Moe" and "Joe", these were the nicknames given to two prisoners by members of the 1st platoon of 1/C/23, 4th Marine Division. These two men were among 50 or more prisoners that surrendered to our company on or about 6 July 1944 during the battle for Saipan.

The incident began on a day that was hot and humid, especially in the dense undergrowth through which we had to advance. As we worked our way closer to the coastline we entered an area of massive rock formations, into which many civilians, "Chamorros" and others including some Japanese soldiers had taken refuge. It was evident that the ocean had at one time and over long periods of time washed the sand and vegetation away from around the huge rock formations that remained. These rocks ranged from 8 to 10 feet high, many of them had the lower ends ground away which made large areas in which numbers of people had since the start of the invasion, sought protection from the war as well as from the weather. Over the tops of these gigantic boulders was a canopy of vines and above the vines were the tops of trees that totally concealed the space from aerial photos and reconnaissance; and from view of our supporting covering fire. The spaces between the boulders allowed bullets and shell fragments to penetrate and ricochet through the area but under the eroded spaces under many of the boulders provided good protection from shrapnel. Marine machine gun positions to our rear supported our advance with sporadic overhead fire through the underbrush on our approach to the well concealed area.

As we moved from the thicket into the boulders apparently the Japanese soldiers that had been there fled for we encountered no enemy troops. Meanwhile we began encountering groups of civilians, of all ages from infants to the elderly who we took into custody. There among these boulders were many American green water cans and ration cartons scattered around the unorganized camp. How those supplies got there we never learned but they were there. As far as I know we had no communication link with our machine gunners that were providing overhead fire and they had no way of knowing what conditions we had found. Periodically our machine guns continued to fire overhead bursts. Some of these bursts fell short and bullets went ricocheting off the boulders all around us and our prisoners. It was mass hysteria when it happened with everybody dropping to the ground including yours truly and the rest of our squad, staying there until the ricochets stopped whizzing around. Even though no one was hit that I was aware of, the experience was very nerve racking. At one point I was so fed up with the friendly fire I shouted that if it didn't stop I'd fire back. But it stopped.

We continued to gather more and more prisoners as we pressed forward in and around all the room like areas among the boulders. There was no large clearing in which to assemble our prisoners so our control of them was possible in good part because they were ready to be taken into custody. It is possible that some could and may have escaped us, as there were far more of them than of us. When we could find no more, we began our trek back toward our command post. As mentioned, we had more prisoners than we could reasonably control or attempt to count in this maze of boulders and undergrowth.

At the command post our prisoners and others were assembled in a clearing. Trucks were called, to transport prisoners as soon as possible but it seemed hours passed before they arrived. It was near dusk when they did and the prisoners were loaded unto those trucks. With the trucks filled to overflowing, there remained two oriental male prisoners and no space for them. We were told by Division, that we'd have to hold these two until the next day. The job of holding them fell upon the 1st platoon, whether these two had been brought in by our squad or not. If they had been in the group from the boulder area, I had no recollection and there being so many my attention had not been drawn to anyone in particular.

Even though we had not been in a firefight with enemy soldiers that day, it had been a bad day with the heat, the friendly fire and the prisoners. None of us were in favor of this guard duty. We had enough of prisoners for one day and wanted to get some much needed rest. Among ourselves we said if anything developed during the night because of these two prisoners or if an enemy attack should come, disposing of the prisoners would be the first action and they would not see the sunrise in the morning. As I recall, we built a small fire to provide light and kept the prisoners where they could be seen in the light from the flame or embers. They were not bound or secured in anyway. They did not understand or speak English and we communicated by our actions. One way of asking if they wanted water was to offer them our canteen.

During my watch they were awake much of the time and when our eyes met they would force a smile. I had the feeling they were waiting for my eyes to close or my head to droop so I made sure that, that didn't happen. I was relieved when my watch ended for then I could wake up the Marine whose watch followed mine and I could finally get some sleep. The night passed without incident and in the morning the prisoners were observed talking briefly among themselves and the older of the two took a small book from his pocket and with a pencil stub made marks in it. He was told to hand the book to one of us and he complied. It turned out, the book was a personal prayer book. When asked what the marks meant that he had made, he pointed to one and said "water" to another he said "canteen" and "helmet". He had been listening to us and as he learned key words in English, he wrote the meaning in his book and explained the words to his partner. His book was given back to him. We thought they would be taken away shortly and that we'd never hear anymore about them.

We had field rations for our breakfast chow and busied ourselves getting ready for the day's action, checking our weapons, ammunition, water and rations so we'd be ready to move out when the word came down. The prisoners in the meantime were given rations also and water and permitted to relieve themselves while awaiting the transportation to take them to rejoin the other prisoners.

Intrigued by their initiative to learn English, we wanted to know if they were Japanese. Since we could not speak a common language we used various means to get our questions across to them. To our first question the older of the two understood and implied, no and said, "Korean". In answer to our next question, "What are you doing here on Saipan?" We were told they had been taken from Korea to work for the Japanese in operation of the sugar mill. "What are your names?" we asked and were told but their names being difficult for most of us to say or remember we renamed them, giving them names based on their own but ones we could say and remember. The older was renamed "Moe". He was, we learned about 24 years of age and had been a school teacher in Korea. He was taken as a prisoner to be a bookkeeper for the Japanese overseers of the sugar mill. The younger Korean, who was our age, about 19 - 20, had been a gunsmith in Korea and worked at the sugar mill as a laborer. We renamed him "Joe". They both seemed pleased with their new names and the names stuck until we were finally separated.

The transportation, we had expected, failed to arrive and in time word came down for us to move out. It was clear we couldn't leave the prisoners after guarding them through the night so we took them with us, at least until other arrangements could be made for Division to take them off our hands.

To conserve our own water, canteens were scrounged up and given to both Moe and Joe so they'd carry their own water and not deprive any of us of ours.

We moved out with two prisoners in tow. Not in tow really, they tagged along with us and did what we did, in skirmish or column formation, and rested when we did. Sometime during the morning we came upon a small house. There was no incoming fire directed at us from the house so we conserved our ammunition and the house was not destroyed. As we came close to the house, the sound of a baby crying could be heard coming from under the house. It was evident there were people in a dugout under there but we did not know if there was an enemy soldier under there also.

Using our memorized Japanese or Chamarro phrase, we ordered them to come out, that we did not mean to harm them if they came out. There was no response from anyone under the house except they attempted to quiet the baby. Again they were told to come out and again no response. At this time, Moe indicated he'd like to try to talk with them. We let him know it was all right to go ahead and give it a try.

In answer to Moe's calling out, a response came from under the house, and according to Moe, the voice had said they feared that the Americans would kill them whether they came out or not. After several minutes of conversation between Moe and others under the house, they agreed to come out and as they crawled out they were sobbing uncontrollably. Moe had done a great service for these people, sparing lives that might otherwise have been wasted that day. We saw then, that having Moe to communicate for us could be a welcome addition to our unit, to be our voice, our interpreter. Joe got into the spirit also and was instrumental in talking people into coming out.

When prisoners were taken from us later that day and the next, Moe and Joe were kept separate and were not put on the truck. And with each passing day the notes in Moe's prayer book grew larger and communication, which was difficult on the first day, rapidly improved.

Moe and Joe, in civilian clothes looked out of place, not like Marines, so we decided to change their image by putting Marine dungarees and helmets on them. It took some doing to find jackets but we were resourceful and in a day or two they began to look much like us. Whether in uniform or not we had to make sure they stayed close to us so they would not be mistaken for enemy infiltrators and shot or taken prisoner by another Marine unit. Eventually their equipment included also a K-bar (combat knife) and carbine for their protection, neither of which they got to use.

During the next few days when we came upon cave or dugout under a house and suspected it was occupied, we would call for the people to come out, telling them as we always did that we would not harm them and we would furnish them food, water and shelter, if they came peacefully. If that didn't work Moe or Joe would talk to them in their own language and often went into the cave but only when those inside could convince Moe or Joe there was no Japanese in with them. Moe and Joe often were successful in bringing entire families came out of the cave with them.

The Japanese had brain washed the Chamarros into believing we would kill them all. It was hard to convince them otherwise. That is why so many were afraid to come out for fear what might happen to them. However, when Japanese soldiers were in the shelter with the people neither Moe or Joe would enter the cave. If there was any hostility shown, sorry to say it was out of our hands.

Officially, Saipan was declared secure on 9 July 1944 but we didn't know that until later because there were still many pockets of resistance, Japanese soldiers holed up in cliff side caves and elsewhere along with hundreds of civilians. Our daily task continued, each house, ravine, cave had to be taken whether the occupants surrendered voluntarily or not. Nothing came easy and Moe and Joe were part of each confrontation where we tried to communicate with those holed up. They were ready whenever their voices were needed to convince many Chamarros and others to select life over death by surrendering to the Marines. Moe was the first to enter a cave in which those inside were too afraid to come out, later Joe also entered caves, if we were not fired upon and the occupants assured us there were no Japanese soldiers with them in the caves. History records that many chose to take their own lives rather than to surrender to us and that many others were killed by the Japanese soldiers who controlled their destiny. But there were also many who survived the war due to the efforts of Moe and Joe.

There were official Marine Corps interpreters as well, many of whom were Japanese Americans that were available especially in those final days. They occasionally arrived on the scene in Marine Uniforms and with MP escorts, for their protection. They brought with them loudspeakers and broadcast their messages and eventually left in their vehicles and with the MPs to assist other units. They too were instrumental in saving many lives.

1/C/23 remained on the offensive into the very tip of Saipan to Marpi Point. As the terrain narrowed down other units had been pulled out of the front and they began their long hike to the south end of Saipan where R&R (rest and relaxation) was awaiting. Finally, on 16 July 1944 occupation and mopping up forces relieved us, we were informed we would not have to walk. Trucks were there to transport 1/C/23 and as we passed those that had to walk, our truck was pelted with a few stones and many uncomplimentary slurs.

On several occasions up to that day both Moe and Joe expressed their desire to become Americans and to officially join and remain with us, as members of l/C/23 4th Marine Division. They were serious about joining the Marines and during our days together in R&R they discussed their wishes with our Company Commander, Captain Fred C. Eberhardt and others. Their requests had not been turned down at the company level but as we understood, their requests had been sent forward to higher authorities. On the basis of those discussions Moe and Joe had been encouraged and they were excited at the prospect of becoming Americans and American Marines.

For a few days in R&R we did nothing but relax. We took hot showers, were issued clean clothes, ate hot meals and read mail that had accumulated. Letters were written home, sand lot ball games were played and gear was checked out, making sure our equipment could pass inspection and was ready for what was to come. On 23 July 1944 word was passed to prepare for our departure from Saipan and while we were in the process of stowing souvenirs and other items not required for combat in our seabags, Marine Corps MPs gave us a visit. We were told by the MPs what we could take and what we could not take from Saipan including the two prisoners in our custody, known as Moe and Joe. They had orders to bring in Moe and Joe, who must join the other civilian prisoners repatriated during the battle of Saipan.

The excitement, for Moe and Joe, of preparing to leave Saipan with 1/C/23 suddenly became a time of disappointment and sadness. While the MPs waited, our friends of a few weeks were deeply moved as they said their goodbyes, shaking hands with some and embracing others, then waving as they walked with the MPs toward the jeep, the transportation we had desperately wanted on the first day but now were sorry that it had finally come.

In the early 1950s an article about Moe and Joe was published in the Marine Corps' Leatherneck magazine. I don't have a copy nor do I know who the author of that article was. I'm interested to learn if it was from a member of our company or a combat corespondent and how close that story compares to my memory. My final thought on the matter is, what ever happened to Moe and Joe's hope to become American citizens and US Marines. Where are they today? Semper Fi