U.S. Marines push back Japanese on Saipan Island.

U.S. Marines push back Japanese on Saipan Island. American Marines hurl hand grenades at Japanese positions which are shrouded with the smoke of battle on Saipan Island in the Marianas group of the Central Pacific where U.S. troops stormed ashore on June 14, 1944. The grenade thrown by the Marine at left describes a high are (arrow) as the American at center starts to hurl a second missile. In less than a week of fighting, U.S. soldiers had gained control of half the strategic island which forms part of Japan's inner defense system. By July 5, U.S. troops had pounded back the enemy toward a trap on the northern tip of Saipan which is less than 1,500 miles (2,400 kilometers) from the Japanese homeland.