The Pied Piper of Saipan: the True

Story of an American War Hero

In 1960, the year of The Alamo, The

Magnificent Seven, Exodus and The

Apartment, Allied Artists released an

intensely realistic, gut-wrenching U.S.

Marines-in-action combat film called

Hell To Eternity. It was the incredible

true story of Guy Gabaldon, an orphan

raised by Japanese-Americans in the

1930s in the Los Angeles suburb of

Boyle Heights. When the Japanese

attacked Pearl Harbor, Gabaldon's

adoptive family was sent to

internment camps and he enlisted in

the Marines. What followed was the

stuff of myth: Over two months in

1944 during the bloody battle for

Saipan, Gabaldon single-handedly

captured more than 1,500 Japanese

soldiers and civilians. In one day

alone, he captured 800 people,

earning him the nickname "The Pied

Piper of Saipan." In the history of the

U.S. military, no soldier has ever

single-handedly captured so many

prisoners. However, Hell to Eternity-

which starred Jeffrey Hunter as

Gabaldon and David Janssen, Vic

Damone and Sessue Hayakawa in

supporting roles-was "Hollywoodized"

and a lot of the truth never came to

the surface. When I met Gabaldon in

1999, I decided that a true characterization needed to be made, correctin

g

the errors of what was

essentially a good but inaccurate movie. That's how East L.A. Marine: the Untold True Story

of Guy Gabaldon came to be.

East L.A. Marine, a 76-minute documentary, was produced with the cooperation of the late

Gabaldon, who, sadly, passed away on Au

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ust 31, 2006. One inaccuracy made clear at the film's

outset is Gabaldon's Hispanic heritage; his ancestors were conquistadores who arrived in New

Mexico in the 16th century. This background is in contrast to Hunter's portrayal of him as an

Italian-American. Another is that standing 5' 3¾" tall, the real Gabaldon wasn't as imposing as

Hollywood beefcake Hunter.

The story of Gabaldon is one of racial injustice. Captain John Schwabe, his commanding officer,

recommended him for the Congressional Medal of Honor. But Schwabe was transferred off the

island before the honor could be awarded, and Gabaldon's decoration was down

g

raded to a Silver

Star. To add insult to injury, he wasn't promoted. Although there could be a number of reasons

why Gabaldon was ignored, there is no question that there was prejudice toward Hispanics in the

Marine Corps during World War II, and Gabaldon's ethnicity worked against him. The corps

awarded him the Navy Cross the year the film came out, but it wasn't the Medal of Honor. Thus

began a nationwide campaign by the Hispanic community and veterans of all backgrounds to

correct the snub, which continues today with lobbying of Congress, the White House and the

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Pentagon to accord Gabaldon his due.

East L.A. Marine features an extensive interview with Guy Gabaldon, plus interviews with retired

Marine Colonel Schwabe, prominent military historians, veterans, and many Gabaldon friends,

admirers and family members. It was filmed on Saipan on the 60th anniversary of the Battle of

Saipan. In addition to behind-the-scenes foota

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e of the island as it looks today, the documentary

also features extensive archival combat footage of the Saipan campaign, including one

memorable shot in which Gabaldon appears on camera. The film also contains scenes from Hell

to Eternity and a 1957 episode of This is Your Life paying tribute to this authentic American war

hero.

East L.A. Marine: the Untold True Story of Guy Gabaldon is available on DVD for

purchase

($24.95 includes S&H).

*Henry Godines, artist "The Pied Piper of Saipan"

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2/20/2007