Guy Gabaldon
| Guy Gabaldon | |
|---|---|
PFC Guy Gabaldon
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| Birth name | Guy Louis Gabaldon |
| Nickname(s) | Gabby, "The Pied Piper of Saipan" |
| Born |
March 22, 1926 Los Angeles, California |
| Died | August 31, 2006 (aged 80) Old Town, Florida |
| Allegiance |
 United States
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| Service/branch |
 United States Marine Corps
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| Years of service | 1943–1945 |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Unit | 2nd Marine Regiment |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |
Navy Cross Purple Heart |
 You can view a film clip from Guy Gabaldon's life story "Hell To Eternity" on YouTube. |
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You can view a newsreel of Guy Gabaldon receiving the Navy Cross Medal on YouTube
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Guy Louis Gabaldon (March 22, 1926 – August 31, 2006) was a United States Marine who, at age 18, captured or persuaded to surrender over two thousand Japanese soldiers and civilians during the battles for Saipan and Tinian islands in 1944 during World War II. Though Gabaldon was recommended for the Medal of Honor, he received the Silver Star, which was upgraded by the Marine Corps to the Navy Cross in 1960.
In 1960, a friend of Gabaldon's with Hollywood connections influenced the industry to make a movie about Gabaldon's version of events on Saipan called Hell to Eternity. He was called 'Gabby' by his friends, and was an outspoken member of right-wing political organizations. In 1964, he unsuccessfully ran for US Congressman in his Southern California district. In 1990, he authored a book entitled, Saipan: Suicide Island.
Gabaldon was born in Los Angeles, California. Gabaldon, who was of Mexican descent, was one of seven children. He was raised in East Los Angeles and, as a ten-year-old, he helped his family by shining shoes on Skid Row. Gabaldon became a member of a multi-ethnic gang known as the "Moe Gang". At age 12, he moved out of his home to live with the Nakano family, which was of Japanese-American heritage and whom he considered his extended family. He attended language school every day with their children and learned to speak Japanese. He also learned about their customs and culture.
At the outbreak of World War II the Nakanos, his "adopted" family, were sent to a relocation camp named the Heart Mountain Relocation Center, in Wyoming. He traveled to Alaska to work in a cannery. On March 22, 1943, Gabaldon's 17th birthday, he joined the United States Marine Corps. He received his basic training at Camp Pendleton, completed the Enlisted Marine Japanese Language School at Camp Elliot in San Diego, and was assigned to Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, as a scout and observer.
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Wikipedia