Conflict: World War II
Combatants: Americans vs. Japanese
Location: Guam
Outcome: American victory
As part of the operation to clear the Japanese from the Marianas Islands, American Marines invaded Guam on July 21st of 1944. Japanese forces engaged in fierce counterattacks, including banzai charges, and determined but ultimately fruitless resistance. By August 10th, some 10,000 Japanese had been killed. Americans losses were 1,400 killed and 5,600 wounded.
Points of Interest:
Over 40,000 Japanese died in the campaign to conquer the Mariana Islands.
The first B-29 raids on Japan lifted off from newly re-captured Saipan on November 24th of 1944.
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Sources:
Dupuy, Trevor N., Johnson, Curt, & Bongard, David L. (1992). The Harper's Encyclopedia of Military Biography. New York: Castle Books (HarperCollins).
Dupuy, R. Ernest & Dupuy, Trevor N. (1993). The Harper's Encyclopedia of Military History. New York: HarperCollins.
Eggenberger, David (1985). An Encyclopedia of Battles: Accounts of Over 1,560 Battles from 1479 B.C. to the Present. New York: Dover Publications, Inc.
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