The island of Guam was the first Allied territory lost to the Japanese onslaught in 1941. On 10 December 5,000 Japanese troops landed on Guam, defended by less than 500 US and Guamanian troops, the outcome was beyond doubt. On 21 July 1944 America returned. In a risky operation, the two US landing forces came ashore seven miles apart and it was a week before the beachheads linked up. Only the battles for Iwo Jima and Okinawa would cost the Americans more men than the landings on Guam and Saipan, which immediately preceded the Guam operation. In this book Gordon Rottman details the bitter 26-day struggle for this key Pacific island duringWorld War II (1939-1945).

Includes maps of: Strategic Situation - Pacific Theater, December 1943; Mariana Islands, Summer 1944; Japanese Defenses - Guam; Beach Sketch - Northern Sector; Beach Sketch - Southern Sector; Securing the Beachhead, 21st and 9th Marines; Fight for the Beachheads; Capture of Orote Peninsula; Japanese Counterattack; Daily Progress, 21 July-10 August 1944.

Introduction -- Chronology -- The Fall of Guam, December 1941 -- The Recapture and Occupation of Guam, 1944 -- Opposing Plans -- Opposing Commanders -- Opposing Forces -- The Guam Assault -- Aftermath -- Orders of Battle -- The Battlefield Today -- Bibliography -- Index.