| Original caption: “A member of a Marine patrol on Saipan found this family of Japs hiding in a hillside cave. The mother, four children, and a dog took shelter from the fierce fighting in that area.” United States Marine 2nd Lieutenant Robert B. Sheeks (April 8, 1922 – July 4, 2022) talks to a woman who retreated to a cave in Saipan. As American aircraft began systematically bombing Garapan and Chalan Kanoa, the major urban areas of Saipan, from June 11, 1944, the residents fled to the caves in the central highlands. The Japanese military told the civilian population that the Americans would rape and kill them. His assigned job was to translate captured documents, but Sheeks had paid for jeep-mounted speakers out of the 2nd Marine Division recreation budget and gotten the Honolulu Advertiser newspaper to print surrender instructions in Japanese. Instead of “surrender,” Sheeks tried “come out.” Marine Command believed the Japanese would refuse. Instead, 10 Japanese responded to his pleas. The surrendered Prisoners of War indicated that single Japanese soldiers were more likely to surrender than groups of soldiers, and many more leaflets were needed. Sheeks was awarded the Bronze Star for his work. For future amphibious operations, a print shop operated around the clock on Saipan. It depicted Prisoners of War playing chess, music, and sharing food with Americans. The number of Japanese who surrendered at the end of the war skyrocketed in the last 12 months. Marine Photographer Angus J. Robertson (July 29, 1918 – November 6, 1991) enlisted on December 14, 1941. Serving with the Marine public relations office, he was wounded during the Battle of Tarawa. Robertson was honorably discharged on September 12, 1945. | |
| Image Filename | wwii1522.jpg |
| Image Size | 837.05 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 2908 x 2376 |
| Photographer | Angus J. Robertson |
| Photographer Title | United States Marine Corps |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | June 21, 1944 |
| Location | |
| City | |
| State or Province | Saipan |
| Country | Marianas |
| Archive | National Archives and Records Administration |
| Record Number | NWDNS-127-GR-113-83266 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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