4 real historical locations · Northern Mariana Islands, United States
John Woo's film about a Marine assigned to protect a Navajo Code Talker on Saipan — with secret orders to kill him if capture is imminent. The Navajo code, based on an unwritten language, was never broken by Japan and played a crucial role in Pacific communications.
CinemaMapped has mapped 4 real historical locations where the story takes place, spanning Northern Mariana Islands, United States.
Navajo code talkers and their Marine bodyguards fight in the brutal Battle of Saipan in 1944 — John Woo's film depicts the Marines ordered to protect the cod...
The Battle of Saipan (June-July 1944) was one of the Pacific's most costly engagements. US forces suffered 13,790 casualties; of 31,000 Japanese defenders, fewer than 1,000 surrendered. Navajo Code Talkers transmitted...
View location →The amphibious assault beaches on Saipan's western coast where Marines land under heavy Japanese fire on June 15, 1944.
The Saipan landings on June 15, 1944 put 71,000 Marines and Army troops ashore against 32,000 Japanese defenders. The island's capture gave the US air bases within B-29 range of Tokyo — making it one of the most strat...
View location →The highest point on Saipan — fought over for weeks as Marines pushed the Japanese up the island toward the northern cliffs.
Mount Tapochau's summit was captured by Marines on June 27, 1944, giving the US observation over the entire island. The subsequent drive north ended at Marpi Point, where thousands of Japanese civilians jumped from th...
View location →Saipan's main town — a center of Japanese civilian settlement that was devastated in the fighting for the island.
Garapan had 10,000 Japanese and Korean civilian residents before the battle. Much of the population died in the fighting or in the mass suicide at Marpi Point. The battle's civilian casualties shocked American command...
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