Saipan Island Festival of Liberation
Donation protected
Hello! this is Burke Waldron againwith a new GoFund Me campaign for a possible trip to visit Saipan for their upcoming Liberartion Celebration Festivals later this summer.
As a member of the U S Naval Ground Force of the Pacific, WW 2, our unit went ashore with the Fourth Marines. Our job was to handle visual communications from the Island Commander to ships standing by for instructions for the troop’s needs of various supports such as personnel, armament, fuel, equipment etc.
Here is a visual reminder of the cost in lives of my military brothers and sisters to secure Saipan as a jumping off base for the eventual defeat of the Japanese. This picture was taken by my friend because I never had the chance to lay my eyes on this memorial while I was there. THIS I HOPE TO DO BY THE HELP OF YOUR DONATIONS TO THIS CAMPAIGN.
After securing the Island of Saipan we had days of recreation. This shows me at bat in a game of Navy versus Marines. Don't remember who won the ballgame but together we were the winner for America and the world.
We used flashing light (Morse code) and semaphore method to transmit encoded messages. At first we had temporary facilities but soon the Navy Seabees rebuilt the light house, pictured here, for our base of operation. We served in this capacity till the end of 1945 when I was shipped stateside and honorably discharged.
Over the years I have said to myself “it would be a great experience to return to Saipan and maybe meet some of the survivors or their descendants”. By means of this Go Fund Me Campaign I may be able to do just that for otherwise it would not be possible.
My plan is to use my personal savings, though meager, to cover the Armed Forces Day Parade in the Northwest In May this year which was included in my first “Go Fund Me” campaign to which so many of you have generously contributed and then apply those moneys, if necessary, to the Saipan trip in addition to whatever I receive in this new campaign. I would be most grateful for your help to reach the goal of my new campaign for my trip back to Saipan after 74 years.
In this second collage is included a picture of my celebration of my 90th birthday skydive and a couple of scenes on the street in Garapan.
As this campaign circulates I’m hopeful there will be funds sufficient to make this a reality. I thank you in advance for whatever you may contribute.
As a member of the U S Naval Ground Force of the Pacific, WW 2, our unit went ashore with the Fourth Marines. Our job was to handle visual communications from the Island Commander to ships standing by for instructions for the troop’s needs of various supports such as personnel, armament, fuel, equipment etc.
Here is a visual reminder of the cost in lives of my military brothers and sisters to secure Saipan as a jumping off base for the eventual defeat of the Japanese. This picture was taken by my friend because I never had the chance to lay my eyes on this memorial while I was there. THIS I HOPE TO DO BY THE HELP OF YOUR DONATIONS TO THIS CAMPAIGN.After securing the Island of Saipan we had days of recreation. This shows me at bat in a game of Navy versus Marines. Don't remember who won the ballgame but together we were the winner for America and the world.
We used flashing light (Morse code) and semaphore method to transmit encoded messages. At first we had temporary facilities but soon the Navy Seabees rebuilt the light house, pictured here, for our base of operation. We served in this capacity till the end of 1945 when I was shipped stateside and honorably discharged.
Over the years I have said to myself “it would be a great experience to return to Saipan and maybe meet some of the survivors or their descendants”. By means of this Go Fund Me Campaign I may be able to do just that for otherwise it would not be possible.
My plan is to use my personal savings, though meager, to cover the Armed Forces Day Parade in the Northwest In May this year which was included in my first “Go Fund Me” campaign to which so many of you have generously contributed and then apply those moneys, if necessary, to the Saipan trip in addition to whatever I receive in this new campaign. I would be most grateful for your help to reach the goal of my new campaign for my trip back to Saipan after 74 years.
In this second collage is included a picture of my celebration of my 90th birthday skydive and a couple of scenes on the street in Garapan.
As this campaign circulates I’m hopeful there will be funds sufficient to make this a reality. I thank you in advance for whatever you may contribute.
Organizer
Burke Waldron
Organizer
Washington, UT
