join in the attack with bamboo spears than be captured." But by 16:15 on 9 July, American commander in chief Admiral Turner announced that Saipan was officially secured. Saitō, wounded by shrapnel, committed ritual suicide in a cave at dawn on 10 July, with his adjutant shooting him in the head after he had disemboweled himself. Saitō was given a funeral with military honors by his American counterpart Holland Smith. References Sources External links 1890 births 1944 suicides People from Miyagi Prefecture Imperial Japanese Army generals of World War II Japanese generals Seppuku from Meiji period to present Japanese military personnel who committed suicide 1944 deaths