WEBVTT

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On June 15 , 1944 , US Marines from the

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2nd and 4th Marine Divisions alongside

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the Army's 27th Infantry launched the

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Battle of Saipan , a critical step in

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the island hopping campaign and the

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fight across the Pacific . Landing on

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Saipan's southwest coast , Marines

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faced fierce resistance during the

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amphibious assault . By nightfall , US

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forces secured the beachhead , setting

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the tone for a hard-fought battle .

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The enemy used caves and trenches to

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launch surprise attacks , causing heavy

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American casualties . Despite this , US

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troops pushed forward and captured Olio

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airfield , a major strategic victory .

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As American forces advanced , enemy

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defenses collapsed . On July 7th ,

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roughly 4000 combatants launched a

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final mass assault , later known as the

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Great Banzai Charge .

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By July 9 , 1944 , the US secured

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Saipan . Over 3000 Americans were

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killed and more than 10,000 wounded ,

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ending one of the Pacific War's most

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brutal battles . Saipan proved that

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Pacific warfare would be a relentless

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war of attrition fought far beyond the

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beaches .