| Original caption: “Army reinforcements disembarking from LSTs form a graceful curve as they proceed across the coral reef toward the beach.” The United States Army’s 165th Infantry Regiment arrives from USS LST-450 in a graceful curve to the beach. Over 33,000 tons of cargo were unloaded, but United States Navy 5th Fleet Admiral Raymond A. Spruance (July 3, 1886 – December 13, 1969) pulled the transports and prepared for a sea battle. On June 19, 1944, the “Great Marianas Turkey Shoot” or the Battle of the Philippine Sea took place, destroying 329 Japanese planes. The Imperial Japanese Navy’s attempt to reinforce Saipan failed. Within the next 5 days, the entire United States Army 27th Infantry Division was landed. United States Army Major General Ralph C. Smith (November 27, 1893 – January 21, 1998) put the 27th Infantry Division into motion to occupy Aslito airfield and attack along the southern coast. United States Marine General Holland M. “Howlin’ Mad” Smith (April 20, 1882 – January 12, 1967) was dissatisfied with Army General Smith’s progress and relieved him, sparking a public controversy that was not resolved by an Army board of inquiry. Army General Smith went on to liaise with the French Government in Europe. United States Army Private Edward P. Laudansky (born September 6, 1922) was a Signal Corps cameraman. He was present at Fort Shafter on December 7, 1941, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. In September 1943, he won 1st prize for his shot of 2 puppies at the Honolulu Academy of Arts. At Saipan in July 1943, he was part of a photographic team that rounded up 500 Korean, Chamorro, and Japanese civilians and convinced them to surrender instead of committing suicide. In December 1944 and June 1945, he was hospitalized for infections. | |
| Image Filename | wwii1521.jpg |
| Image Size | 864.26 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 2920 x 2264 |
| Photographer | Edward P. Laudansky |
| Photographer Title | United States Army Signal Corps |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | June 17, 1944 |
| Location | |
| City | |
| State or Province | Saipan |
| Country | Marianas |
| Archive | National Archives and Records Administration |
| Record Number | NWDNS-111-SC-191475 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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