The 3rd Marine Division's next campaign was the island of Guam that was part of the Marianas along with Saipan, Tinian and Rota. Kept in reserve in case they were needed on Saipan, the division was finally released to move on Guam. By this time, William "Bill" J. Middlebrooks, nicknamed "Scoop" was still with the 3rd Division, but Cary Ward of Pensacola High's Class of 1943 had been transferred to the 1st Provisional Brigade (Would become the 6th Marine Division). On July 21, 1944, Scoop's 3rd Marine Division landed under horrific fire as they aimed for the town of Agana. However, Ward and his battery with the 1st Provisional had landed on the other side of the Orote Peninsular at Agat.
When he could, the former reporter wrote numerous letters home as well as to his former colleagues at the News Journal. In one letter Scoop wrote, “the terrain on Guam was really tough. The hills were almost straight up and as hard to conquer as the enemy. The “sword grass” would also cut their hands like knives as they pulled themselves up the slopes. He was lying down with two Marines on one side of him and two more on the other. Mortar rounds struck killing all four of his buddies and left him unscathed. Two more were wounded in the attack so they sent men back to the command post for corpsmen to attend to the wounded, but the post had been knocked out and injured men were scattered everywhere. (Ward’s aide station was one of these that were overrun during the night). They gave their own wounded first aid and moved them to where the corpsmen could find them. In many cases the Japanese were careless. They talked loudly making it easy for the Marines to locate their position. On one occasion an enemy solider stuck his head between some grass across the road from him and called 'Hello American,' but I shot him anyway. On another occasion ten Japanese soldiers and an officer attacked a Marine machine gun emplacement. The officer swinging a two-handed sword decapitated one of the Marines. For 48 hours they only had three canteens of water per man. They nearly went crazy with thirst. They could look out over Asan Bay and see all that water, but not a drop to drink.
At one time on the front lines one of two brothers were fighting in the same unit and was killed. His brother was heartbroken. They tried to talk to him, but it didn’t do any good. The enemy snipers were good. One of them killed seven Marines in their unit from 500 yards. They would also conceal themselves in “spider holes”, which were circular holes dug into the ground with a camouflaged lid over it. You could step on it and never know it. They were always told that Japanese were small, but he found that they came in two sizes on Guam, big as hell and small as hell.” As his platoon pushed the Japanese further inland, Scoop and his unit came under a vicious enemy mortar attack. Scoop received shell fragments in the shoulder and hip forcing his evacuation to and recovery in a field hospital for two months.
Once again, his mother received a letter from the war department that her son had been wounded, but would be able to return to duty upon recovery. A second Purple Heart was now on its way to the former reporter from the News Journal.
Fighting on Guam July 1944
2Class Hospital Corpsman, Cary Carlson Ward Sr.,
21st Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division
Pensacola News Journal 3-11-1945