World War II Photograph

Japanese snipers, hiding in the thickets, hit tow Marines (center and left) topping them into the sands as a landing party storms ashore in final mop-up operations in the final stages of the conquest of Saipan, Japanese stronghold in the Marianas. This striking picture of battle action was made by a Coast Guard combat photographer just as the two Marines dropped wounded to their knees. The photographer had gone in with the invading party.