American Battle Monuments Commission

American Battle Monuments Commission

2300 Clarendon Boulevard, Suite 500

Arlington, VA 22201 USA

Manila American Cemetery 

McKinley Road

Global City, Taguig

Republic of Philippines

tel 011-632-844-0212

email manila@abmc.gov

gps N14 32.483 E121 03

Superintendent, 

American Memorial Park 

P.O. Box 5198 CHRB

Saipan, MP 96950

tel (670) 234-7207

Saipan American Memorial

GPS N15 13.083 E145 43.190 

American Battle Monuments Commission

This agency of the United States government operates 

and maintains 25 American cemeteries and 26 memorials, 

monuments and markers in 16 countries. The Commission 

works to fulfill the vision of its first chairman, General of 

the Armies John J. Pershing. Pershing, commander of the 

American Expeditionary Forces during World War I, promised 

that “time will not dim the glory of their deeds.”

Saipan

American Memorial

The Saipan American Memorial is situated near Tanapag 

Harbor. It lies within the American Memorial Park, at the 

north end of paths leading from other park features.

For more information on this site and other 

ABMC commemorative sites, please visit:

www.abmc.gov

MA

ER

CI AN BATTLE MONUMENTS COM

M SI S OI N

UNITED STATES

OF AMERICA
Saipan American Memorial

June 15, 1944. Navy 

and Coast Guard 

landing craft carrying 

the Marine Corps 

2nd and 4th Divisions 

approach Saipan 

beaches.

June 17, 1944. Soldiers 

of the Army’s 27th 

Infantry Division wade 

ashore to reinforce the 

Marines on Saipan.

Photo: The National Archives Photo: The National Archives

The Saipan American Memorial commemorates the Americans 

and Chamorros who died during the liberation of Saipan, Tinian, 

and Guam from June 15, 1944 to August 11, 1944.

The memorial is a 12-foot rectangular obelisk of rose granite that 

lies within the American Memorial Park, administered by the 

National Park Service. The bells in the adjacent 20-foot carillon 

tower ring every half hour between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p. m. The 

inscription on the obelisk reads:

Seizure of the Marianas was 

essential to the campaigns 

against the Japanese. 

U.S. forces based in the 

Marianas could cut off 

Japanese air and maritime 

support of its units in the 

region. Aircraft based on 

Saipan, Tinian, and Guam 

would be within bombing range of the Japanese home islands. 

Operation FORAGER was conducted to capture those locations. 

this memorial has been erected by the united 

states of america in humble tribute to its sons 

who paid the ultimate sacrifice for the liberation 

of the marianas.

1941-1945

November 23, 1944. 

A B-29 Superfortress 

takes off from Isely Field 

on Saipan for the first 

bombing mission to Tokyo. Photo: The National Archives

June 15, 1944. Marines of the first wave 

landing on Saipan take cover while 

waiting for more waves to arrive.

Photo: The National Archives

June 11, 1944: U.S. Navy carrier-based aircraft began strikes 

against Imperial Japanese aircraft and positions on Saipan. 

June 13: Guns of U.S. Navy ships began pounding Japanese positions.

June 15: The 2nd and 4th Marine Divisions conducted amphibious 

landings along the southwest coast of Saipan. Fierce combat 

ensued against determined Japanese resistance.

June 17: The U.S. Army’s 27th Infantry Division landed in pre-dawn 

hours to join the attack. Japanese counterattacks slowed the advance 

of U.S. forces, but they continued across the breadth of Saipan.

July 9: Saipan was declared secure and its population liberated. 

July 21-August 11: Guam was seized.

July 24-August 1: Tinian Island was seized.

October 12: B-29 Superfortress bombers of the XXI Bomber 

Command began arriving on Saipan.

November 24: 111 B-29 Superfortress bombers flew from Saipan 

on the first raid against Tokyo from the Marianas. 

Hundreds more raids were flown from the Marianas against 

Japan before fighting in the Pacific ended on August 15, 1945.