The Pied Piper of Saipan (IV)
A decision-forcing case
This post builds upon three predecessors. Thus, if you have not done so before, you will want to begin by reading them (or, better yet, devising solutions to the problems they present.)
Yesterday, you warned Gabaldon that a second foray into Japanese territory would result in a court martial. This morning, however, as you look at the twelve prisoners brought in by the disobedient young Marine, you experience a change of heart.
‘What you did is madness’, you tell Gabaldon, ‘But you got results. The two prisoners you brought in yesterday told us a great deal about the order-of-battle of the Japanese forces here on Saipan. The twelve you brought in today will probably give us more information of this sort, thereby saving the lives of many Marines. So, once you get cleaned up, we’re going to meet with Lieutenant Sheeks, and talk about ways to make use of your peculiar talents.’
Robert Bruce Sheeks, who served as the division language officer, knew Gabaldon. Indeed, it was he who rejected the young Marine’s request for a transfer into the division language section. Nonetheless, Sheeks thought that Gabaldon’s work would complement the program of propaganda had planned, an effort that would use messages spread by leaflets and jeep-mounted loudspeakers to invite Japanese soldiers to surrender.
You therefore decide to give Gabaldon explicit permission to continue his nocturnal adventures, and, in particular, to roam through Japanese-held territory whenever, and, however, he saw fit.
In the days that followed, Gabaldon brought in additional prisoners. At the same time, he began to replace parts of his uniform with items that he picked up along the way. Thus, rather than wearing his helmet, he often sported a baseball cap of the type worn by sailors of Naval Construction Battalions. Instead of regulation boots, he sometimes wore tabi, rubber-soled sandals of the sort worn by civilians living on Saipan.
In the course of his ‘lone-wolf’ expeditions, Gabaldon added new techniques to his repertoire. Sometimes, he would walk through the jungle, promising food, water, and medicine to anyone who would come out of hiding. On other occasions, he would release prisoners he had taken, instructing them to convince their comrades to join them in American captivity.
You are not entirely sure about the number of Japanese soldiers that Gabaldon convinced to surrender. While he would sometimes escort his prisoners back to American lines, there were occasions when he simply told the men he captured to walk towards American lines waving white shirts.
It was often difficult, moreover, to distinguish between Japanese soldiers and civilian residents of the island. Many of the former, for example, had been issued with khaki shirts and trousers of types worn by employees of the Japanese sugar refinery on the island. Many of the latter, moreover, had been pressed into military service by the Japanese authorities.
That said, a lot of the people brought in by Gabaldon, whether women, children, or old people, could not have been anything other than civilians. You also notice that Gabaldon would often make visits to the camps that American civil affairs units had set up for displaced inhabitants.
On Sunday, 9 July 1944, elements of the 4th Marine Division captured the last Japanese stronghold on Saipan. Later that day, the overall commander of US forces in the Mariana Islands, Vice Admiral Richmond K. Turner, informed his superiors that the island had been secured.
In the days that follow, Gabaldon takes part in patrols sent out in to search for Japanese soldiers who, rather than surrendering, have escaped into the jungle. You, however, devote most of your time to preparations for a new operation, a landing on the nearby island of Tinian.
One of the many chores on your list of things to do concerns the organization of your section. In the days that follow, you will welcome new Marines into your section, promote Marines you deem capable of greater responsibility, and figure out what to do with Guy Gabaldon.
What now, Captain Schwabe?
Please use the comments section to propose answers to this question. I will post the historical solution on Saturday, 28 June 2025.
"You" have made a BIG mistake....
In my universe, the young man is humping a mortar base plate, good luck with this one.
One, modern, Special Operator pointed out that before you can successfully colour outside the lines, you have to understand why the lines are there, and what they mean, and how to colour within them, THEN you can colour outside the lines, think outside of the box.
I'm leaving Guy behind on Saipan during the division's mop up phase as the main effort shifts to the invasion of nearby Tinian. In fact, I'm writing him up for an award (Silver Star). But I think he's reached the end of his contributions to mission accomplishment. His uniform (or lack thereof), trading out his weapon, and his own high estimation of his accomplishments have me worried that he's heading for a big mistake that could detract from our mission.
Given that the Saipan to Tinian attack is a relatively short shore-to-shore movement; I think I can make use of Guy in two ways. First, if we do capture any Japanese defenders, they can be sent back to Saipan for interrogation by Guy. Second, I could always ask to have him sent over if I really need him. Obviously, either of these options requires coordination with and consent by my chain of command. I'll get to work on that now.
As Kenny Rogers said, "you've got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em" etc. In keeping with my "lone wolf" theory, Guy is going to do what he thinks is best, regardless of what is actually needed or what I say. I think he's headed for a big mistake which could cost either his life or the lives of other Marines. I'm trying to avoid that by keeping him on Saipan but keeping my options open in case I'm wrong and we need him.