Editor’s note: Don Farrell is a historian and author who has written extensively about the history of the Mariana Islands and the Chamorro people. He lives on Tinian in the Northern Mariana Islands.

LIBERATION Day is Guam’s single largest annual day of celebration. It is also a day given to reflect on the events that occurred from June to August 1944, as well as the impact those events had on the future of Guam and its indigenous Chamorro population.

Since the day Guam was captured by Japanese forces, Dec. 10, 1941, the Chamorros had prayed for the day the Americans would return. Their prayers were answered on June 12, 1944 when Vice Adm. Marc Mitscher arrived with his fast carrier fleet to establish air superiority over the Marianas. This began the three-month-long campaign for the Marianas – Operation Forager – that would result in the capture of the Northern Mariana Islands and the re-capture of Guam.

The daring plan devised by Adm. Raymond Spruance envisioned the invasion of Saipan on June 15 and the invasion of Guam on June 18, followed by the invasion of Tinian. The 2nd and 4th Marine Divisions did land on Saipan, on schedule, on June 15. The pre-invasion bombardment of Guam also began on time, on June 16. Unfortunately, military intelligence had grossly underestimated the number of Japanese defenders on Saipan, and Spruance was forced to land his floating reserve, the 27th Army Infantry Division. This left no floating reserve for the invasion of Guam. Spruance was thus forced to postpone the invasion of Guam until the 77th Army Infantry Division, still encamped in Hawaii, could be transported to Guam. The invasion was rescheduled for July 21.

Thus, the error in estimating Japanese troop strength on Saipan tipped off the Japanese defenders on Guam that the Americans would land at Asan and Agat, not at Tumon or East Hagåtña Bay, where the Japanese had expected them. This gave the Japanese five weeks to reinforce the southern beachhead and eliminated the element of surprise for the Marines that would be landing there.

Further complicating the battle for Guam, the Imperial Japanese fleet came out of hiding to defend the Marianas. On June 19 to 20, Adm. Spruance and Vice Adm. Mitscher met the Japanese fleet in the battle of the Philippine Sea, just 100-some miles west of the Marianas. Although this was a great naval victory for the Americans, it meant there would be no rescue for the Japanese defenders on Guam; they were doomed and became desperate.

In the weeks that ensued, some of the frustrated Japanese soldiers who had won so many battles in China committed a series of atrocities against the Chamorros. And when the Marines of the 3rd Division and 1st Provisional Marine Brigade, reinforced by the 77th Army Infantry Division, landed at Asan and Agat, they faced heavily fortified beachheads defended by fanatically determined, dedicated, veteran Japanese soldiers. Casualties were high.

Despite the carnage, the battle was won; the Chamorros were liberated from Manenggon and the American flag rose on Guam again on Aug. 10, 1944. Brave American Marines and soldiers felt the joy of seeing Chamorros pull from their few belongings a few tattered, home-sewn American flags. And in 1950, the Chamorros were finally granted their well-earned American citizenship.

July 21 is a day to celebrate freedom and liberty, but also to remember the price that must too often be paid to maintain them.