My Grandfather

[No_Nickname]

Don't really know much about him, as he died before I was born. All I know is he served in the Pacific Campaign on Saipan in the Army (what my dad told me) (did army units participate in that battle?). I want to find out more info about him and the unit he was in and how he helped out during the battle, but I don't know where to start. I think it would have been nice to hear about the war from his perspective but I guess I missed out.

Cheers

No_Nickname

[Wustenfuchs]

Originally Posted by No_Nickname

Don't really know much about him, as he died before I was born. All I know is he served in the Pacific Campaign on Saipan in the Army (what my dad told me) (did army units participate in that battle?). I want to find out more info about him and the unit he was in and how he helped out during the battle, but I don't know where to start. I think it would have been nice to hear about the war from his perspective but I guess I missed out.

Cheers

No_Nickname

Yes indeed Scott, the Army and the Marines both fought on Saipan. Try the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) for more info on your grandfather's service. I'm sure they have a website. Best of luck, Bill.

[No_Nickname]

Thanks Wüstenfuchs

[cyberia]

To your grandfather, Scott... Prosit!

[Jim O]

If you PM me his name and where he enlisted from I can do a little digging for you.If you know any other info like when he was born and/or died that also might help.

As Wüstenfuchs said, Army units were in Saipan and elsewhere in the Pacific as well. It's a myth that the Marines and Navy were the only fighters in the Pacific Theatre of Operations. During World War II the Marines swelled to all of about six divisions while the Army was close to 90 divisions.



As you can see, the 27th and 77th Infantry Divisions, along with the 2nd and 4th Marine Divisions, took part in the Battles of Saipan and Tinian

[Wustenfuchs]

This reminds me of the WW1 Battle of Belleau Wood where a combined force of US Army and Marines won the battle and the Germans figured it was only the Marines that did them in. The Marines got all the press and gained the title of the "Devil Dogs" from the Germans. In fact both the Army and Marines deserved the credit. This has caused a bit of contention between the Army and Marines ever since.