Many Americans do not even know that this small string of islands 3800 miles southwest of Hawaii is an American Commonwealth. A lot of people of my generation have never heard of Saipan or Tinian or the Northern Mariana Islands. But I have. I did not move here just to work on a tropical island (there are other islands closer to the mainland that would've been more convenient for that purpose). I wanted to come here, specifically, because of my family history.
My grandfather, Sam Weintraub, who passed away in 1993, served as G-2 (head of security and intelligence) for these islands during World War II. During his service here, he saved the lives of over 500 civilians and enemy soldiers, primarily by developing a method of "psychological warfare," convincing people to surrender instead of killing themselves. Grandpa kept a diary during the war, portions of which are included in Vincent Robilio's book, The Way It Was.
After the war, Grandpa attempted to locate some of the people who he had befriended and/or saved. He made several journeys back to the Marianas and met with survivors in Tokyo. I remember him talking about these trips and speaking fondly of the people he knew in Saipan and Tinian. So part of the reason I wanted to come here was to learn more about my grandfather, and understand what it was about this place that was so special to him.
Even in photographs taken during the war, you can see the fascination in his eyes, his appreciation for his surroundings. Here is a photo of him on a boat during a reconnaissance mission in 1945. Grandpa is the man with the cap on, and I believe that is Tinian Island in the background.
I'm really proud of my Grandpa, and excited to hopefully learn more about him during my time living on the islands that he loved so much.
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