A war veteran’s second look at the past

More than five decades ago, Sgt. John Rayborn came to Saipan to join military troops from the United States liberate the islands in the Northern Marianas from foreign rule.

For at least 36 days, he fought with hundreds of U.S. and local reserves against Japanese brutality. From the time he arrived on and left Saipan, all Sgt. Rayborn could see were either lifeless or bloodied bodies.

The blue waters off the coast of Garapan were red with blood while the rest of the island was no more than a jungle, that had become the refuge of members of the fighting troops.

With the grim picture of lifeless bodies lying on the ground and floating on the water, as well as the island still being covered with trees and other wild plants, still in his mind, Sgt. Rayborn decided to visit Saipan 56 years after he risked his life in the name of freedom and democracy.

“I was a bit surprised when the airplane that brought me here landed at the airport.. I was even surprised when I saw the high-rise structures spread throughout the island,” he said in an interview.

Sgt. Rayborn said he was short of expecting Saipan to be the same island he left along with all the other American troops after the war in 1944 — a place still covered with trees, rough roads leading to the jungle and the communities of the indigenous peoples.

“While I was kind of disappointed to see the island that I had pictured in my mind for more than 50 years nowhere in sight, it also felt good that the place which we defended and set free has progressed and evolved into a little American town,” he added.

He does not have the slightest idea that he would be traveling to a cosmopolitan island. In fact, Sgt. Rayborn brought with him clothes that he thought would be suitable to an island he last saw 56 years ago.

“I brought shorts, shirts and sandals; the kind of stuff you would wear when you go nature-tripping. It’s amazing that people are driving big cars, having burgers and all that,” he said. “I just did not expect Saipan to be this way.”

Sgt. Rayborn said he came here to relive the memories that transpired during the war. He wanted to see the different posts where he had been, and the war zones where he fought for the island’s freedom.

But then, the war veteran went nostalgic as he toured around the several historic sites on the island, from Mt. Tapochao to the seaplane ramp in Tanapag village.
He was especially awed by the monument at the American Memorial Park.

He fought during the war when he was only 18. At 74, Sgt. Rayborn is now a father of seven children, with 13 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.