In the Pacific War, during the U.S. invasion of Saipan, a U.S. Marine sniped a Japanese soldier on the way down while the bodies of numerous Japanese soldiers were scattered nearby.

　　In the Pacific War, during the U.S. invasion of Saipan Island, U.S. Marines sniped at Japanese soldiers on their way down as the bodies of numerous Japanese soldiers lay scattered nearby. With dead Japanese soldiers beside him, a Marine from the U.S. Army's 2nd Division, with an M1 carbine rifle at the ready, snipes a retreating Japanese soldier on Saipan Island during the invasion of Mount Maapi. U.S. Marines, surrounded by dead Japanese soldiers, open fire on Japanese positions during the invasion toward the western shore of Saipan Island.

 　Unable to stop the American landing on Saipan from the morning of June 15, 1944, the Japanese retreated to Mount Tapochau, the mountain that dominates the island. Located in the center of Saipan, Mount Tapochau is the highest peak on Saipan at approximately 1,550 feet. In intensive fighting, the American forces gradually drove the Japanese defensive positions from their almost impregnable position on the high ground. As the fighting raged, American units attacked Japanese positions across a heavily exposed valley. This area of the valley, dubbed "Death Valley," was surrounded by ridges, and well-defended and heavily armed Japanese soldiers fired directly at approaching American soldiers. The U.S. Marines dubbed the ridge "Purple Heart Ridge" after the many American soldiers who were wounded on the ridge. Fighting through the rugged jungle, the U.S. Marines finally conquered Mount Tapochau by the end of June. The Japanese were forced to retreat further to the north of Saipan, marking a turning point in the battle for the island.

　　By early July, Japanese units had retreated to the northern part of Saipan, where they were surrounded by American forces. early in the morning of July 6, the final "Banzai!" shouted an estimated 4,000 Japanese soldiers in a Hail Mary attack on the American positions near Tanapag Harbor. The Japanese soldiers were annihilated in close-range hand-to-hand combat, and more than 1,000 American soldiers were killed or wounded. The brutal three-week battle for Saipan resulted in more than 3,000 U.S. casualties and 13,000 casualties. On the Japanese side, it was estimated that at least 27,000 soldiers were killed in action. Thousands of Saipan citizens, frightened by Japanese propaganda warning them that they would be killed by American troops, committed suicide by jumping off the high cliffs at the northern tip of Saipan Island.