US Marines advance through a burning village on Japanese-held Saipan, Mariana Islands, Pacific Ocean; June-July 1944.

Scene of action

1st Division US Marines are resting at the stacked pyramids of M1903 Springfield rifles on the coast of Guadalcanal Island against the backdrop of US Navy ships; Solomon Islands, August 1942.



Need some rest from heavy fighting

Three U.S. Marines point Springfields .303 bolt action rifles toward enemy territory from a sand-bagged foxhole on the front lines on Guadalcanal on Oct. 14, 1942. 
   Not all Marine units were equipped with M-1 Garand rifles until the campaign was almost over.