Remembering Saipan & Korea

2848 EGGD with names.

2009-11-21T17:19:00.001-08:00

This is a photo of the 2848 Engineer Gas Generating Detachment. I tried to get the names so one could figure out who they are. Al

New Korea Photos to be added soon

2008-02-07T13:52:00.001-08:00

Be sure to look in the archives to find the set of Korea pictures! They were added around the 2nd of January.

Saipan -- Daily Target Superfleet Hits 4 Japanese Cities

2008-02-05T18:26:00.000-08:00

Click on the paper to enlarge so you can read it. This newsletter was put out daily, as I remember it was printed by the Army. It kept us apprised of the war effort.

This copy was sent to me by Dave Sylvester.

If my information is not accurate, I hope someone will correct me.

Saipan -- Saipan Beacon June 16:1945

2008-02-05T18:15:00.000-08:00

Click on the paper to enlarge so you can read it!!

This clipping was sent to us compliments of David Sylvester.

Saipan -- Meritorious Service Unit Plaque 2848th

2008-02-05T17:54:00.000-08:00

You can click on this one to enlarge it so it can be read more easily.

This was sent to us compliments of David Sylvester.

Saipan -- Memorial Chapel U.S.Naval Base

2008-02-05T17:20:00.000-08:00

This Memento of the Memorial Chapel was sent to me by Dave Sylvester

who served on Saipan with me.

Saipan -- Bird Island 1992

2008-02-04T21:56:00.000-08:00

This picture of Bird Island was taken by Dave Sylvester when he returned to Saipan in 1992.

Saipan -- 2848 Gas Generating Plants 1945 and 1992

2008-02-04T20:26:00.000-08:00

The first two pictures are of the Gas Generating Plant as it was in 1945, and the third picture was taken by Dave Sylvester when he returned to Saipan in 1992. This is the location of the Oxygen plant, and in fact, he found that the foundation of the building was still there, but the vegetation had clearly taken over the areas. Dave thank you for sharing these photos with us!

Saipan -- B-29 Base (Isley Field) 1945

2008-02-04T20:14:00.000-08:00

Photos compliments of Dave Sylvester

Saipan -- Saipan International Airport 1992

2008-02-04T20:07:00.000-08:00

Saipan International Airport 1992
Photo compliments of Dave Sylvester

Saipan -- 2848 Engineering Gas Generating Detail Men

2008-02-04T19:49:00.000-08:00

Back row--Left to right: Mason, Haak, Reilly, Sylvester and ?

Front row--Left to Right: Carson, Kinzinger, and ?

If anyone looks at these pictures and can help us out with the names of those we can't identify, we would sure appreciate your help!
Photo compliments of Dave Sylvester

Saipan -- 2848 Engineer Gas Generating Plant Personnel

2008-02-04T19:41:00.000-08:00

Dave Sylvester and George Haak

Picture compliments of Dave Sylvester

Saipan -- Chowline

2008-02-04T19:36:00.000-08:00

Jim Thomsen (4th in line), Frank Yakopin (3rd in line),
Dick Stammer (2nd in line), Earl Kinziger (front)

Picture compliments of Dave Sylvester

Saipan -- Sunset over the base

2008-02-03T18:18:00.000-08:00

Saipan -- Roadsign

2008-02-03T18:13:00.001-08:00

Saipan -- Native homes

2008-02-02T19:03:00.000-08:00

Saipan -- Jungle Road

2008-02-02T18:47:00.000-08:00

Saipan -- Saipan Hospital

2008-02-02T18:09:00.000-08:00

The Saipan Hospital (1945). Saipan Blogger tells us this is now a history museum. I appreciate his information to share this current information!

Saipan -- Eli Steinberg

2008-02-02T17:44:00.000-08:00

Eli was a really nice young man! He transferred in after the rest of the 2848 rotated back to the states. He assisted me until all equipment was shut down and I moved in with the Engineer Headquarters "Monkey" to prepare to rotate back to the states also.

Saipan -- Coral Roads

2008-01-30T09:28:00.000-08:00

On the island, they used coral which they quarried, much like we would use gravel for our country roads. The light pink color made the roads really stand out in this picture.

Saipan -- Coral Reef

2008-01-30T08:05:00.000-08:00

Saipan -- Suicide Cliff

2008-01-29T22:47:00.000-08:00

Saipan -- Coral Roads

2008-01-29T21:11:00.000-08:00

Saipan -- Cliffs looking home

2008-01-29T20:44:00.000-08:00

The measurement from the floor of the Marianas Trench to
the crest of Mount Tapotchau is 37,752 feet or 7.15 statute miles,
(from sea level Mount Everest measures 29,028 feet ).

For more info on Saipan: http://www.cnmi-guide.com/info/

Saipan-- Bombed out church

2008-01-29T20:03:00.000-08:00

Saipan -- Bird Island

2008-01-29T17:55:00.000-08:00

Isn't this beautiful? We took these pictures initially as slides and I scanned them so that i could have digital copies. They were pretty scratched, but have cleaned up nicely, don't you think?

Saipan -- Pretty flowered tree

2008-01-29T17:25:00.000-08:00

Saipan -- Al in front of beautiful flowering tree

2008-01-29T06:53:00.000-08:00

Be sure to click on the picture to see it in full size! It is much prettier!!

Saipan -- Ocean cliffs

2008-01-29T06:45:00.000-08:00

This is a note from Tami. I remember looking at these pictures of Saipan and Korea when I was younger. The beauty of this area really touched my heart, it seemed like paradise, but I remember as a child having such a hard time understanding how such beauty and the ugliness and bloodshed of war could exist side by side. I understand now, that God's creation of this world reflects His beauty and war, while it exists is not compatible with His initial purposes.

Saipan -- Al sits in front of Quanset

2008-01-27T21:01:00.000-08:00

Saipan -- Tinian from Saipan

2008-01-27T13:37:00.001-08:00

Saipan -- Sugar Plantation

2008-01-27T13:28:00.000-08:00

The first picture shows a bombed sugar plantation. The statue in the second picture was at the plantation. Saipan was known for growing a very large sugar crop each year.

Saipan -- Wawaii Mars

2008-01-27T13:18:00.000-08:00

This was a plane that brought in supplies to us on a regular basis. There were three large runways on the island, one for the Marines, the Navy and the Army. Click on the picture above to see them in full size view.

Saipan -- Spraying insects

2008-01-27T13:13:00.000-08:00

They sprayed for insects every Monday morning! I don't remember ever seeing any mosquitos on the islands.

Saipan -- Billboards

2008-01-27T12:48:00.000-08:00

These billboards were up all over the island. I am not sure who put them up, but if memory serves me one individual man did them all. I am not sure whether the military sponsored them or not. If anyone knows or remembers, let me know!!

Saipan -- Billboards

2008-01-27T12:28:00.000-08:00

Saipan -- Scenery Part 1

2008-01-27T10:08:00.001-08:00

Saipan - Scenery

2008-01-27T07:50:00.000-08:00

Saipan -- Sgt. Tamsen -- 1st Sgt.

2008-01-27T06:45:00.000-08:00

Saipan -- Saipan Roads

2008-01-27T06:38:00.001-08:00

Saipan -- Open Gate Chalan Canoa

2008-01-26T18:45:00.001-08:00

The native people on Saipan had a fence to keep the Japanese that remained on the island separate. These pictures were kind of a celebration to open the gates. A lot of servicemen came to take pictures. My memory on the details of this are a little sketchy. If anyone can fill me in or correct my memory on this, I would appreciate it.

Saipan -- Gas Generating Plant team

2008-01-24T20:38:00.000-08:00

This picture was quite cracked and faded, so we put up the before and after pictures to show what one can do to repair damaged pictures! Tami loves to work on old pictures and has restored many of them on this blog. If you are interested in having her restore any prints for you, be sure to let her know. tskarin@gmail.com

Saipan -- Memorial Day 1946

2008-01-24T20:19:00.000-08:00

Saipan -- Saipan Hospital (Post Office)

2008-01-24T18:54:00.000-08:00

Saipan -- Coral Reef and Prisoner of War Camp

2008-01-24T10:57:00.000-08:00

Picture 1:
Saipan coral Reef and PW (Prisoner of War) Camp.
The coral reef makes a face where the waves reach the reef, at least I can see it.
I was standing next to an Ammunition bunker on the left side and down below is the Jap War Prison (camp) and I was told that 10,000 Japanese were there at that time.

Picture 2:

Coral pits. They used the coral for mixing with blacktop to make the roads, must in the same way that we have rock quarries here. The sun reflects on the blacktop road and makes it look very bright.

Saipan -- Pat Guercia's Boat

2008-01-23T16:17:00.000-08:00

Pat built this boat while he was over in Saipan. He used parts that he could scavenge, and a truck motor. It worked really well and would get up to 35 miles per hour. He left it behind when he returned home.

Saipan -- Native Goats

2008-01-23T16:09:00.000-08:00

Saipan -- Forbidden Island

2008-01-23T16:06:00.000-08:00

Thank you, Saipan Blogger, for the information that you have provided in helping me to make these pictures as accurate as possible!! We can now change our heading from "Large Rock" to "Forbidden Island."

Saipan -- Pet monkey at Engineering Headquarters

2008-01-23T15:43:00.000-08:00

Saipan -- Native Oxen Driver

2008-01-23T15:39:00.001-08:00

Saipan -- Northern Pacific Base Command

2008-01-23T15:36:00.001-08:00

Saipan -- Native police

2008-01-23T15:29:00.001-08:00

Saipan -- Native man fishing with nets

2008-01-23T15:26:00.000-08:00

Saipan -- Outdoor Theater

2008-01-23T15:06:00.000-08:00

This was an outdoor theater where we watched movies, and there were groups that came over to entertain us from time to time.

Saipan -- My Jeep

2008-01-23T15:01:00.001-08:00

Saipan -- Naval Building in our area

2008-01-23T14:54:00.001-08:00

Saipan -- Quanset Bunk House 1945

2008-01-23T13:51:00.000-08:00

The top two pictures in this set are of me and my bunk area. Those are followed by a view of my desk and work area. I am not sure who the other two bunks belonged to, but they weren't mine. Does anyone recognize the pin-up girls on the wall?

Saipan -- Al exploring the area

2008-01-23T13:17:00.001-08:00

I asked if any of you looking at this recognize this area, can you help me out with some information? And I was so glad to get the following information from the "Saipan Blogger." Thank you so much for your comments:

The top picture looks like Hachiman Jinja in Kagman. It is still around and is taken care of by an old man, Mr. Guerrero.

This is hachiman jinja:http://jetapplicant.blogspot.com/2007/09/nihon-university-visit.htmlIt could also be the shrine in Garapan, excuse me but the name escapes me.

The bottom picture is the old bell tower in Garapan. It is still standing. I've never put a picture of it on my blog, but it stands next to a newer church called Christo Rai Church.

The Saipan Blogger http://jetapplicant.blogspot.com/

Saipan -- Japanese Monuments

2008-01-23T10:22:00.001-08:00

These are monuments that the Japanese built in Saipan. They were like parks with bridges and lots of stuff. Yes made by Japanese that held the Island, I think, when the war started. In the first picture, you can see the jeep that I was issued to use to run errands, etc.

Saipan -- Army Tank

2008-01-23T09:08:00.000-08:00

The first tank is a U.S. tank that did not make it in the invasion. We used to swim in the water there, and used the tank as a diving platform. If I remember correctly, there were three or more under the water. The Saipan Blogger said that these tanks are still there today, and that there are a total of three.

The next one, I think, is a Japanese tank.

The third tank, with the star on it is a U.S. Army tank.

Saipan -- Memorial Chapel

2008-01-23T08:57:00.001-08:00

Saipan -- Marianas University

2008-01-23T08:50:00.000-08:00

The Marianas University was built near the top of the mountain and I used to go after the mail near the university. The army had a big camp up there.

Saipan -- Leperosarium

2008-01-23T08:38:00.000-08:00

Saipan -- Lake Susupi

2008-01-23T05:46:00.000-08:00

Lake Susupi is a fresh water lake on the island surrounded by salt sea water.

Saipan -- Christian Cemetary on Saipan

2008-01-23T05:42:00.000-08:00

This cross is all that was left standing of a Christian Church in Saipan that was destroyed by bombs.

Saipan -- Japanese Shrine

2008-01-23T05:34:00.001-08:00

Saipan -- Japanese AA Gun

2008-01-22T21:19:00.000-08:00

This was a Japanese Anti-Aircraft Gun. It was abandoned by the Japanese when they left the island.

Saipan -- Japanese Train (Locomotive)

2008-01-22T21:11:00.000-08:00

Saipan -- Inside Barracks

2008-01-22T21:10:00.001-08:00

Saipan -- General W.W. Irvine Home

2008-01-22T21:06:00.001-08:00

General W.W. Irvine was the Commander of the Asiatic Pacific War Theater. That "Sandy" haired guy sitting on the stone wall in front of his house is me, Al Sando! There is a pineapple field nearby but it does not show up in this picture.

Saipan -- Farewell Dinner for Joe Reilly and George Haak

2008-01-22T20:58:00.000-08:00

Saipan -- Enemy Cemetary

2008-01-22T20:56:00.000-08:00

Saipan -- Earl Kingsinger, Al Sando, Pat Gguercia

2008-01-22T20:40:00.000-08:00

Saipan -- Deserted Marine Barracks

2008-01-22T20:31:00.000-08:00

Saipan -- Chamorran Men, Women and Family

2008-01-21T15:07:00.000-08:00

Saipan -- Chalan Canoa

2008-01-21T15:06:00.001-08:00

Saipan -- Carbon Dioxide Plant

2008-01-21T15:05:00.001-08:00

Saipan -- Canon on Wheels in Cave

2008-01-21T15:04:00.001-08:00

Saipan -- Barracks 1945

2008-01-21T15:03:00.001-08:00

Saipan -- Amtrack

2008-01-21T15:01:00.001-08:00

Saipan -- Amtrack

2008-01-21T15:01:00.000-08:00

Saipan -- American Made Grass Hut

2008-01-21T15:00:00.000-08:00

Saipan -- Pictures of Al

2008-01-21T14:53:00.000-08:00

Saipan -- 2848th Engineer Gas Generating Detachment

2008-01-21T14:51:00.000-08:00

Saipan -- 2848th Engineer Gas Generating Detachment

2008-01-21T14:48:00.001-08:00

This is a picture of Al in his bunk.

Saipan -- 27th Infantry Division Cemetary

2008-01-21T14:46:00.000-08:00

Saipan -- Island Photos from Quanset

2008-01-21T14:41:00.000-08:00

Saipan -- 4th Marine Cemetary

2008-01-21T14:08:00.000-08:00

Korea -- Two from our office

2008-01-21T14:06:00.001-08:00

Korea -- S-1 Personnel Bunker

2008-01-21T14:05:00.001-08:00

The 2nd bunker i was in and at the top of the hill behind is where I was 1/2 mile behind the battle. That was the S-1 Personnel bunker that I worked in.

Korea -- Bunker Kumhwa 1952

2008-01-21T14:02:00.000-08:00

This was my office where I worked in the Kumhwa bunker. The walls were lined with thick cardboard. You can see how they were bowed.

Korea -- Newspaper Headlines

2008-01-21T13:57:00.000-08:00

Korea Sign

2008-01-21T13:18:00.000-08:00

Al holding up the sign.

Korea Battle

2008-01-21T13:17:00.000-08:00

Korea Buddies

2008-01-21T13:16:00.000-08:00

Korea -- Al by Bunkers

2008-01-21T13:15:00.000-08:00

Korea -- S-1 Area

2008-01-21T13:14:00.000-08:00

Korea -- Kumhwa October 1952

2008-01-21T13:10:00.001-08:00

Korea -- Jane Russell Hill Sept. 29, 1952

2008-01-21T13:08:00.000-08:00

Korea -- Front Line Smoke Cover

2008-01-21T13:07:00.000-08:00