GUAM
Operations of the 77th Division
21 July - 10 August 1944

Guam: Operations of the 77th Division (21 July-10 August 1944) is one of a series of fourteen studies of World War II operations originally published by the War Department's Historical Division and now returned to print as part of the Army's commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of that momentous clash of arms. These volumes, prepared by professional historians shortly after the events described, provide a concise summary of some of the major campaigns and battles fought by American soldiers. The skillful combination of combat interviews with primary sources, many of which are now lost, gives these unassuming narratives a special importance to military historians. The careful analysis of key operations provides numerous lessons for today's military students.

I am pleased that this entire group of studies will once again be available I urge all military students and teachers to use them to enhance our collective awareness of the skill, leadership, daring, and professionalism exhibited by our military forebears.

Washington, D.C.
15 September 1989

HAROLD W. NELSON
Colonel, FA
Chief of Military History 
 

Foreword

In a nation at war, teamwork by the whole people is necessary for victory. But the issue is decided on the battlefield, toward which all national effort leads. The country's fate lies in the hands of its soldier citizens; in the clash of battle is found the final test of plans, training, equipment, and above all-the fighting spirit of units and individuals.

AMERICAN FORCES IN ACTION SERIES presents detailed accounts of particular combat operations of United States forces. To the American public, this record of high achievement by men who served their nation well is presented as a preface to the full military history of World War II. To the soldiers who took part in the operations concerned, these narratives will give the opportunity to see more clearly the results of orders which they obeyed and of sacrifices which they and their comrades made, in performance of missions that find their meaning in the outcome of a larger plan of battle.

The seizure of Guam in July-August 1944 added another base to our growing chain of possessions encircling the Japanese homeland. Marine troops made the initial landings on Guam and were aided in capturing the island by army units, comprised chiefly of the 77th Infantry Division. Guam tells the Army's part of the campaign.

This study is based upon a first narrative prepared in the field from military records and from notes and interviews recorded during the operation by S/Sgt. James M. Burns. The manuscript of this historical officer has been edited and partially rewritten with the help of additional documentation by Mrs. Marjorie Cline of the editorial staff of the Historical Division. Although in published form the book contains no documentation, the original manuscript, fully documented, is on file in the War Department. Two photographs (pp. 43 and 120) are International News Photos; four (pp. 59, 105, 115) are from the Bishop Museum on Oahu; seven (pp. 15, 21, 32, 33, 54, 69, 78) were taken by the U. S. Navy; one (p. 34) is from the U. S. Coast Guard; one (p. 44) was taken by the U. S. Marine Corps; two (pp. 152 26) were supplied by the Air Transport Command, Overseas Technical Unit. The rest, unless otherwise stated in the captions, were taken by the U. S. Army Signal Corps. Photographs from International News Photos may not be reproduced without the approval of the War Department. Readers are urged to send directly to the Historical Division, War Department, Washington 25, D. C., comments, criticism, and additional information which may be of value in the preparation of a complete and definitive history of the Guam operation.

	Page
OBJECTIVE: GUAM	1
Offensive in the Central Pacific	2
Marianas Islands	5
The Island of Guam	13
Enemy Forces on Guam	19
Plan of Attack	23
ASSAULT PHASE	29
Preparations for W Day	29
The Landings	31
Expanding the Beachheads	37
Attack on Orote Peninsula	41
Establishment of Final Beachline	47
Battle of Supply	53
PURSUIT PHASE	57
Reconnaissance of Southern Guam	57
Pursuit to the North	63
77th Division's Supply Route	73
BARRIGADA	75
The Pursuit Continues	75
Feeling Out Enemy Positions	80
The Gap on the Left	84
Tanks Support the 305th	90
Attempt to Close the Gap	93
North to 0-3 Line	101
FINAL PURSUIT PHASE	107
The 306th Takes Over the Left (5-6 August)	107
Two Japanese Tanks	111
Plans for the Attack on Mt. Santa Rosa	117
Attack on Yigo	119
Tank Attack Against the 306th (7 /8 August)	126
Push Beyond Mt. Santa Rosa (8 August)	127
Mopping Up	129
CONCLUSION	133
ANNEX NO. 1: Abbreviations	135

vii

Maps

No.		Page
1	Allied Advance in the Pacific	x
2	Central Pacific Islands	2
3	The Southern Marianas: Plan of Attack, III and V Amphibious Corps	8
4	Guam (physiographic map)	12
5	Enemy Dispositions on Guam, July 1944	18
6	Preferred Plan of Attack on Guam, III Amphibious Corps	22
7	W-Day Landing, III Amphibious Corps, 21 July 1944	30
8	Beachheads on W + 1, 111 Amphibious Corps, 22 July 1944	36
9	77th Division Sector, 24-27 July 1944	38
10	Orote Peninsula, 1st Provisional Marine Brigade, 25-29 July 1944	42
11	The Gap, 77th Division and 3d Marine Division, 25-27 July 1944	46
12	Reconnaissance of Southern Guam, 28 July-2 August 1944	58
13	Pursuit Phase, III Amphibious Corps, 31 July-1 August 1944	62
14	Construction of New Road, 302d Engineer Combat Battalion, to 31 July 1944	72
15	Approach to Barrigada, 77th Division, 2-4 August 1944	76
16	Reconnaissance of Barrigada, Company D, 706th Tank Battalion, Company I, 305th RCT	80
17	The Gap on the Left, About Noon, 2 August 1944	82
18	Situation on the Right, Close of Day, 2 August 1944	91
19	Company G's Attack, 1500-Dark, 2 August 1944	95
20	Barrigada Positions, Close of Day, 2 August 1944	98
21	Advance to the 0-3 Line, 305th and 307th RCT, 3-4 August 1944	100
22	Plan for Advance, 77th Division, 5 August 1944	108
23	Advance to 0-4 Line, 77th Division, 5-6 August 1944	109
24	Plans for Final Phase, III Amphibious Corps	116
25	Action at Yigo, 7 August 1944	118
26	Night Positions, 7/8 August 1944	124
27	Guam (in color)	Inside back cover