March 19, 2024

Saipan & the Northern Mariana Islands

Introduction

saipan

Saipan is one of the islands that comprises the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. There are 14 islands in the archipelago that lies to the east of the Philippines, to the south of Japan, and north of Papua New Guinea. Saipan is the largest of the Islands. The Northern Mariana Islands have a total population of approximately 60,000 people. The official languages are English, Chamorro, and Carolinian. The US Dollar is the official currency in the Northern Mariana Islands and Roman Catholicism is the main religion.

Brief History

Saipan and it’s neighbouring islands were settled by the Spanish who maintained control of the Northern Mariana from 1521 to 1899. The Spanish sold the islands to Germany in 1899 and the Germans retained control until 1914 when they were forced out by the Japanese.

World War II

In June 1944 US armed forces began a campaign to drive the Japanese off the islands during World War II. The Americans needed to secure Saipan as a base for a land invasion of Japan. The Japanese put up very strong resistance. Of the 31,629 Japanese on Saipan approximately 29,500 Japanese died as a result of the fighting. Only 2,100 Japanese prisoners survived.

Many Japanese families committed suicide rather than be taken prisoner. The fierce defence by the Japanese, including their willingness to fight to the death, convinced the Americans that any invasion of Japan would involve an unacceptable number of American deaths.

The battle for Saipan led directly to the decision to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. The B-29 American bomber Enola Gay, carrying the atomic bomb, took off from Saipan neighbouring island, Tinian, on 6 August 1945. Saipan and it’s Mariana neighbours have been under the control of the USA in one form or another since World War II.

Irish 2002 World Cup Soccer Squad

hyatt-regency-hotel

On the 18th May 2002 the Republic of Ireland World Cup soccer squad flew to Saipan from Tokyo airport on NorthWest flight 0076. The squad and FAI officials stayed in the Hyatt Regency Hotel in the Garapan area of Saipan.

The 311 room hotel lies in 14 acres of lush, tropical gardens, lagoons and the magnificent Micro Beach. The Irish trained each day at the Susupe Sports complex which included, “the newly rejuvenated soccer field just north of the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.”

The Commonwealth of the the Northern Mariana Islands had spent $20,000 to upgrade Oleai field in preparation for the arrival of the Irish team. (Saipan Tribune – 20 May 2007).

I Keano – Musical Show

Back to Saipan Affair Table of Contents – Irish Football

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Saipan Table of Contents Roy Keane & Eamon Dunphy
Saipan Introduction Roy Keane & Cork
Methodology Keane’s Aversion to Being Away From Home
Saipan Conclusions Roy Keane’s Relationship with Ireland
Roy Keane – Mick McCarthy Relationship Roy Keane – Zenith Data Systems Cup
Roy Keane Version of Saipan Incident Roy Keane – Jack Charlton Relationship
Mick McCarthy Version of Saipan Incident 1 Roy Keane’s Flawed Character
Mick McCarthy Version of Saipan Incident 2 Roy Keane’s Good Character
Niall Quinn Version of Saipan Incident Roy Keane – Footballer
Jason McAteer Version of Saipan Incident Roy Keane – Team Captain
Matt Holland Version of Saipan Incident Roy Keane – Family Man
Roy Keane & Saipan – The Backdrop Roy Keane & Faking Injury
Roy Keane & Saipan – The Issues Roy Keane – Bad Boy
Keane / McCarthy Boston Row 1992 Roy Keane – Career Lows
Keane Misses Iran Playoff Game Roy Keane – Red Cards etc
Keane Misses Niall Quinn Testimonial Roy Keane – Cruciate Injury
Countdown to Saipan Incident Roy Keane & Alf-Inge Haaland
Roy Keane Saipan Tirade at Mick McCarthy Roy Keane & Gareth Southgate Red Card
Roy Keane / Tom Humphries Saipan Interview 1 Roy Keane & Alan Shearer Red Card
Keane / Humphries Saipan Interview 2 Roy Keane / Alex Ferguson Relationship 1
Roy Keane / Irish Times Saipan Interview 3 Roy Keane & Sir Alex Ferguson 2
Roy Keane / Paul Kimmage Saipan Interview 1 Roy Keane & Charity
Keane / Kimmage Saipan Interview 2 Roy Keane & Autobiography Contradictions 1
Roy Keane / Sunday Independent Saipan Interview 3 Roy Keane & Contradictions 2
Roy Keane / Tommie Gorman Interview 1 Roy Keane – Integrity
Roy Keane / Tommy Gorman Interview 2 Roy Keane – International Matches
Roy Keane / RTE Interview 3 Roy Keane – Football Record
FAI Involvement in Saipan Affair Roy Keane & Sandwiches
Saipan Reaction of Irish Players Roy Keane – Walker
Mick McCarthy – ‘crap player, crap manager’ Saipan – Pacific Island
Roy Keane / Mick McCarthy Playing Record I Keano – The Musical
Colin Healy – Forgotten Man of Saipan Roy Keane – Football Manager
Saipan Ten Years Later Roy Keane’s Dog Triggs
Roy Keane’s Autobiography Saipan Bibiliography

 

Roy Keane – View Seven Years After Saipan
Football Quotes about Saipan

 

Triggs – The Autobiography of Roy Keane’s Dog
Ireland at 2002 World Cup Finals – Irish 2002 World Cup Squad – Irish Group Matches
Ireland V Cameroon – Ireland V Germany – Ireland V Saudi Arabia – Ireland V Spain