Free Talk on Battle of Saipan Saturday at New York State Military Museum

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Soldiers of the New York National Guard's 105th Infantry Regiment on Saipan during World War II. (New York State Military Museum)

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY (06/02/2014)(readMedia)-- The World War II Battle of Saipan, in which the New York National Guard's 27th Infantry Division fought, will be the subject of a free presentation on Saturday, June 7 at the New York State Military Museum here at 2 p.m.

New York Army National Guard Retired Lt. Col. Paul Fanning, will deliver a 40-minute presentation with slides about the battle and its aftermath.

On June 15, 1944 the 2nd and 4th Marine Divisions conducted assault landings on the island's southwest shore and suffered nearly 2,000 casualties on the first day.

The NY National Guard's 27th Infantry Division, serving as the invasion force reserve, landed in the early morning hours to reinforce the Marines and continue the attack. The battle would cost Japan nearly 30,000 dead and provide the U.S. with airfields for long range bombers to strike the Japanese home islands. More than 3,400 U.S. troops would fall with more than 13,000 wounded.

The New York National Guard's 105th Infantry Regiment, which was located in the Capitol Region, was hit by the largest banzai charge of the Pacific War during this battle.

But there was another casualty of the battle – the relationship between the Marine Corps and the Army. It would be the last time that an Army unit would fall under Marine command during the war.

In command of the Fifth Amphibious Corps was Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Holland M. (Howling Mad) Smith who fired the Army commanding general of the 27th in the middle of the battle. Maj. Gen. Ralph Smith, a career Regular Army Officer, took command of the 27th which had been performing security of the Hawaiian Islands from 1942 into 1943.

His command was readied and then committed to the Gilbert Island campaign in November 1943, would support the invasion of the Marshalls Islands and then was committed to the Mariana Island Campaign in June 1944. Lt. Gen. Holland Smith fired his Army subordinate out of displeasure for the performance of the 27th. But was the 27th not up to the task of taking on the Japanese, or is there more to the story?

Over the years Fanning has conducted his own research and spoken with area veterans about the battle and the impact that the work of one reporter had on shaping impressions and opinions of the battle and the performance of the 27th Infantry Division. The presentation will reflect his research on the topic and his experience as an Army public affairs officer.