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Naval History and Heritage Command

National Museum of the U.S. Navy

Invasion of Guam:  July 21-August 10, 1944

On July 21, 1944, in Operation Stevedore, Task Force 53, commanded by Rear Admiral Richard L. Connolly, USN, landed the Third Marine Division and the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade, along with the U.S. Army 77th Infantry Division on Guam.    Landing troops were commanded by Major General Roy S. Geiger, USMC.  In December 1941, the Japanese captured the island, which had been in United States possession since the Spanish-American War.   Of note, the use of both naval gunfire and aerial bombardment in the same coastal area first utilized in the Pacific area during this operation.   The island was declared secure on August 10 though bands of enemy Japanese were long encountered after V-J Day.  

Image:  80-G-241223:  Invasion of Guam, July-August 1944.  U.S. Marines pursue the Japanese through the ruins of a Guam town that held covered snipers.   Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collection of the U.S. Navy.