Throughout the battle for the Japanese-held island of Saipan in early July of 1944, the legend of a lone Marine who single-handedly captured hundreds of Japanese soldiers continued to grow. But the “Pied Piper of Saipan” was no legend. His name was Guy Gabaldon, and before he was machine-gunned in a Japanese raid, he was responsible for the surrender of 1,500 Japanese soldiers and civilians—an unbelievable feat considering the psyche of the Japanese culture which saw surrender as the ultimate disgrace.

Gabaldon grew up in East Los Angeles, and had been taken in as a boy by a Japanese-American family, who taught him the Japanese language. After joining the Marines during World War II, he put this skill to use during the battle for Saipan. Patrolling behind enemy lines by himself, Gabaldon would carefully approach a cave used by Japanese soldiers as a base, shoot any guards outside, then shout a demand that every person inside should come out, and that he would not harm them if they surrendered. Anyone running out of the cave with a weapon would be immediately shot, but those who came out slowly were talked into returning into the cave and bringing out others. Gabaldon’s methods proved so successful that he was given almost total discretion by his commanders to move behind enemy lines at will.

On July 6, 1944, Gabaldon left on another patrol, searching the area near Saipan’s northern cliffs. Though the area appeared deserted, he was soon cut off from his lines as hundreds of enemy infantry moved into his area in preparation for an assault. He remained in hiding until the next morning, when he seized the opportunity to capture two guards. Using his aforementioned skills, he persuaded the guards to go speak to their fellow soldiers, explain that they were hopelessly outnumbered, and that they should all immediately surrender. Amazingly, his plan worked, as hundreds of hidden Japanese soldiers began to appear, each sitting down in front of him. On this day alone, Gabaldon “bagged” over 800 prisoners. The stuff of legend, Gabaldon’s true story was later told in the 1960 film Hell to Eternity. He was later awarded the Navy Cross, and is now being reconsidered for the Medal of Honor.