The Bones of the WWII Dead in the Caves of Saipan | History Traveler Episode 234

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  • čas přidán 27. 08. 2022
  • The Battle of Saipan had the worst to offer the men who fought there. Heat. Humidity. Mountainous terrain. And caves. Many of the veterans who fought at Saipan would later speak of the horrors involved in clearing the many caves of the Japanese defenders who had fortified themselves inside. In this episode, we're venturing to a few of these hidden caves where we find sobering evidence of what happened here in 1944.
    This episode was produced in partnership with The Gettysburg Museum of History. See how you can support history education & artifact preservation by visiting their website & store at www.gettysburgmuseumofhistory...
    Support the effort to expand history education on PATREON: / historyunderground
    Set yourself up with a 10% DISCOUNT on all Origin gear and nutritional products by entering the code "history10" at www.originmaine.com!
    Other episodes that you might enjoy:
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    - The Fight For Aslito Airfield in the Battle of Saipan | History Traveler Episode 231: • The Fight For Aslito A...
    - WRECKED TANKS & THE WWII INVASION BEACHES OF SAIPAN | History Traveler Episode 230: • WRECKED TANKS & THE WW...
    - WWII Prisoners of the Japanese on SAIPAN | History Traveler Episode 229: • WWII Prisoners of the ...
    - The Attack on PEARL HARBOR (What Many DON'T See) | History Traveler Episode 222: • The Attack on PEARL HA...
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Komentáře • 699

  • @TheHistoryUnderground
    @TheHistoryUnderground  Před rokem +47

    If you've watched a few episodes and feel like I've earned it, be sure to subscribe so that you don't miss any new content when it comes out.
    Also be sure to check out The Gettysburg Museum of History and their store at gettysburgmuseumofhistory.com. Thanks!!!

    • @glenn-wk2by
      @glenn-wk2by Před rokem

      Your latest addition, two full commercials........unable to stop the long ones, will cause me and others to look elsewhere.

    • @TheHistoryUnderground
      @TheHistoryUnderground  Před rokem +5

      @@glenn-wk2by - That’s CZcams. And every person has a different viewing experience. Someone else could watch this video and see zero ads. It all depends on your viewing patterns and what you’ve projected to CZcams.

    • @darrellhampton5057
      @darrellhampton5057 Před rokem +1

      @@glenn-wk2by if THAT is what makes you look elsewhere for content such as this, considering the commercials one has to sit through during prime time tv, it really says A LOT about YOU, not the content or the commercials.

    • @glenn-wk2by
      @glenn-wk2by Před rokem

      @@darrellhampton5057 - I don't watch any commercial television at all. This content is great........I have watched the commercials on CZcams get longer and longer and I wish this wasn't so. I had to sit through 2 several minute commercials for this one. First time ever. You don't know me at all.......and I'm a big fan of history. Shouldn't be so quick to judge. Your comment says a lot about you?

    • @shanereichsr2382
      @shanereichsr2382 Před rokem

      How often are remains still found on the Pacific islands?

  • @joestrangio3603
    @joestrangio3603 Před rokem +114

    I was stationed for 16 months on Guam from 1975-1976 with Delta Company, Marine Barracks guarding the Naval Magazine. After about a year on the island, A few of my Marine buddies and I flew to Saipan for a weekend. We were surprised that there were still boat and landing craft wreckages on the coral reef. We visited Suicide Cliff and Banzai Cliff. It was quite an experience. Thanks for the excellent video.

    • @TheHistoryUnderground
      @TheHistoryUnderground  Před rokem +4

      Thank you. It is quite the place. Got another episode where we go out to one of the tank wrecks in the reef.

    • @allenbuck5589
      @allenbuck5589 Před rokem

      Semper fi.

    • @bryanquichocho1280
      @bryanquichocho1280 Před 4 měsíci

      Thank you for your service and i hope Guam treated you well.🤙🏾

    • @tonyg-2jz82
      @tonyg-2jz82 Před 4 měsíci

      Thank you for your service 🙏

  • @SMichaelDeHart
    @SMichaelDeHart Před rokem +114

    My father (I'm the youngest of 7 siblings) was a Staff Sergeant that served in the 20TH US Army Air Force, 7th Army Air Corp, 414th Fighter/Bomber Group, 413th F/ B Squadron in the South Pacific Campaign on Guam, Tinian, Saipan and Iwo Jima.
    I've many photos that dad took on all 4 islands. There's a lot of burnt/dead Japanese soldiers in many of the photos. Luckily his job was as a Flightline Engineer and Mechanic on the Republic P-47 Thunderbolts, so he was primarily on the airfields. However, 2 of their pilots had their throats slashed on Iwo, after ignoring orders to stay off the beaches after dark. The Japanese soldiers snuck out of the caves and killed them. I remember dad telling his stories late in life before we lost him in '06 at 88yo.

    • @TheHistoryUnderground
      @TheHistoryUnderground  Před rokem +9

      Oh wow. That generation was something else.

    • @SMichaelDeHart
      @SMichaelDeHart Před rokem +9

      @@TheHistoryUnderground definitely the Greatest Generation!! We lost dad in '06 at 88 years old.

    • @imbowser
      @imbowser Před rokem +5

      my dad worked for republic and built many of those planes

    • @SMichaelDeHart
      @SMichaelDeHart Před rokem +6

      @@imbowser dad said they were very well built and hard as steel. Could take an absolute beating and still got the pilot home.

    • @michaelsebourn3425
      @michaelsebourn3425 Před rokem +2

      my papaw faught in the japan war army tech 5

  • @trevorpotter7226
    @trevorpotter7226 Před rokem +8

    My mother-in-law grew up on Saipan. We visited recently. She taugh tmy kids a Chamorro blessing to say when and if they found remains on the island. Never disturb the remains she said, and pray for the souls of those you find.

  • @terryeustice5399
    @terryeustice5399 Před rokem +33

    Amazing after 80 years finding human remains. This kind of a sad moment. The horror of war. Thank you for sharing!

    • @TheHistoryUnderground
      @TheHistoryUnderground  Před rokem +3

      Sobering.

    • @pattyeverett2826
      @pattyeverett2826 Před rokem +5

      There are several CZcams channels about metal detecting on the eastern front in Europe. Skeletons are found all the time by these people, some still wearing their helmets. Remains are also still found on WWI battlefields and, just recently, human remains were found from the battle of Waterloo. Back in the 1980s, remains from the battle of Little Bighorn in Montana were found. Finding human remains where battles have been fought is pretty common.

  • @markl4670
    @markl4670 Před rokem +11

    My Uncle(my Fathers brother) served with the British 45th recce. in the Chindits. He was killed in action fighting the Japanese in Burma in 1944, near their base at 'white City'. The jungle fighting was horrific, along with all the tropical diseases that many soldiers caught. His unit suffered 90% casualties during their campaign in Burma. His body was never retrieved.
    A month later, two of my Fathers cousins were killed whilst fighting the Germans in Italy( Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry and 17th/21st Lancers). Due to the delay in getting information from the far east, his family received all three telegrams informing them, the same week.
    Great Channel, by the way. :)

    • @wirelessone2986
      @wirelessone2986 Před 4 měsíci

      Sorry to hear that hada dear friend in the CBI under Stillwell...had high casualties,and starved

  • @fredsato7778
    @fredsato7778 Před rokem +36

    Being a local of the island, our elders always told us not to disturb the remains or any artifacts of the war. We were always told to just show respect, whether American or Japanese. Some of my elders died in the battle, so it hits close to the heart of the fear the civilians had to endure from the two sides exchanging fire.

  • @roadlizardcu8664
    @roadlizardcu8664 Před rokem +51

    Solemn within the walls of those caves, the gentleman with you from the island was sweating a great deal and he would have been more accustumed to the climate which says a lot about just how humid it was at the time. For all involved it was an horrific time period and many am sure were affected deeply by the events that occurred there. Thank you, another wonderful video completed respectfully.

  • @darrellhampton5057
    @darrellhampton5057 Před rokem +29

    JD, of all the coincidences to have, Ive been at Camp Lejeune, NC, home of the 2nd Marine Division. Took my girlfriend to the beach, and one of the lifeguards on duty is a Saipan native kid who always wanted to join the Marines because of the stories the elders in his family told him of the Marines bravery on Saipan, and how hard they worked to protect the natives and how well thet treated them. And ofcourse I told him of your channel and series of late about his home. He was ecstatic, and said his father and grandfather took him to a lot of those caves you went to. The kids as proud to be a Marine as any American native I met. Thanks for your time, I thought youd get a kick out of this.

    • @MamaThornhill
      @MamaThornhill Před rokem

      I'm at Lejeune too. It's nice to know we are interested in the same history

  • @anthonybird546
    @anthonybird546 Před 3 měsíci +2

    I'm doing work on Saipan right now and we're finding so many unexploded munitions and we're not even doing anything related to the war. There's just so much war material buried here. I heard there were some people on the island poking into the caves to look at the remains of peoples horrifying ends.

  • @apacifistmachinegunner669

    When I was in the United States Marine Corps I was fortunate enough to attend the 60th anniversary of the battle of Iwo Jima it was life-changing. Got to see both American and Japanese soldiers reconciling

    • @Setton_Exile
      @Setton_Exile Před 4 měsíci

      All those Men, Both American & Japanese were just 18-20 something year olds just doing their duty.

  • @swtexan6502
    @swtexan6502 Před rokem +36

    I was able to examine one of the caves along the Shuri line on Okinawa that was used as a hospital. Very claustrophobic even without having people shoot at you. I really did appreciate learning the history and seeing the reverence that the people of Okinawa gave to those who passed in the cave. Great job, as always, JD!

    • @TheHistoryUnderground
      @TheHistoryUnderground  Před rokem +4

      Wow! Definitely want to get to Okinawa at some point.

    • @swtexan6502
      @swtexan6502 Před rokem +2

      @@TheHistoryUnderground You're definitely going to have to watch your head there as well, JD!

  • @MidMo4020
    @MidMo4020 Před 4 měsíci +9

    My grandpa was in the second marines in WW2 and was at Saipan. Seeing videos like this is very surreal. He was one that never spoke of the war unless he was around other vets. He was a great man and to this day the most moving thing I ever saw was the Marine honor guard laying him to rest and the sound of “Taps” on the bugle..🇺🇸

  • @frenchfan3368
    @frenchfan3368 Před rokem +9

    Wow! I don't think this has ever been covered anywhere on CZcams. Seeing the bones of the remains of Japanese soldiers/civilians is simply chillling. Thank you so much for covering this J. D.

  • @brandon779
    @brandon779 Před rokem +8

    Excellent job! As a history buff myself, I really appreciate your knowledge and explanation throughout each video. People really need to know the historical significance of events that preceded them, to appreciate the sacrifice of the brave men and women that gave all for their respectable countries.

  • @stephenrrose
    @stephenrrose Před rokem +6

    Respectfully and well done JD! I can't imagine being ordered to go clear a cave! Humbling for sure and history that should never be forgotten or repeated! Stay safe Brother!

  • @khiem1939
    @khiem1939 Před rokem +8

    As a young Marine stationed on Okinawa starting in 1959, we used to do squad tactics on Camp Sukiran in an area we called Habu Canyon, it was filled with bunkers, rusted weapons, some unexploded ammunition and the remains of dozens of Japanese soldiers left there from WWII, which just ended 14 years before! Of course mingled with their remains were those of many Okinawan civilians who had been killed during the battle or were buried in the numerous small caves where they traditionally buried their dead, other than remnants of Japanese uniforms, there was really no way to tell the difference!

  • @dougwatt6303
    @dougwatt6303 Před rokem +3

    This Saipan series is phenomenal! Great work & thank you for showing so much respect for those brave young men.

  • @1psychofan
    @1psychofan Před rokem +4

    Wow! I love this episode…this is incredible! Seeing inside the caves, finding the artifacts and bones…WOW! This is incredible!!

  • @drewlear1585
    @drewlear1585 Před rokem +1

    Best one yet, JD. Thank you for reminding us that war is never glamorous. Keep up the good work!

  • @michaeldouglas1243
    @michaeldouglas1243 Před rokem +7

    J.D. did you notice the Japanese jika- tabi sole at the approx 7:20 time frame? Wow. Really brings in a connection to the bones. Unreal. Thank you for traveling all over the world for us.

  • @Jerry-fn5nx
    @Jerry-fn5nx Před rokem +14

    Wow! I can't imagine having been ordered to go in and clear those caves. Horrifying is the right word to describe it

  • @olentangy74
    @olentangy74 Před rokem +1

    Another excellent addition to your series on Saipan. I wish during the 6 days I spent there in the 70’s that I such a knowledge guide as the gentleman who accompanied you.
    A very dramatic close of your video with the shot of suicide cliff.
    Very well done, JD!

  • @corbinbacon9043
    @corbinbacon9043 Před rokem +7

    I'm impressed 👍. I read the word caves and figured you would have hit your head right off the bat.. yet, a whole episode and no egg scrambles! Job well done 🙂

  • @Gascan26
    @Gascan26 Před rokem

    Sobering!! The hell these men on both sides is unimaginable. Thank you again for the Saipan series.

  • @leondraw1766
    @leondraw1766 Před rokem +1

    You've done a really great job on this series. Very thorough and engaging.

  • @jeffe9842
    @jeffe9842 Před rokem +10

    A very haunting video, JD. I can't imagine going in and not knowing what was to be found inside. I imagine grenades and flame would be sent in first, but, even so, this would have been the scariest moment of any marine's or soldier's life. Thanks for the post and very well done.

  • @tinlizzie
    @tinlizzie Před rokem +24

    It is somewhat frightening to realize what the thought process was for the Japanese - they would rather die. So very sad indeed. Thank you Fred for sharing your knowledge. I am the child of s WWII veteran who spent his time mostly in Germany once the war was officially over. Thank you for sharing these realities with us.

    • @misterbaker9728
      @misterbaker9728 Před rokem +1

      That’s what happens when your indoctrinated from birth to serve them emperor

    • @TheHistoryUnderground
      @TheHistoryUnderground  Před rokem +2

      Anybody who is watching this video owes a lot to Fred. He was invaluable on this trip.

    • @codyclem7146
      @codyclem7146 Před rokem +1

      If I remember correctly one of the reasons they would have rather died is because they were told if we captured them we were going to rape and torture them So a lot of them would kill themselves andoves and jump off cliffs into the ocean and what not

    • @boondocker7964
      @boondocker7964 Před rokem +1

      @@TheHistoryUnderground Hope you gave him a generous tip for his help.

    • @aa2339
      @aa2339 Před rokem

      Know their religion, or even irreligion, then know their thought process.

  • @dave3156
    @dave3156 Před rokem +1

    JD you have done an exceptional job covering this battle! Great work and thanks for sharing with us!!

  • @bomaratita6363
    @bomaratita6363 Před rokem +2

    I live on saipan and i did not know that there was still caves with bones still inside. Thank you for covering the history here on saipan. These episodes were really well produced , i got chills from this episode as well. Love the content ❤❤❤ will share your channel to a bunch of people here.

  • @lthom5158
    @lthom5158 Před rokem

    Horrific, somber, riveting video! The music was perfect. Such a tragic place! Your treatment of the human remains was very respectful. Thank You for another great video!

  • @robynw6307
    @robynw6307 Před rokem +1

    Of all the amazing finds you've made on Saipan, Fred is the best. What a wealth of geographical knowledge to get you to the "out of the way" places.

  • @johnhough9593
    @johnhough9593 Před rokem +5

    I visited Iwo Jima around ‘88’ on a field trip for winning Marine of the quarter in my unit on Okinawa. Maybe 75 of us went. Very fascinating, but what impressed me most was that on the spot where we raised the flag on Mt. Suribaci, there’s a nice little plaque placed by the USA to commemorate the moment… and I suppose our fallen. The Japanese, on the other hand, had monuments and banners everywhere on that peak. I thought it very poignant how they honored their war dead so thoroughly, and at such a remote place, as well. And they lost!

  • @adammitchell3462
    @adammitchell3462 Před rokem +3

    I love this newly discovered channel, it's the perfect way for someone who hasn't really traveled to see and experience amazing things

  • @bradmiller3367
    @bradmiller3367 Před rokem +15

    I can only imagine the feeling of being in the presence of bones; i know the feeling for visiting sites such as Little Big Horn and the like, and that must be magnified at least ten-fold. No matter the side, what the soldiers endured is frankly amazing.

    • @TheHistoryUnderground
      @TheHistoryUnderground  Před rokem +4

      Pretty sobering.

    • @all.day.day-dreamer
      @all.day.day-dreamer Před rokem +8

      Well, depending on your mindset, it could mean a lot of different things. I've seen some very terrible things and for me personally, sadness wasn't my first thought or emotion, it was, I am glad that wasn't me. But to each his own. However, sadness and sorrow for the family, the Mother especially does come in the quiet times to haunt me. Seeing / doing these things also changes people. I know after my service in the military. I could no longer hunt. I still fish, but I never ever wanted to go hunting again. This cave is both a warning and and a message for those that are willing to listen, a long fruitful life filled with love and purpose is far more important than throwing young lives to an eternal blackness.

    • @bradmiller3367
      @bradmiller3367 Před rokem +1

      @@all.day.day-dreamer Mindset and experiences, then. I have never been in combat, have never been called to Serve, other than after 9/11, then I was one year too old, at least for the Marines.
      Having read enough of first hand experiences, I at least understand, if not fully, where you are coming from.

  • @Jenjane55
    @Jenjane55 Před rokem +3

    Your videos are the best history lesson ever. I wish I had a teacher like you when I was in school. Back then I napped in class.

  • @yanzhao7298
    @yanzhao7298 Před rokem

    This channel is awesome. He is unbiased and doesn’t try to push a perspective.

  • @Carolbearce
    @Carolbearce Před rokem +1

    Thank you for going to those places and sharing the history of them with us. I cant imagine the horrors for those Marines to clear these caves.

  • @lappin6482
    @lappin6482 Před rokem

    Wow...this episode was sobering....much respect for what you are doing

  • @davidmathie8360
    @davidmathie8360 Před rokem

    Great video JD. and quite horrific. The ending was heartbreaking .

  • @lizlittle1641
    @lizlittle1641 Před rokem +1

    Wow! Thanks JD for another amazing and sobering video.

  • @skimmer8774
    @skimmer8774 Před rokem +1

    Talk about fear. Clearing any of those caves would make me one scared marine. In Vietnam, troops had to do same with tunnels. Great video.

  • @simmonsfoursome
    @simmonsfoursome Před rokem +1

    Thanks to you and Fred for creating such a reviting narrative of this battle. I hope more people listen to this since our country's history is being erased or edited due to other's feeling offended or hurt. The stories have to be told so the younger generations have an understanding of what was fought for and so they understand their grandparents trials and tribulations. It is not glamorous or full of joy, - it's real self-sacrifice that only a few truly know. Again, thank you!

  • @VercenGetorix525
    @VercenGetorix525 Před rokem

    wow... the bones are definitely sobering, to say the least. Beyond that, this is a super interesting video, thanks for sharing. Fred seems like a good guy too. thanks to him as well.

  • @reloadncharge9907
    @reloadncharge9907 Před rokem

    Amazing episode, thank you. Andrew

  • @jimcronin2043
    @jimcronin2043 Před rokem +6

    Clear illustration of how different the war was in the Pacific versus Europe.

  • @helenabiesma5560
    @helenabiesma5560 Před rokem +2

    it absolutely dreadful what happened here - but they had a job to do - brilliant reflective moments in dreadful conditions - lovely done as usual

  • @corbinbacon9043
    @corbinbacon9043 Před rokem +7

    Those trees are amazing 🤩, thank you once again for taking me to a place il never be able to go on my own! Safe travels my friend.

    • @TheHistoryUnderground
      @TheHistoryUnderground  Před rokem

      Glad to share the experiences. Thank you.

    • @RicardoRMedina
      @RicardoRMedina Před rokem +1

      @@TheHistoryUnderground The tree's scientific name is "Delonix Regia", a native tree from Madagascar. They are all over the Pacific and Caribbean islands.

  • @jondoe399
    @jondoe399 Před rokem +1

    Very impactful JD, thank you.

  • @barbaragravely920
    @barbaragravely920 Před 11 měsíci

    My Father in Law was doing everything to stay alive, not mentioning the Horifying stories that kept him awake at nights from the nightmares he had everyday of his life .He was a lifer as soon as i seen those caves and the name im in tears from his life after battles like other men who had came home they did not want to talk about it they rather wanna forget but it says alot what the men had seen and done .Thank you so much for this explore . This says it all why today we are alive and sharing the history ! Without them we would not be able to.:) Semper-FI

  • @copsrobertsokl5127
    @copsrobertsokl5127 Před rokem +1

    These videos from ww2 are very interesting and informative because I've heard of Saipan, but never knew about this conflict I guess you'd call it. Thank you again J.D. for what you do.

    • @TheHistoryUnderground
      @TheHistoryUnderground  Před rokem +1

      My pleasure. Hope that people are sharing these videos so that others can learn as well.

  • @brianb7701
    @brianb7701 Před rokem +2

    JD, sorry I haven’t been liking or commenting lately. Been very busy with our new house and having a baby girl. I commented on one of your videos about a year or at least 10 months ago and asked when you’d get over to the pacific. Needless to say, I’m EXTREMELY happy to stumble across your recent videos again and see that you have made your way over there. Keep the videos coming man. They are incredibly interesting I watch every second of every video with my full attention. Thanks brother!

    • @TheHistoryUnderground
      @TheHistoryUnderground  Před rokem +1

      Thanks! And congrats on the new house and baby girl. That’s definitely worthy of much more of your attention than some redneck with a camera.

  • @diggler5319
    @diggler5319 Před rokem +1

    Amazing video as always! Impressed by your anatomy skills as you name drop all the bones!

  • @91Redmist
    @91Redmist Před rokem

    Wow. I can't even imagine being you going into those things and seeing bones of military dead from the battle. Chilling.

  • @rogerkiser5108
    @rogerkiser5108 Před 5 měsíci

    Great video. Very informative and respectful

  • @darkoflight4938
    @darkoflight4938 Před rokem +3

    Sobering indeed! Strange that remains still can be found in the caves after all these years.

  • @meganobrien9862
    @meganobrien9862 Před rokem +2

    JD, such great content. Your channel is one of my favorites, and I have used a few of your videos in my history class. I also saw your interview on WW2TV, and I hope you do shows like that in the future. I have two quick questions, and sorry if you did answer them in the video and I missed it. 1. Is there any idea how many remains have been removed from the caves? 2. Does the Island of Saipan designate these caves as cemetery sites due to the remains still within them? Thanks again for all of your hard work and passion for history!

    • @TheHistoryUnderground
      @TheHistoryUnderground  Před rokem +1

      Dang. I’m actually not sure on either one of those questions. Thanks for watching though!

  • @pastorlance1
    @pastorlance1 Před rokem +1

    I appreciate your videos these are places a lot of us will never be able to go to ourselves but you make it feel as though we are there with you seeing these sights.

  • @foovampire
    @foovampire Před rokem

    I was a member of the Marine honor guard on saipan in 1994 for the 50th anniversary of the battle and got to walk the island with some of the veterans. A truly humbling experience

  • @adammitchell3462
    @adammitchell3462 Před rokem +1

    I'd like to thank history traveler for introducing me to the Gettysburg museum of history because I've ordered myself 2 artifacts, one from Omaha beach as well as another piece that is thought to be from the 82nd airborne but was definitely from American airborne on D-Day. To most,these items would appear to be common trash but to me they're incredibly special. Thanks, I can't wait to aquire myself some more items!

  • @TheLadyT23
    @TheLadyT23 Před rokem +1

    The view of those soldiers with flame throwers is sad and sobering :(

  • @judygrandstrand9784
    @judygrandstrand9784 Před rokem +1

    Incredible footage. What a story the bones tell, even today.

  • @thomasshaw61
    @thomasshaw61 Před 6 měsíci

    AWESOME!Thanksfor sharing!

  • @Ziggle
    @Ziggle Před rokem +2

    I bet that was a weird feeling seeing those remains. Thank You for sharing your travels!

  • @mamab4211
    @mamab4211 Před rokem

    I really appreciate the clips and pictures to help us see what it was like back then. Thank you! I’m glad you didn’t hit yourself in the head this time 🥴😉. Thanks for taking us along 🫶🏼

  • @happydays2300
    @happydays2300 Před rokem +55

    I was at Verdun took a photo of one of the bone cellars beneath the memorial building, won two first place photo awards in my division at DU's Foreign Language Festival later that year. With a little old Kodak Instamatic camera. I know because I just found the certificates. So much has gone forward in the area of DNA testing that all those anonymous, and jumbled human remains, could be identified, given enough time.

    • @TheHistoryUnderground
      @TheHistoryUnderground  Před rokem +10

      Pretty wild.

    • @SpartansAndHeroes
      @SpartansAndHeroes Před rokem +5

      I would love to see these photos

    • @user-ml3dp9hq7o
      @user-ml3dp9hq7o Před rokem

      Can we see those photos EVER dude ??

    • @happydays2300
      @happydays2300 Před rokem

      @@user-ml3dp9hq7o Truthfully, I have never posted a photo onto a youtube comment. I don't see how. I have here the certificates, in my album, but NOT the actual photos, this is my album with family photos and baby pictures and achievements. Those photos of the bones, piled up with a skull on top, were grisly. They are buried deep in my collection. Tell you what, if they surface, as bones are wont to do now and then, I will post them on my "homepage" here on youtube, AND come tell you about it.

    • @happydays2300
      @happydays2300 Před rokem

      @@user-ml3dp9hq7o Nope. Illegal. Human Remains. I learned that then. They asked me carefully where I was when I took them. That is how I know, among other ways.

  • @mark-ib7sz
    @mark-ib7sz Před rokem +1

    Just excellent!!! Thank you very much for the fine content.

  • @stevecushman2830
    @stevecushman2830 Před rokem +1

    My father was a motor machinist mate on a landing craft in WWII Pacific. He only talked about his battle experience once. When researching his ship's operation during WWII I found that it was only involved in one invasion, Saipan. As he described it it must have been terrifying. His landing craft was hit by an artillery shell after it hit the beach. The experience was made more terrifying because, he spent a night on the beach before he caught a ride back to his ship. His ship spent more time transporting POW's & supplies. P.S. One of my grandsons is proud he received his motor machinist rating because he had been told about his great grandfather's MOS in WWII. Dad passed in 1985 just short of his 65th birthday.

  • @SoCal780
    @SoCal780 Před rokem +1

    Another great video, very interesting discoveries on your part. Saipan is truly quite a beautiful place. Hard to believe that so much horror and death occurred there.

  • @JJherne
    @JJherne Před rokem +1

    A truly outstanding series. If you’ve never read them I whole heartedly recommend Ian W. Toll’s trilogy of books about the war in the Pacific.

  • @leviwestphal4525
    @leviwestphal4525 Před rokem

    This man is living my dream. I would do anything to travel & see all this history.

  • @cyndiebill6631
    @cyndiebill6631 Před rokem +2

    It’s like plowing the fields or walking in the woods of the Civil War battlefield after the war. You know you could find remains just by plowing or walking through the woods. Nothing has really changed.
    Thank you 👍😊

  • @jimwiskus8862
    @jimwiskus8862 Před rokem +2

    JD thank you for another incredible video. Thanks again to your colleague Fred who guided you. It’s so great, that the authorities will properly take care of these remains and maybe even try to identify them? Thank you for differentiating between the naturally formed caves and those that were hewn by the Japanese troops. I often wondered that, if they were all naturally formed or if some were man-made. I got to thinking too, who knows how many soldiers and perhaps even civilians are entombed in caves that were perhaps collapsed during the bombardment before the Marines landed. That will probably never be known. See you on the next installment!

    • @TheHistoryUnderground
      @TheHistoryUnderground  Před rokem +1

      To my knowledge, they will only be able to identify the nationality. I don’t think that they go as far as to find family connections.

  • @ForresterCurtis
    @ForresterCurtis Před rokem +1

    Keep up the amazing work JD. These are some amazing blogs. I’m so glade that you’re finally able to get to the pacific theater.

  • @thomasanthony9374
    @thomasanthony9374 Před rokem

    Wow. That's absolutely nuts!

  • @paulapridy6804
    @paulapridy6804 Před rokem +2

    My heart hurts thinking about what the combatants(and civilians) on each side we're experiencing. RIP all of them.

  • @joshua.snyder
    @joshua.snyder Před rokem

    My grandfather served on Saipan in the immediate months after its end. The cave inspections and cleanup continued for a long time. People hid there for months, and fought for months after.

  • @laboyy
    @laboyy Před rokem

    Hey Fred, it's nice to see you again. Yup I still remember the bone cave. Take care

  • @premierhoner614
    @premierhoner614 Před 4 měsíci

    WOW!!! Enjoing your videos. I find it very interesting and for a history buff like myself, it's like food for the soul. Keep up the good work. From Capetown South Africa.... 😅😅

  • @danieljakekaipat6156
    @danieljakekaipat6156 Před rokem +2

    I live here. I am a thrill seeker and sometimes I'd camp a night or two in these caves. What a thrill. Pitch black darkness and an eerie sense like somethings watching you. Whew! Especially the noises at night.

    • @TheHistoryUnderground
      @TheHistoryUnderground  Před rokem +1

      😳

    • @bryanquichocho1280
      @bryanquichocho1280 Před rokem +1

      It's probably the Taotaomona bro 🤙🏾. The only caves I've been into here on Guam is man made near the superior court, and the only things we saw were some homeless people living in there.

  • @robertmoyer175
    @robertmoyer175 Před rokem +2

    The scenes of the individuals operating the flame throwers had significant meaning for me since my father operated one in WWII. He injured on Guam, and the only thing he ever said was how bad the smell was.

  • @thomaslovejoy4368
    @thomaslovejoy4368 Před 4 měsíci +1

    lot's of terrible things happened there, but I love that island. Have dreamed of living there, was stationed in the area in the Coast Guard, a history buff + scuba diver - it was paradise to me

  • @captainsensiblejr.
    @captainsensiblejr. Před rokem

    I am greatly enjoying your channel.

  • @jaredevildog6343
    @jaredevildog6343 Před rokem +1

    Awesome video. Thank you.

  • @scottallen1228
    @scottallen1228 Před rokem

    Excellent job a lot of information thanks

  • @MrWisconsinLeather
    @MrWisconsinLeather Před rokem +1

    Thank you for this WWII Pacific Theater series JD. What strikes me the most is the different ‘feel’ I get from what you’ve shown. These Pacific battles and fighting tactics and basic mindset of the soldiers seem more ‘brutal’ or ‘sacrificial’, for lack of any better words and not meant to be disrespectful, than the more ‘classic’ style of warfare in Europe. WWII history taught in school seemed more focused on Europe than on the Pacific campaigns, but what little was mentioned touched on a greater furiosity of the Imperial Japanese soldiers. Maybe it’s the jungle setting or a difference in cultures at the time, but from what you’ve shown so far it definitely does demonstrate that the European and Pacific theaters were so vastly different from each other.

    • @TheHistoryUnderground
      @TheHistoryUnderground  Před rokem +2

      I’m hoping that these videos will be shared so that people can get a better idea of what happened there.

  • @billharshaw4739
    @billharshaw4739 Před rokem +1

    I've been waiting for this one!! Yes!!

  • @stevencoons450
    @stevencoons450 Před rokem

    Awesome! I was there in 1990. I went searching for artifacts and found some stuff that I sent to my Grandfather...whom was there. I had had dinner with Guy Gabaldon and showed me his film footage of his time on Saipan. What a nice guy and a treasure to saving human lives.

  • @anitatucker8812
    @anitatucker8812 Před rokem +1

    A very sombering experience. I even felt fear as you took the camera through the brush abd entered these caves. As I watched I remembered my mother saying they all thought the world was coming to an end during the war.

  • @thebattlefieldhistorian8990

    Excellet video. I spent quite a bit of time exploring caves while living in Okinawa a few years ago and saw many of the same things you found during your trek in Saipan--bullet casings, broken bottles, shoe soles, unexploded ordnance, and bones. They are the last physical reminders of the horrifying and sad events that happened there. Did you happen to notice any evidence of flamethrowers in the caves while you were in Saipan? Frequently in Okinawa, we could see darkened rock in cave entrances and along the upper halves of tunnels where flames had created a sort of soot as they rushed inside.

  • @captainsensiblejr.
    @captainsensiblejr. Před rokem +1

    This is an excellent channel.

  • @benjaminrush4443
    @benjaminrush4443 Před rokem +1

    As Always. Great. Thank you.

  • @dawndickson2156
    @dawndickson2156 Před rokem

    This series is intense.

  • @polmick
    @polmick Před rokem

    Excellent Thanks

  • @Madeintexas80
    @Madeintexas80 Před rokem +3

    I know this is not part of the caves BUT my Grandad rushed the beach. I wonder where else he went? As a Marine. He refused to talk. One of My favorite people.

  • @jackyandell2489
    @jackyandell2489 Před rokem +1

    I remember it was 1967, I was in my Dad's garage working on my car and he stopped me, looked into my eyes as ha never had before, I was 18 yrs.old. He had served in the 6th. Army in the retaking of the Phillipines, Vietnam was raging , he looked at me and said, I don't want you to go through what I did. That's all he said and he walked away. I enlisted and he was so proud that morning he dropped me off at the Induction Center downtown L.A.

    • @Luis-bo2uj
      @Luis-bo2uj Před 4 měsíci +1

      so, did ya killed lot of kids in vietnam?

  • @philthefriendlyfrog
    @philthefriendlyfrog Před rokem +1

    Respectful...really like the way you tread lightly...and you didnt bang your head ..well done

  • @nicktozie6685
    @nicktozie6685 Před rokem

    Incredible history

  • @fastone942
    @fastone942 Před rokem +2

    MY dad was stationed at Andersen Air Force Base Early 1970 when they were flying the B 52 strikes over north Vietnam at that point it had been about 27 years since World War II ended it’s amazing what we found in the caves including rifles and pistols that were still usable every time there was heavy rain or tropical typhoon some stuff became exposed that originally been blown shut especially on base which was off-limits to the locals sometimes they look like we were the first people of been in there for decades. And looking back so amazing we didn’t kill ourselves playing some of the stuff we found

  • @williambabbitt1204
    @williambabbitt1204 Před rokem +2

    Thanks for bringing me along on all your journeys and helping me to learn things that I didn't think I knew. Really war games nothing, much more is destroyed than just soldiers guns weapons and land. God bless that small child, God has pity on his mother.