CAM 139 Guam

This volume covers the Japanese seizure of the island of Guam in December 1941 and its American recapture by amphibious assault in July-August 1944. In December 1941 over 5, 000 Japanese troops landed on the island and the defending forces surrendered after token resistance. Guam was the first Allied territory lost to the Japanese, making its recapture politically and psychologically important. The American invasion in 1944 was the second two-division sized amphibious assault conducted. The 26-day operation involved bitter fighting and was one of the most costly US Marine Corps battles to this point in the war, with many casualties. US losses would have been even higher, but for a series of major Japanese mistakes, squandering the lives of 2, 500 men in the first few days of the campaign.