"The Japanese and U.S. Fought the War, We Ended Up Paying the Price": The Indigenous Experience on Saipan During World War II

Abstract

During World War II in the Pacific, the Battle for Saipan became one of the pivotal successes of the United States (U.S). military to turn the tide of war against the Japanese Empire. Unfortunately, this success came at a cost to the residents of the islands. While the Japanese civilian experience has been studied, the indigenous civilians, largely uninvolved in the battle itself, remain overlooked. This thesis will explore the untold stories of the Chamorro and Carolinian civilians particularly through their survival during the battle and their experiences in the U.S. military internment camps. It further explores changes in their livelihood regarding their strong maritime culture and connection with the sea. By collecting civilian oral histories and conducting a Phase I archaeological survey of the camps, this research will serve to fill the academic gap regarding the Battle for Saipan, one of the largest battles in the Pacific to include civilians. It will also contribute to the fields of maritime, community, indigenous, and conflict archaeology.