The Americans had initially spared Garapan from heavy bombardment, hoping to use the town as a base for later operations. American planes even dropped flowers to the civilian population to assure them of American good will. But when Japanese naval troops showed their determination to hold the town, planes, ships, and artillery all blasted what had been known as the “Tokyo of the South Seas,” flattening most buildings and damaging all of the rest except for Garapan’s two red-painted whorehouses. Then the Marines advanced, supported by tanks.

The Japanese fought in the ruins of Garapan for most of the day, losing three-quarters of their strength in the process: when the Marines encountered a Japanese-held building (or the ruin of one), they obliterated it with tank and artillery fire, flamethrowers, and explosive charges. That evening the naval troops withdrew, leaving behind a platoon of South Seas Military Police led by Lt. Magoshige Koike, who had been guarding the joint Army-Navy headquarters building in Garapan. Koike apparently refused orders to retreat and urged his men to “die while killing at least one American soldier.” All but one died without killing anyone, with the final man retreating to join another MP unit.