICKED TO
FLY B-29S KEEP WAITING

FOR THEIR AIRPLANES TO SHOW UP.

\h\h\h\hMan: WE WERE TRAINING
IN B-17S, AND WE KEPT SAYING,

\hWHERE IS THIS BIG BABY
THAT WE VOLUNTEERED FOR?

\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE
MILITARY WANTS IT FAST,

BUT RUSHING A NEW WEAPON
\h\hTO WAR CAN BACKFIRE.

ONE TEST FLIGHT CRASHES
IN THE MIDDLE OF SEATTLE

KILLING MORE THAN 30.

BY THE TIME AMERICA DECIDES
\h\hTO INVADE THE MARIANAS,

100 B-29S HAVE BEEN DELIVERED,
\h\hBUT ONLY 15 ARE AIRWORTHY.

FOR THE MARIANAS TO
\hBE WORTH THE PAIN,

THIS AIRPLANE WOULD HAVE
\h\hTO KEEP ITS PROMISE.

BEFORE THIS WAR, THE MARIANAS
\h\hALREADY ENDURED CENTURIES

OF IMPERIAL POWER STRUGGLES.

THE SUCCESSION OF RULERS
INCLUDED SPAIN, GERMANY,

AMERICA AND NOW JAPAN.

THE NATIVE CHAMORRO PEOPLE
SUFFERED THROUGH THEM ALL.

NOW, ANOTHER INVASION
\hFORCE IS ON ITS WAY.

\h\h\h\h\hNews Reader:
TOWARD THE END OF MAY,

THE 27TH INFANTRY
DIVISION IN HAWAII

\hWAS GETTING READY
TO SAIL FOR SAIPAN.

Narrator: THE PORTS OF HAWAII
\h\hARE BURSTING AT THE SEAMS.

EVERY BATTLE BEGINS
\h\hON THESE DOCKS.

\h\hFROM ARMY TROOPS
TO MARINE HARDWARE,

\hTHE BURDEN TO CARRY
IT ALL IS ON THE NAVY.

\hBUT THEY’VE NEVER SUPPORTED
AN INVASION AS FAR AS SAIPAN.

\h\hIT’S A MATHEMATICAL AND
LOGISTICAL WAR UNTO ITSELF.

110 SHIPS, LOADED TO THE LIMIT.

\h32 DAYS OF FOOD RATIONS
FOR ABOUT 128,000 TROOPS.

20 DAYS OF AMMUNITION,
\h\h\h\hFUEL AND OIL.

AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT VEHICLES
\h\h\h\hAND HEAVY ARTILLERY.

IN ALL, 75,000 TONS OF CARGO
\h\hNEEDS TO FIT SOMEWHERE.

EVERY NOOK AND CRANNY IS PACKED
WITH SOMETHING OR SOMEONE.

\hMARINES LIKE CHARLES
PASE ARE APPREHENSIVE

ABOUT LEAVING HAWAII IN
\hTHE REAR VIEW MIRROR.

\h\h\h\hMan: IT WAS
AN ENJOYABLE PLACE.

WE HATED TO LEAVE.

IN FACT, WE DOUBLY
\h\hHATED TO LEAVE

BECAUSE WE HAD A PRETTY FAIR
\hIDEA WHERE WE WERE GOING.

Narrator: ON MAINLAND
\h\hASIA, THE JAPANESE

ARE ALSO STRUGGLING TO WAGE
\hWAR OVER GREAT DISTANCES.

\hIN CHINA, THEY SET HILLSIDES
ABLAZE WITH INCENDIARY BOMBS,

JUST TO SPREAD FEAR.

\hIN BURMA, ALLIED
FORCES FIGHT BACK.

AMERICANS GIVE JEEPS TO
THE BRITISH AND CHINESE.

AND DROP SUPPLIES
TO LOCAL FIGHTERS.

\hCRATES OF WEAPONS END UP
ON THE BACKS OF ELEPHANTS

FOR DELIVERY INTO THE JUNGLE.

BY 1944, JAPAN IS BACKPEDALING.

BURMESE GUERILLAS MARCH
\h\hPOWS INTO CAPTIVITY,

SYMBOLIC OF JAPAN’S SLIPPING
\hFOOTHOLD ON MAINLAND ASIA.

OUT IN THE PACIFIC,
THEY RACE TO FORTIFY

THEIR ISLAND COLONIES.

\h\h\hEMPEROR HIROHITO
KNOWS WHAT’S AT STAKE.

HE DELIVERS A MESSAGE
\h\h\h\hTO HIS TROOPS.

\h\h\hMan: IF SAIPAN IS
LOST, AIR RAIDS ON TOKYO

WILL TAKE PLACE OFTEN.

YOU ABSOLUTELY MUST HOLD SAIPAN.

\h\h\h\hNarrator: BY JUNE
14TH, SOME 32,000 JAPANESE

ARE DIGGING IN TO DEFEND IT.

AN ADMIRAL PREDICTS THE ATTACK
\h\hCOULD COME WITHIN A MONTH.

\h\h\hTHE AMERICANS WILL
LAND THE VERY NEXT DAY.

News Reader: CONVOYS
WERE NEARING SAIPAN.

\hTHESE MEN WOULD BE CRAWLING
THROUGH BRUSH AND CANE FIELDS,

FIGHTING FOR EVERY FOOT
\h\hOF JAPANESE GROUND.

♪

\h\h\h\hNarrator: AS THE
FORCE APPROACHES SAIPAN,

THEY KNOW AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULTS
\h\h\hARE A WORK IN PROGRESS.

\h\h\hTHE LEARNING CURVE IS
LITTERED WITH DEAD MARINES.

ROY ROUSH REMEMBERS
THE MOOD AS SOLEMN.

\h\h\h\hMan: THE DAY BEFORE WE
LANDED, OUR COMPANY COMMANDER

SHOOK HANDS WITH EVERY MAN AND
\hTALKED TO HIM FOR A MOMENT.

HE WISHED EVERY ONE OF US
THE BEST OF LUCK AND SAID,

\hUNFORTUNATELY I KNOW
BY THIS TIME TOMORROW,

SOME OF YOU WON’T BE HERE.

♪

[EXPLOSION BOOMING]

\hNarrator: ON THE
MORNING OF D-DAY,

\h\h\h\hTHE NAVY RAINS
DESTRUCTION ON SAIPAN.

[EXPLOSION BOOMING]

FIRING FROM AFAR, THEY SACRIFICE
ACCURACY FOR SHEER VOLUME.

[EXPLOSION BOOMING]

\hTHEN 150 CARRIER PLANES
TAKE THE BATTLE UP CLOSE.

\hBRAVING RETURN FIRE,
THEY POUND THE BEACHES

TO SOFTEN THEM UP
\hFOR THE LANDING.

[EXPLOSION BOOMING]

THE PLAN CALLS FOR THE
\hFIRST WAVE OF TROOPS

TO LAND AT 0830, WITH
MANY WAVES TO FOLLOW.

News Reader: THIS
\hWAS THE BIG ONE.

NO ONE SPOKE, EVERY MAN
\hWAS TENSE, BUT READY.

Narrator: THEY’RE GOING IN.

PREVIOUS ISLAND INVASIONS
\hCAUSED HEAVY CASUALTIES

SO THEY TRY A NEW APPROACH.

HEAVILY-ARMED AMPHIBIOUS
\h\h\hTANKS LEAD THE WAY

\h\hWITH TROOP TRACTORS
FOLLOWING CLOSE BEHIND.

THEY HOPE THE TANKS CAN
\hBLAST THEIR WAY INLAND

SO TROOPS DON’T HAVE TO GET
\hOUT ON THE EXPOSED BEACH.

NOBODY WANTS MARINES
\h\h\hWADING ASHORE

IN BLOOD-STAINED WATERS
LIKE THEY HAD AT TARAWA.

\h\h\h\hBUT THE ENEMY LEARNED
LESSONS FROM THE SAME BATTLE.

\hJAPANESE FILM REVEALS
MORE ELABORATE PILLBOXES

\h\h\hWITH CLEAR SIGHT
LINES TO THE INVADERS.

\h\h\h\hTHEY’VE EVEN PLANTED
DISTANCE FLAGS IN THE WATER.

THE ENTIRE LAGOON
\hIS PRE-SIGHTED.

\hAMERICANS ARE RIGHT
IN THEIR CROSS HAIRS.

[EXPLOSION BOOMING]

COLONEL JAMES DONOVAN
\h\hIS COMMANDING ONE

OF THE LANDING CRAFT,
\h\h\hTRAILING A TANK

THAT WAS SUPPOSED
TO PROVIDE COVER.

\h\h\hMan: I COULD SEE THE
BULLETS STRIKING THE WATER

RIGHT IN FRONT OF US.

\h\hI TOLD THE MEN TO GET
DOWN AS LOW AS THEY COULD.

\h\hNEXT THING, MY LIEUTENANT
WAS HIT IN HIS LEFT SHOULDER.

HE LOOKED DOWN TO HIS SHOULDER

AND HIS LEFT EYE WAS SHOT OUT.

\h\hTHE MAN STANDING NEXT TO
ME HAD HIS HEAD KNOCKED OFF

BY AN ANTI-TANK ROUND.

\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE
LEADING TANKS CAN’T STOP

THE VOLLEY OF INCOMING SHELLS.

\h\hBEHIND THEM, MEN ARE
GETTING CUT INTO PIECES.

DONOVAN DECIDES IT’S BETTER
\h\hTO LET THE SURVIVORS OUT

TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES
\h\h\h\hON THE BEACH.

\h\h\h\h\hMan: WE LANDED AT THE
WATER’S EDGE AND WE ALL CLIMBED

OUT OF THAT TRACTOR.

IT WAS A BLOODY MESS BACK THERE.

\hNarrator: CHAOS UNFOLDS AS
THE MEN SCRAMBLE FOR COVER.

INSTEAD OF LEAPFROGGING
\hTHE BEACH AS PLANNED,

THEY’RE STUCK ON IT.

\hMan: WE RAN RIGHT
INTO THE BATTALIONS

THAT LANDED AHEAD OF US AND
\hTHEY HADN’T GONE VERY FAR.

Narrator: ONE BATTALION
\h\h\hFIGHTS FOR AN HOUR

\hAND ADVANCES ONLY 12
YARDS PAST THE BEACH.

MANY JUST HAVE TO
CROUCH IN THE SAND

AND KEEP THEIR HEADS DOWN.

\hMORE WAVES OF TROOPS WAIT
OFFSHORE TO JOIN THE FIGHT.

THEY SEE BOATS COMING BACK
\h\hWITH WOUNDED OR WORSE.

\h\h\hMan: ONE OF THEM JUST
HAD A PILE OF HANDS AND FEET

\h\hAND PARTS OF GUYS,
ABOUT FIVE FEET HIGH.

Narrator: INSTEAD OF QUICKLY
\hSLICING THEIR WAY INLAND,

IT’S A SLOW, BLOODY PUSH.

Man: IT GOT PRETTY NOISY.

THE SMOKE DRIFTING AROUND.

\hA MESS OF DEAD BODIES
AND ABANDONED EQUIPMENT.

[EXPLOSION BOOMING]

IT WAS AN EERIE SCENE OUT THERE.

\h\h\hNarrator: D-DAY ON
SAIPAN IS A ROUGH START,

\hBUT THE MARINES GAIN
THEIR FIRST FOOTHOLD.

BY DAY’S END, THEY SECURE
\h\h\hSIX MILES OF BEACH,

\h\h\hUP TO A HALF MILE INLAND,
ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF THEIR GOAL.

\hJUNE 15TH IS FULL
OF HITS AND MISSES,

TRIAL AND ERROR,

BRAVERY AND BLUNDERS.

IT’S A VERY LONG DAY.

AND FOR SOME, THEIR LAST.

\hTHERE ARE 2,000
DEAD AND INJURED.

THE MARINES HAVE MADE THEIR
FIRST SACRIFICES ON SAIPAN.

THE NAVY IS NEXT.

\h\hAS NIGHT FALLS ON
D-DAY, AN AMERICAN SUB

SPIES A LARGE ARMADA ON THE
WAY FROM THE PHILIPPINE SEA.

THE JAPANESE ARE COMING
\hTO WRESTLE THE ISLAND

BACK FROM THE INVADERS.

\h\hAMERICA DECIDES TO
GO MEET THEM HEAD ON.

\h\hSAILORS GET AN
EMERGENCY BRIEFING

- THEY’RE HEADING
\hBACK OUT TO SEA.

\hFIRST, THEY DUMP ASHORE
ALL THE SUPPLIES THEY CAN

IN SHORT ORDER.

GROUND FORCES SQUABBLE
\h\hOVER WHAT’S LEFT.

THEY STEAL EACH OTHER’S SUPPLIES

\h\hIN WHAT THEY CALL
MIDNIGHT REQUISITIONS.

MARINES TAKE 33 ARMY TRUCKS
\hAND WON’T GIVE THEM BACK.

ON LAND, IT’S LOGISTICAL CHAOS.

AT SEA, IT’S AN UNEASY CALM.

PLAYING HIDE AND SEEK
WITH AIRCRAFT CARRIERS

IS A NEW KIND OF WARFARE.

WITH LONGER-RANGE PLANES, THE
\h\hJAPANESE MAY STRIKE FIRST.

\h\hED HARRELL IS GAME
TO CHASE THEM ANYWAY.

\h\hMan: WE DIDN’T KNOW WHAT
ALL WAS GOING TO TAKE PLACE,

BUT WE DIDN’T RUN FROM THEM.

NEVER.

\hNarrator: THE BATTLE
OF THE PHILIPPINE SEA

WILL BE THE BIGGEST CARRIER
\h\hBATTLE IN NAVAL HISTORY,

IF THE FLEETS CAN
\hFIND EACH OTHER.

AMERICAN RADAR PICKS
UP INCOMING PLANES.

THE JAPANESE HAVE FOUND THEM.

[SIRENS BLARING]

\hCARRIERS SCRAMBLE THEIR
F6F HELLCATS TO MEET THEM.

♪

\h\hTHE TWO MASSIVE NAVIES ARE
STILL HUNDREDS OF MILES APART.

SO IT COMES DOWN TO ONE
\hPILOT AGAINST ANOTHER,

\h\h\hIN WHITE-KNUCKLE,
SPLIT-SECOND DOGFIGHTS.

[EXPLOSION BOOMING]

[GUN FIRING]

AMERICAN SHIPS BLAST
\h\hAWAY FROM BELOW.

[GUN FIRING]

WALLACE BRUNTON IS ONBOARD THE
\hUSS CALLAHAN - A DESTROYER.

Man: WE KNEW THEY WEREN’T
TRYING TO BOMB DESTROYERS.

THEY WERE AFTER THE CARRIERS.

\hALL WE HAD TO DO
WAS SHOOT AT THEM.

[EXPLOSION BOOMING]

\h\h\h\hNarrator: JAPAN
MADE ITS PLANES LIGHTER

BY SHEDDING HEAVY ARMOR.

THEY GAINED RANGE,
\hBUT LOST MUSCLE.

IN AERIAL FISTFIGHTS, THEY
SIMPLY CAN’T TAKE A PUNCH.

[EXPLOSION BOOMING]

AMERICAN HELLCATS SHOOT
\h\hDOWN OVER 20 PLANES

FROM THE FIRST ATTACK WAVE.

[GUN FIRING]

\hNAVAL ANTI-AIRCRAFT
FIRE HIT A DOZEN MORE.

[EXPLOSION BOOMING]

ONE JAPANESE BOMBER SCORES A HIT

ON THE BATTLESHIP SOUTH DAKOTA.

[EXPLOSION BOOMING]

24 SAILORS ARE KILLED
UNDER A HALO OF SMOKE.

\h\h\hTHEN THE SECOND
ATTACK WAVE COMES IN.

128 PLANES.

NAVY PILOT GEORGE KIRK JOINS
\h\hTHE FRAY IN HIS HELLCAT.

\h\h\h\hMan: A ZERO CAME AND
ZOOMED RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME.

HE WAS CHASING ANOTHER HELLCAT.

\hWE CROSSED AND I WAS
ABLE TO LIGHT HIM UP.

I SAVED THAT OTHER GUY.

\h\hNarrator: THIS
ATTACK WAVE FARES

EVEN WORSE THAN THE FIRST.

\h\hTHEY HIT NO SHIPS AT ALL
AND MANY END UP IN THE SEA.

[EXPLOSION BOOMING]

\hBY THE TIME THE FOURTH
JAPANESE WAVE COMES IN,

THEY ARE SCATTERED
AND DISORGANIZED.

SOME DON’T EVEN FIND
THE AMERICAN FLEET.

\h\h\hMan: THEY RAN
OUT OF GOOD PILOTS.

\hTHEY DIDN’T TEACH
THOSE GUYS TO LAND.

THEY JUST TOLD THEM TO GET
\hOUT THERE AND KILL YOU.

\h\hNarrator: KIRK
GETS CLOSE ENOUGH

TO LOOK RIGHT INTO
AN ENEMY COCKPIT.

\h\h\h\h\hMan: THE PILOT WAS
JUST STARING STRAIGHT AHEAD.

\h\hLIKE A LITTLE KID,
JUST SCARED TO DEATH.

♪

\hNarrator: IT’S
A COMPLETE ROUT.

\hAMERICANS NICKNAME IT THE
GREAT MARIANAS TURKEY SHOOT.

\h\hBUT THEY STILL DON’T
KNOW WHERE ENEMY PLANES

ARE COMING FROM.

\h\hTHE JAPANESE CARRIER FLEET
REMAINS BEYOND AMERICAN EYES.

\h\h\hTHE CHANCE TO
STRIKE A KILLER BLOW

\h\h\h\hAPPEARS TO BE
SINKING WITH THE SUN.

\h\h\hTHE NEXT MORNING,
AMERICANS ARE HELL BENT

ON FINDING THE ENEMY FLEET.

SCOUT PLANES HUNT OVER THE OPEN
SEAS ALL DAY, WITHOUT LUCK.

THEY FEAR THE ENEMY
\h\h\hHAS RETREATED.

THEN AT 4:00 P.M., THEY FIND
THE JAPANESE 275 MILES AWAY.

\hSAILORS GET WORD TO
SCRAMBLE THEIR PLANES.

ED HARRELL REMEMBERS
THE ADRENALINE RUSH.

\hMan: IT WAS LIKE YOU WERE
HOLLERING AT A FOOTBALL GAME

\h\hBECAUSE WE KNEW WE
WERE GOING AFTER THEM.

\h\hNarrator: IN THE
LOW AFTERNOON LIGHT,

200 HELLCATS TAKE OFF
\hIN JUST 20 MINUTES.

THIS MIGHT BE THEIR LAST CHANCE
TO STRIKE THE JAPANESE NAVY.

BUT IT’S A RISKY DECISION.

\h\hTHE ENEMY FLEET IS TOO FAR
FOR THE SHORTER-RANGE HELLCATS

TO SAFELY MAKE ROUND TRIP.

AND IT’S TOO LATE TO
RETURN IN DAYLIGHT.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMan: THERE WERE
HUNDREDS OF PLANES OUT THERE.

WE DIDN’T HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE
\h\h\h\h\hAT ALL NIGHT FLYING.

Narrator: AT DUSK, AMERICAN
\h\h\hPILOTS FIND THE FLEET.

THERE ISN’T MUCH TIME.

SOME OF THE SMALLER SHIPS
\h\hCAN MOVE AT 40 KNOTS,

A TRICKY TARGET.

BIGGER SHIPS ATTRACT
\h\hMORE ATTENTION.

[GUNS FIRING]

\h\h\hTHE BIGGEST PRIZE
FINALLY COMES INTO VIEW.

A CARRIER.

[EXPLOSION BOOMING]

FROM ABOVE, IT APPEARS
\h\hTO BE A SOLID HIT.

JAPANESE FILM SHOWS THE
\hCHAOS UNFOLDING BELOW.

♪

\h\h\hGUNNERS TRY TO
REPEL THE AMERICANS.

THE CARRIER DECK IS SO DAMAGED,

\hJAPANESE PILOTS
CAN’T LAND ON IT.

INSTEAD, THEY HAVE TO
\hDITCH IN THE WATER.

♪

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMan: THE SEA WAS
COVERED WITH JAPANESE SAILORS

HANGING ON FOR LIFE WITH
\hNO THOUGHT THAT ANYONE

WOULD EVER PICK THEM UP.

THERE WERE NO SHIPS
LEFT TO RESCUE THEM.

\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE JAPANESE
NAVY IS FIGHTING FOR ITS LIFE.

\h\hWITH BOMBS FROM ABOVE
AND TORPEDOES FROM BELOW,

\h\hAMERICANS TAKE OUT FIVE
SHIPS, INCLUDING A CARRIER.

SOME WILL LIMP AWAY.

OTHERS ARE SIMPLY BLOWN AWAY.

[EXPLOSION BOOMING]

THERE’S NO TIME TO CELEBRATE.

\hTHEY HAVE TO FLY
BACK IN THE DARK.

MANY CRASH LAND INTO THE OCEAN,

HOPING FOR RESCUE THE NEXT DAY.

OTHERS MAKE IT BACK
\h\hAND RISK LANDING

A CRIPPLED PLANE AT NIGHT.

[CRASH THUDDING]

\hOVER BOTH DAYS, AMERICANS
LOSE 100 PLANES AND 50 MEN.

\hBUT JAPANESE LOSSES ARE
AT LEAST FOUR TIMES WORSE.

FOR THEM, IT’S A
CRUSHING SETBACK

AND THEY WON’T FULLY RECOVER.

\hIT’S A DECISIVE
AMERICAN VICTORY.

\h\h\hSINCE THE BATTLE OF
MIDWAY TWO YEARS EARLIER,

\hTHEY HAVE GAINED THE UPPER
HAND IN THE WIDE-OPEN SEAS.

\h\h\h\hBUT THE TINY ISLANDS
CONTINUE TO GIVE THEM FITS.

ONCE ASHORE ON SAIPAN, ONE
\hOF THE FIRST OBJECTIVES

IS ASLITO AIRFIELD.

\hIT’S A POTENTIAL
BASE FOR THE B-29

SO THEY EXPECT HEAVY DEFENSES.

THE ROUTE TO THE AIRFIELD
\hIS THROUGH THICK FIELDS

OF SAIPAN’S PRINCIPAL CROP.

\hMan: THERE WERE
THOUSANDS OF ACRES

OF SUGAR CANE FIELDS, VERY
DENSE AND ABOUT HEAD HIGH.

THEY PROVIDED IDEAL
\hCOVER FOR SNIPERS

OR INFILTRATING JAPANESE.

[EXPLOSION BOOMING]

\h\h\h\hNarrator: HIDDEN
WITHIN THE MAZE OF CANE

\h\h\hAND, ON THE RIDGE ABOVE,
JAPANESE AMBUSH THE AMERICANS.

[EXPLOSION BOOMING]

THEY’RE PINNED DOWN FOR
\h\hHOURS IN THE FIELDS.

\h\hFINALLY, THEY TAKE TO
BURNING THEIR WAY THROUGH,

NOT KNOWING WHO MIGHT BE
HIDING JUST YARDS AWAY.

\hANOTHER COMPANY GETS
HUNG UP IN A VILLAGE,

\h\hTRYING TO DISCERN
SOLDIER FROM CIVILIAN.

\hTHE SOLID LINE OF
ADVANCE BREAKS DOWN

AND AMERICAN MISSTEPS
\hMAKE MATTERS WORSE.

\h\hARMY AND MARINE UNITS
ARE FIGHTING SIDE BY SIDE

\h\h\h\hAND THE CHAIN OF
COMMAND GETS CONFUSING.

\hONE OFFICER KEEPS
CALLING HEADQUARTERS

\hTO FIND OUT WHO
HE’S WORKING FOR.

A COMBAT TEAM LAUNCHES
\h\hAN ATTACK AT 0730,

\h\h\hNOT HEARING THEY WERE
SUPPOSED TO WAIT UNTIL 0930.

AND ONE ENTIRE REGIMENT IS STUCK

WITHOUT COMMUNICATIONS
\h\h\h\h\h\hEQUIPMENT.

\h\h\hIT NEVER GOT OFF THE
SHIP BEFORE IT PULLED OUT

FOR THE NAVAL BATTLE.

WITH SMALL ARMS,
FIELD ARTILLERY,

TANK BLASTS AND FIRE,

AMERICANS BLAST AWAY THROUGH
\hTHE DANGEROUS CANE FIELDS

\h\h\hAND APPROACH AN
AIRFIELD THAT PROMISES

EVEN STIFFER RESISTANCE.

♪

BUT THE NEXT DAY, THE ENEMY
\hSEEMS TO HAVE DISAPPEARED.

ASLITO AIRFIELD IS ABANDONED.

\h\hTHE HULKING REMNANTS OF
BOMBED OUT JAPANESE AIRCRAFT

LITTER THE TARMAC.

\hTROOPS FIND EXACTLY
ONE JAPANESE SOLDIER,

HIDING IN THE CONTROL TOWER.

OTHERWISE, THEY ARE GONE.

THIS AIRFIELD IS ONE
\hOF THE KEY PRIZES

OF THE WHOLE ISLAND CHAIN.

\h\hAMERICANS WILL SOON
PREPARE IT FOR THE B-29.

\h\hWHY THE JAPANESE LEFT IT
FOR THE TAKING IS A MYSTERY.

MAYBE AMERICAN BOMBS
\h\hMADE THEM FLEE?

OR MAYBE THEY FOUND A
BETTER PLACE TO FIGHT?

MOVING NORTHWARD, AMERICANS
\hAPPROACH MOUNT TAPOTCHAU,

SAIPAN’S TALLEST PEAK.

IF THEY WANT THE ISLAND,
\h\hTHEY’LL HAVE TO TAKE

ITS HIGHEST GROUND.

\h\hTHEY FORM A LINE TO
PUSH AROUND AND OVER IT.

MARINE UNITS HAVE EITHER SIDE
\h\hAND THE 27TH ARMY DIVISION

LEADS THE PUSH UP THE MIDDLE.

News Reader: THE 27TH
SET UP A COMMAND POST

AND ESTABLISHED CONTACT
\h\h\h\hWITH THE MARINES

TO COORDINATE AN ATTACK
\h\hON MOUNT TAPOTCHAU.

\hNarrator: IN CHARGE OF THE
27TH IS GENERAL RALPH SMITH,

A QUIET, CEREBRAL PRESENCE
\h\h\hON THE BATTLEFIELD.

\h\hHIS PATH IS DICTATED BY
GEOGRAPHY THROUGH A VALLEY,

FRAMED ON ONE SIDE BY
THE MOUNTAIN’S CLIFFS

\hAND THE OTHER BY
A HIGH RIDGE LINE.

[EXPLOSION BOOMING]

\hAS THE ACTION GETS THICK,
ARMY UNITS UNDER RALPH SMITH

TAKE A POUNDING IN THE MIDDLE
\h\hAND DON’T ADVANCE AS FAST

AS THE MARINES ON EITHER SIDE.

AT TIMES, THEY ARE PINNED
\h\h\hDOWN FLAT FOR HOURS

AND CAN’T EVEN LIFT THEIR HEADS.

MANY ARE FORCED TO RETREAT.

\h\h\h\hON THE FLANKS, THE
MARINES BEGIN TO QUESTION

THE ARMY’S TACTICS.

Man: WE KNEW WHAT THE HELL

WAS GOING ON WITH
THE 27TH DIVISION.

\h\h\hTHEY JUST UP AND RAN
BACK, LEAVING US EXPOSED.

\h\h\h\hNarrator: RALPH SMITH
ORDERS THE 27TH TO GET GOING.

\h\h\h\h\h\hMan: ADVANCE OF 50
YARDS IN ONE AND A HALF HOURS

IS MOST UNSATISFACTORY.

START MOVING AT ONCE.

Narrator: RESPONDING
\h\hTO THE PRESSURE,

ONE COMMANDER PULLS UP HIS UNIT

AND RUNS THEM HEADLONG
\h\h\h\hUP THE VALLEY.

\h\h50 YARDS LATER, THEY
HIT A DOWNPOUR OF LEAD.

[EXPLOSION BOOMING]

\hTHE COMMANDER IS SHOT
IN THE HEAD AND KILLED.

\hTHE ARMY NICKNAMES
THEIR SURROUNDINGS,

\h\hDEATH VALLEY AND
PURPLE HEART RIDGE.

JAPANESE ARE NESTED UP ON
EITHER SIDE OF THE VALLEY.

\h\h\hAPPROACHING FROM THE
SOUTH, AMERICAN ARTILLERY

HAS NO CLEAR SHOT.

\h\h\hARMY TROOPS HAVE TO
ADVANCE WITH LITTLE COVER.

FOR THE JAPANESE, IT’S LIKE
\hSHOOTING FISH IN A BARREL.

\h\h\h\hMan: WE COULDN’T
FATHOM WHERE IN THE HELL

THEY WERE AT.

WE KNEW IF A GUY STOOD
\hUP, HE’D GET POPPED.

\h\hNarrator: MARINE GENERAL
HOLLAND SMITH IS OVERSEEING

THE ENTIRE INVASION
\h\hFORCE ON SAIPAN.

HE’S A BRASH BULLDOG OF
A MAN, IN STARK CONTRAST

TO THE QUIETER RALPH
\hSMITH OF THE ARMY.

WHEN HE REALIZES THE 27TH IS
\hLAGGING BEHIND THE MARINES

\hBY ALMOST A MILE, HE SENDS
RALPH SMITH A CLEAR MESSAGE.

\h\h\h\h\h\hMan: COMMANDING
GENERAL IS HIGHLY DISPLEASED

WITH THE FAILURE OF
\hTHE 27TH DIVISION

\h\hADVANCE AND SEIZE
OBJECTIVES AS ORDERED.

\h\hNarrator: PRIVATELY,
HOLLAND SMITH QUESTIONS

THE ARMY’S STOMACH FOR COMBAT.

\h\h\hMan: THE 27TH DIVISION
WON’T FIGHT AND RALPH SMITH

WILL NOT MAKE THEM FIGHT.

\hNarrator: IT ALL COMES
TO A HEAD ON JUNE 24TH.

\h\h\hHOLLAND SMITH RELIEVES
RALPH SMITH OF HIS COMMAND.

\h\h\h\h\hTOMMY THOMPSON
WITNESSES THE ENCOUNTER

WHILE STANDING GUARD NEARBY.

\h\h\h\hMan: HE GRABBED HIM
BY THE SHIRT, BACKED HIM UP

AGAINST THE TENT POLE, AND SAID,

\hYOU SON OF A BITCH, GET
THE HELL OFF THIS ISLAND.

YOU’RE GOING BACK TO HAWAII.

\h\hNarrator: ARMY
BRASS RETALIATES.

\h\hONE CALLS HOLLAND SMITH
PREJUDICED AGAINST THE ARMY.

\hANOTHER WANTS HIM
OUT OF THE PACIFIC.

EVEN RALPH SMITH SOUNDS OFF.

\h\hMan: NO ARMY COMBAT
TROOPS SHOULD EVER AGAIN

\hBE PERMITTED TO SERVE
UNDER HOLLAND M. SMITH.

\h\hNarrator: THE TENSION
BETWEEN ALL THREE SERVICES

SPILLS OUT INTO THE OPEN.

NEWSPAPERS POUNCE ON IT AND
\h\hTHE RIVALRY GOES PUBLIC.

BICKERING REACHES ALL THE
WAY UP TO ADMIRAL NIMITZ.

\h\h\h\hBUT AMONG THE GROUND
TROOPS, THE DAMAGE IS DONE.

THERE IS FINGER POINTING.

DISTRUST.

AND THE QUESTIONING
\h\h\hOF ONE’S GUTS.

ARMY GRUNTS TAKE IT PERSONALLY

AS IF THEY HAVEN’T BEEN
\hFIGHTING HARD ENOUGH.

AMERICA’S DECISION TO PUSH
\h\hUP THE CENTRAL PACIFIC

PUTS ALL THE PRESSURE ON
DISTANT ISLAND WARFARE.

SO FAR, THE PRESSURE IS SHOWING.

\h\h\hMan: OUR LIVING
CONDITIONS WERE CRUDE.

YOUR SHAVING KIT WAS
\hYOUR STEEL HELMET.

WE HAD TRENCH LATRINES.

ONE THING WE DIDN’T HAVE
WAS THE TERRIBLE WEATHER

THEY HAD IN ENGLAND.

Narrator: FOR MOST AMERICANS,

SAIPAN IS THEIR FIRST
TASTE OF THE TROPICS.

THE HEAT AND HUMIDITY
\h\hCAN BE OPPRESSIVE.

WHEN ALLOWED TO PULL
BACK FROM THE FRONT,

TROOPS TRY TO RESET
BOTH MIND AND BODY.

\h\h\h\hMan: WE HADN’T
HAD A BATH IN A MONTH.

YOU PULLED OFF YOUR SOCKS AND
\hMOST OF YOUR SKIN CAME OFF.

Narrator: ANY CHANCE TO GET
HALFWAY CLEAN IS A GODSEND.

PRIVACY, OR NO PRIVACY.

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHERE’S ALSO
DO-IT-YOURSELF LAUNDRY.

Man: CLOTHES WERE SO DIRTY

THEY’D STAND UP BY THEMSELVES.

\h\h\hNarrator: WITH ONLY
ONE UNIFORM, THEY MAKE DO.

\h\hANY FOOD THAT IS NOT CANNED
FIELD RATIONS IS ANOTHER TREAT.

IT’S NOT HOME COOKING, BUT
IT’S STILL WORTH THE WAIT.

\hMan: THEY WOULD
MAKE A FIVE POUND

CAN OF COFFEE IN A BARREL.

IT WAS THE PRETTIEST
\hFOAM YOU EVER SAW.

\h\hSOME OF THE BEST CUP OF
COFFEE I EVER HAD IN MY LIFE

WAS ON THAT ISLAND.

\h\hNarrator: DOWNTIME
GIVES THE MEN A CHANCE

\h\h\hTO SWAP STORIES AND
COMPARE BATTLE SOUVENIRS.

JACK LENT EVEN COMMANDEERS
\h\h\h\h\hA JAPANESE BIKE

TO VISIT SOME BUDDIES
\h\h\hIN ANOTHER UNIT.

\h\h\h\hMan: THEY SAID, HOW IN
THE WORLD DID YOU GET UP HERE?

I SAID I RODE RIGHT
\hUP THAT MAIN ROAD.

THEY SAID, WE HAVEN’T
\h\h\hCAPTURED IT YET.

\h\hI WENT RIGHT THROUGH THE
JAPANESE LINES ON A BICYCLE.

I THINK I WENT BACK
AT 90 MILES AN HOUR.

Narrator: REST ALSO OFFERS
A RARE CHANCE TO REFLECT.

\hMEN OF THE CLOTH
LIKE VERNON HANKS

\h\hFEEL ESPECIALLY VALUABLE
SERVING TROOPS IN DISTRESS.

\h\h\hMan: I MIGHT GIVE
THE SACRAMENT TO 500 MEN

IN A SHORT LENGTH OF TIME.

\h\hTHOSE BOYS WERE
REALLY APPRECIATIVE.

Narrator: BUT NOTHING
\hIS QUITE AS VALUABLE

AS A LETTER FROM HOME.

\h\hANYTHING THAT TAKES THEIR
MINDS OFF THE WAR IS WELCOME.

\hBUT THEN IT’S TIME TO
GO BACK AND DO THE JOB.

\h\hTHERE’S A LOT OF
UNFINISHED BUSINESS

BACK ON MOUNT TAPOTCHAU.

\h\h\hTHE BATTLE AROUND MOUNT
TAPOTCHAU IS SLOW AND BLOODY,

BUT THIS HIGH GROUND IS KEY
\h\hTO THE AMERICAN ADVANCE.

\h\hWITH NO GOOD ANGLE
FOR SUPPORT ARTILLERY,

TROOPS WILL HAVE TO MARCH
\h\hUP PURPLE HEART RIDGE

AND TAKE OUT THE JAPANESE
WITH SMALL ARMS, MORTARS,

MACHINE GUNS AND GRENADES.

\h\h\hIT’S AN UPHILL
BATTLE IN EVERY WAY.

ONE COMPANY LEAVES AT SUNRISE
AND LOSES 12 MEN BEFORE 0930.

JOE BROWN IS TRYING TO CARRY
\hTHE WOUNDED OFF THE SLOPE

\h\hWHEN ENEMY FIRE
CATCHES UP WITH HIM.

\h\h\hMan: THEY OPENED UP ON
US AND MOST OF US DOVE OFF.

WE HAD TO DROP THE STRETCHER
CASES AND THEY KILLED THEM.

\hTHIS BOY, T.T. MOORE OUT OF
DALLAS, SAT DOWN ON HIS KNEES

AND SAID, BOY, THAT
\h\hWAS A CLOSE ONE.

THEN A MACHINE GUN OPENED
UP AND HIT HIM IN THE REAR

AND A BULLET CAME OUT HIS CHEST.

\hNarrator: WITH THE HIDDEN
JAPANESE SO HARD TO ENGAGE,

\hAMERICANS RESORT
TO THROWING FIRE.

[FIRE ROARING]

\h\hMan: WE HEARD THE
MOANING AND GROANING.

YOU COULD SMELL THE DEAD.

THE ODOR KEPT GETTING
STRONGER AND STRONGER.

Narrator: FOR THE FIRST TIME,

\h\h\hAMERICANS DEPLOY
FLAME-THROWING TANKS.

\h\hHERE, A LONE JAPANESE
SOLDIER RUNS FOR HIS LIFE.

\hSLOWLY AND AT HIGH
COST, AMERICANS TAKE

PURPLE HEART RIDGE,

\h\hALLOWING ARTILLERY TO
BLAST ACROSS DEATH VALLEY

AT CAVE EMPLACEMENTS ON THE
\h\hFACE OF MOUNT TAPOTCHAU.

[EXPLOSION BOOMING]

\h10 DAYS AFTER LANDING,
AMERICANS TAKE THE PEAK.

GENERAL HOLLAND SMITH
\h\hCLIMBS UP HIMSELF,

POINTING OUT THE STRATEGIC
\h\h\hVALUE OF A MOUNTAIN

THAT COST SO MUCH BLOOD
\h\h- 4,000 CASUALTIES.

MUCH OF IT WAS SPILLED BY
THE ARMY’S 27TH DIVISION,

\h\hMEN HOLLAND SMITH HAD
DISMISSED AS INEFFECTIVE.

FIGHTING DOWNHILL SHOULD
\h\hBE A WELCOME RELIEF.

\h\hTHERE ARE WOUNDS TO HEAL,
BOTH PHYSICAL AND OPERATIONAL.

\hBUT THEY AREN’T THE ONLY
ONES SUFFERING ON SAIPAN.

News Reader: THOUSANDS OF
NATIVES AND THEIR CHILDREN

\h\h\h\hCAUGHT IN THE
ADVANCE OF OUR TROOPS

\h\h\h\hSTREAMED THROUGH
DESIGNATED SAFETY ZONES

TO THE INTERNMENT CAMPS.

Narrator: WHATEVER ARMIES
\h\hCALL A THEATER OF WAR,

\hTHERE ARE PEOPLE
WHO CALL IT HOME.

\h\hSAIPAN’S 25,000
RESIDENTS ARE STUCK

IN A SELF-CONTAINED WAR ZONE.

\hTROOPS FUNNEL AS MANY
AS POSSIBLE INTO CAMPS.

\h\h\h\hSOME OF THEM ARE
KOREANS, WHO HAVE LIVED

\h\hUNDER JAPANESE RULE
FOR DECADES AND TREATED

AS LITTLE MORE THAN SLAVES.

MANY ARE BEING KILLED
ALONGSIDE THE JAPANESE

BECAUSE AMERICANS CAN’T
EASILY TELL THEM APART.

THE UNFOLDING TRAGEDY GETS THE
\hATTENTION OF ADMIRAL NIMITZ.

HE INVITES A KOREAN-AMERICAN
\h\hMINISTER FROM HONOLULU,

\hFATHER NOAH CHO, TO
ACCOMPANY THE MARINES.

\h\h\h\hON SAIPAN, HE PERSUADES
HUNDREDS OF KOREANS TO COME OUT

\h\hOF HIDING AND ACCEPT
THE INVADERS AS FRIENDS,

\h\h\h\hEVEN LEADING THREE
CHEERS FOR THE AMERICANS.

Crowd: YAY!

YAY!

YAY!

♪

\h\h\hNarrator: NOT ALL
CIVILIANS ARE CONVINCED.

JAPANESE PROPAGANDA WARNED
\h\hOF MARAUDING AMERICANS

\h\h\hPRONE TO RAPE,
TORTURE AND MURDER.

\h\hEVEN AS TROOPS TRY TO LURE
THEM OUT WITH A HELPING HAND,

\h\h\hSOME CANNOT BRING
THEMSELVES TO ACCEPT IT.

\h\h\h\hMan: YOU WEREN’T
SUPPOSED TO SHOOT THEM.

YOU WOULD HOLD UP THIS LEAFLET.

A LOT OF THEM WERE
\hSAVED THAT WAY.

BUT YOU HAD TO BE CAREFUL, TOO.

A LOT OF THEM WERE SOLDIERS.

Narrator: WHEN THEY AREN’T
SURE WHO’S HIDING INSIDE,

ALL BETS ARE OFF.

IF THEY WON’T COME OUT,
\hAMERICANS WON’T GO IN.

[EXPLOSION BOOMING]

\h\h\hNews Reader:
THIS WAS GARAPAN.

ONCE A CLEAN, TIDY
\h\hTROPICAL TOWN,

THAT OUR BOMBARDMENT HAD NOW
REDUCED TO A PILE OF RUBBLE.

\hNarrator: GARAPAN WAS
A MODERN TOWN OF 14,000.

THE PROUD JAPANESE HAD CALLED IT

THE TOKYO OF THE SOUTH SEAS.

NOW, THERE IS LITTLE
LEFT TO FIGHT OVER.

BUT GROUND TROOPS STILL
\h\h\hHAVE TO SECURE IT.

THIS IS THE FIRST
MAJOR STREET FIGHT

OF THE ISLAND-HOPPING CAMPAIGN.

THE REMNANTS AND RUBBLE
\hARE AS TOUGH TO FIGHT

THROUGH AS A MOUNTAIN
\h\h\h\hFULL OF CAVES.

IT TAKES FOUR DAYS TO WIN.

\hMan: WHEN WE WENT THROUGH
GARAPAN, THIS REALLY MODERN

LITTLE CITY JUST DISAPPEARED.

\hTHE REMAINS HAD TO BE
BULLDOZED INTO THE SEA.

Narrator: IF THIS IS THE FATE

OF THE TOKYO OF THE SOUTH SEAS,

JAPAN SURELY FEARS
FOR TOKYO ITSELF.

AFTER THE DEVASTATING LOSSES
\h\hAROUND MOUNT TAPOTCHAU,

AMERICANS PUSH NORTHWARD
\h\hWITH RELATIVE EASE.

\h\h\hMOST JAPANESE
FIGHT TO THE DEATH.

BUT THIS SOLDIER DEFIES
THE NORM AND SURRENDERS.

CAPTURED POWS REVEAL
\h\hTHEY CAN BARELY

ORGANIZE THEMSELVES ANYMORE.

\hJAPANESE COMMANDERS RELAY
THE SITUATION TO SUPERIORS.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMan: FORCES
ARE COMPLETELY WIPED OUT.

\h\hNO FIGHTING STRENGTH
CAN BE EXPECTED OF THEM.

\hNarrator: THERE ARE
FEW UNITS LEFT INTACT.

\hSOLDIERS ARE IN
IMPROVISED GROUPS,

BOUND TOGETHER ONLY
\h\hBY CIRCUMSTANCE.

THEY HAVE LITTLE WATER.

\h\h\h\h\h\hMANY HAVE BEEN
SUBSISTING ON SUGAR CANE.

\hBUT STILL, THEY
FIGHT TO THE END.

THE FINAL DAYS ON
SAIPAN WILL SHOCK

EVEN THE MOST HARDENED SOLDIER.

12 DAYS AFTER LANDING,

\h\hAMERICANS MOVE INTO THE
NORTHERN END OF THE ISLAND.

THOUSANDS OF JAPANESE
SOLDIERS REMAIN ALIVE,

DESPERATE, BUT STILL DEADLY.

\h\hPOCKETS OF RESISTANCE
ARE SCATTERED BUT FIERCE.

IT CAN TAKE DAYS TO UNTIE
\h\hA SINGLE, WELL-PLACED

\h\h\hUNDERGROUND KNOT
WITH ONE BRUTAL BLOW.

\h\h\hAMERICANS RELY ON
OVERWHELMING FIREPOWER.

AND SOMETIMES, PURE FIRE.

THERE IS STILL BAD BLOOD
\hBETWEEN THE SERVICES.

\h\h\hTHE ARMY ASKS THE
MARINES FOR SOME TANKS.

THEY REFUSE.

\hTHERE ARE STILL
MILITARY MIX-UPS.

AMMUNITION IS GETTING LOW.

PLANNERS HAD USED THE SMALLER
\hMARSHALL AND GILBERT ISLANDS

TO PREDICT THE NEEDS FOR SAIPAN.

\h\h\hBUT SAIPAN HAS BEEN
ANYTHING BUT PREDICTABLE.

IT’S TAKING MORE THAN
\hTHREE WEEKS TO WIN.

\hEVEN AS THE NORTHERN
COAST COMES INTO VIEW,

IT’S NOT COMING EASY.

\hAND THE HUMAN COST, ON BOTH
SIDES, IS ABOUT TO SKYROCKET.

\hCIVILIANS ON SAIPAN FACE
A FINAL, CONFUSING CHOICE.

SURRENDER YOURSELF
OR KILL YOURSELF.

EMPEROR HIROHITO ENCOURAGES
\h\h\hSUICIDE OVER CAPTURE.

\h\h\h\h\h\hMan: THEY HAD BEEN
PRETTY THOROUGHLY BRAINWASHED.

THEY WERE SCARED TO DEATH.

\h\h\hNarrator: WHEN THE WAR
SQUEEZES REMAINING CITIZENS

\h\hTO THE WATER’S EDGE, AN
UNTHINKABLE TRAGEDY UNFOLDS.

\hMan: THAT CLIFF WAS ABOUT
200 FEET DOWN TO THE ROCKS.

\hONE WOMAN HAD A LITTLE BOY
AND SHE JUST FLUNG HIM OUT.

THEN, SHE JUMPED.

\hNarrator: HUNDREDS
TAKE THEIR OWN LIVES

BY JUMPING,

BY GRENADE,

BY KNIFE.

\h\h\h\h\hMan: I WISH I
COULDN’T SEE IT ANYMORE.

BUT I STILL CAN.

\h\h\hNarrator: SURVIVORS
CLING TO A THREAD OF HOPE

- OF LIFE BEYOND WAR.

THE FINAL DAYS ON SAIPAN

\h\hARE LIKE PICKING
THROUGH A MINEFIELD.

HIDDEN GROUPS OF JAPANESE,
\h\h\hEVEN LONE SOLDIERS,

MAKE EVERY STEP UNCERTAIN.

AND THEY HAVE ONE MORE
\h\hSURPRISE IN STORE.

[BUGLE BLARING]

Man: WOULD YOU BELIEVE
A JAPANESE JUMPED OUT

AND PLAYED CHARGE ON A BUGLE?

\h\hGUYS POKED THEIR HEADS
UP OUT OF THEIR FOXHOLES.

SOMEBODY SHOT HIM AND
\h\hTHE BATTLE WAS ON.

[MEN CHEERING]

\h\h\h\hNarrator: SOME 3,000
JAPANESE COME OUT OF HIDING

\h\hAND RACE DIRECTLY AT THE
AMERICANS IN A BANZAI CHARGE

- ONE OF THE LAST FORMS
\hOF HONORABLE SUICIDE.

\hIT’S THE BIGGEST BANZAI
ATTACK OF THE PACIFIC WAR.

MAJOR EDWARD MCCARTHY IS
ONE OF THE FEW OFFICERS

TO SURVIVE IT.

\h\hMan: WE WERE
IN THE FOXHOLES

AND THE JAPS RAN RIGHT OVER US.

IT WAS LIKE A STAMPEDE IN
THE OLD WILD WEST MOVIES.

\h\hIF YOU SHOT ONE, FIVE
MORE WOULD TAKE HIS PLACE.

Narrator: MEN SCRAMBLE
\hTO DEFEND THEMSELVES

\h\hWITH NO SENSE OF
CLEAR BATTLE LINES.

SOME AMERICAN POSITIONS
ARE COMPLETELY OVERRUN.

\h\h\hMan: THIS LITTLE JAP
CAME UP WITH THAT BAYONET

AND IT WENT IN MY ARM
\h\hBETWEEN THE BONES.

Narrator: IT TAKES 24 HOURS
FOR THE JAPANESE TO EXHAUST

THEIR FINAL ATTACK IN
\hTHIS BURST OF BLOOD.

IT’S NOTHING SHORT
\h\hOF A MASSACRE.

\hMANY DIE CLUTCHING THE ONLY
CRUDE WEAPONS THEY HAVE LEFT.

IT’S THEIR LAST REVENGE
\hON THE INVADING FORCE.

ALMOST 1,000 AMERICANS
ARE KILLED OR WOUNDED

IN THIS FINAL OFFENSIVE PURGE.

SURELY, SOME OF THEM WERE
\hON SAIPAN FROM THE START

\h\hAND UPON SEEING
THE NORTHERN COAST,

THOUGHT THEY WERE ALMOST HOME.

ON JULY 12TH, AMERICANS
\h\h\h\hDECLARE VICTORY

IN THE BATTLE FOR SAIPAN.

GENERAL HOLLAND SMITH LEADS
\h\hTHE RAISING OF THE FLAG.

\h\h\hBUT MORE SOMBER CEREMONIES
TAKE PLACE ALL OVER THE ISLAND.

[BUGLE BLARING]

\hAMERICANS SUFFER
ALMOST 3,500 DEAD

AND MORE THAN 10,000 WOUNDED.

THIS IS A FULL 20% OF
\hTHE INVASION FORCE,

ABOUT THE SAME PERCENTAGE
\hAS THE BATTLE OF TARAWA

THE PREVIOUS FALL.

ADMIRAL NIMITZ REALIZES
\h\hTHAT ISLAND HOPPING

ISN’T GETTING ANY EASIER.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMan: THE
ENEMY MET THE ASSAULT

WITH POINTLESS BRAVERY,
\h\h\h\hINHUMAN TENACITY

AND THE WILL TO LOSE HARD.

\hNarrator: JAPAN LOSES THE
ISLAND, BUT LEARNS A LESSON.

\hTHE WAY TO PROLONG
THE AMERICAN ADVANCE

IS TO INFLICT LASTING PAIN.

\h\hTHEY ARE BEGINNING TO
REDEFINE THE PACIFIC WAR.

THE UNITED STATES ISN’T HAPPY
WITH HOW THIS BATTLE UNFOLDED.

THE SERVICES CONTINUE
\hTO BLAME EACH OTHER

FOR SAIPAN’S ERRORS.

THEY HAVE LITTLE
TIME TO REGROUP.

THE BATTLE FOR TWO MORE
ISLANDS IN THE MARIANAS

IS ABOUT TO BEGIN
- TINIAN AND GUAM.

IF SUCCESSFUL, THEY
WILL HAVE AIRFIELDS

WITHIN BOMBING RANGE OF TOKYO,

IF THE B29 IS READY.

\hTHE JAPANESE EMPIRE
IS BEGINNING TO CRACK.

BUT AFTER THEIR BRAVE
\h\hDEFENSE OF SAIPAN,

NO ONE EXPECTS IT TO SHATTER.