Oral History Interview with Juan Blanco

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Juan Blanco. Blanco, a native of Garapan, Saipan, attended school in Japan for four years. He returned to Saipan in 1939, due to his father’s concerns about the war with China. In 1941 his family was chased out of the home by the Japanese military and relocated to their ranch, which later became the site of Camp Susupe. Blanco went to work for a Japanese sugar company in 1942 and was commandeered to help with the construction of the air base at Marpi. He ran away with his coworkers and hid in caves when Americans began bombing the island. Although the Japanese had stocked the caves with plenty of food, the only source of water was the nearby Talofofo River. Surrounded by Americans at the river, Blanco surrendered and was taken to Camp Susupe and assigned to perform hard labor. Because of his Chamorro heritage, he was transferred to Chalan Kanoa and given a good job as the manager of an officers’ woodworking shop. He went on to hold political office during the Trust Territory period and worked as a Bank of America manager for 26 years