Combat· World War II
Piti Navy Yard Seizure
Piti was a coastal point near Apra Harbor on Guam, the site of an old navy yard and a key spot for opening up the harbor the Allies wanted as a fleet base.
As the main landings went in nearby, Marines moved to seize the Piti area and the high ground and small offshore islands that commanded it. Clearing this stretch helped secure the approaches to Apra Harbor and protect the beachhead's flank. The fighting here was a piece of the larger Guam landing rather than a separate battle of its own, carried out by units pushing inland from the assault beaches. Taking Piti and the nearby ground was an early step toward putting the harbor and its facilities back into Allied hands.
Podcast episodes on World War II
Record no. 862