Guy Gabaldon | |
|---|---|
 PFC Guy Gabaldon | |
| Birth name | Guy Louis Gabaldon |
| Nickname(s) | Gabby, "The Pied Piper of Saipan" |
| Born | March 22, 1926 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Died | August 31, 2006 (aged 80) Old Town, Florida, U.S. |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service | United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1943–1945 |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Unit | 2nd Marine Regiment |
| Battles / wars | World War II |
| Awards | Navy Cross Purple Heart |
Guy Louis Gabaldon (March 22, 1926 – August 31, 2006) was a United States Marine who, at age 18, captured or persuaded to surrender over 1,300 Japanese soldiers and civilians during the battles for Saipan and Tinian islands in 1944 during World War II. Called "Gabby" by his friends, he became known as "The Pied Piper of Saipan" for his heroism on that island. Though Gabaldon was recommended for the Medal of Honor, he received the Silver Star, which was upgraded by the Marine Corps to the Navy Cross in 1960.
In 1960, a friend of Gabaldon's with Hollywood connections influenced the industry to make a movie about Gabaldon's version of events on Saipan called Hell to Eternity. In 1964, he unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Congressman in his Southern California district. In 1990, he authored a book entitled Saipan: Suicide Island.