| American Marine searches Agana for Japanese holdouts after its capture. The capital of Guam, Agana was heavily shelled and bombed during the liberation of the island from the Japanese. United States Marines spent July 29-30, 1944, in resting, reorganizing, and preparing for the coming attack. During this rest on Fonte Plateau the men witnessed one of the most unusual sights of the Pacific War. Decked in full combat regalia, Japanese marching in the town square made an impressive sight. Forward observers quickly called for an artillery concentration, but it fell too late to hit the formation that dispersed as rapidly as it had appeared. The III Corps launched its attack to seize the northern portion of Guam, starting with Agana, at 0630 Hours on July 31, 1944. On the left theThird Marine Division,Third Regiment under United States Marine Colonel James A. Stuart moved out with three battalions abreast. TheThird Battalion, along the coast highway, headed generally north to Agana. Little opposition met the forward movement of Colonel Stuart‘s forces. Although the thickly mined roads into Agana caused some casualties, Marines were in the Plaza of the former capital by 1045 Hours. The enemy did not defend the razed town, and the only Japanese encountered were wounded. After the capture of the capital, about 1500 theThird Marines sent itsThird Battalion along the coast road north of Agana. As part of Guam‘s postwar reconstruction plan, the U.S. Navy constructed new straight city streets that passed through existing lots and created many plots of land with multiple owners. This has hindered the development of the city to the present day. | |
| Image Filename | wwii1052.jpg |
| Image Size | 1.77 MB |
| Image Dimensions | 2916 x 2338 |
| Photographer | Andrejka, J. F. |
| Photographer Title | Corporal, United States Marine Corps |
| Caption Author | Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | July 31, 1944 |
| Location | Agana |
| City | Agana |
| State or Province | Guam |
| Country | Marianas |
| Archive | National Archives and Records Administration |
| Record Number | |
| Status | Caption ©2007, ©2024 MFA Productions LLC Image in the Public Domain |
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