4 2 ; ▁only ▁one ▁escaped . ▁ ▁The ▁second ▁Battle ▁of ▁Gu am ▁began ▁on ▁July ▁ 2 1 , ▁ 1 9 4 4 ▁with ▁American ▁troops ▁landing ▁on ▁western ▁side ▁of ▁the ▁island ▁after ▁several ▁weeks ▁of ▁pre - in vas ion ▁bomb ard ment ▁by ▁the ▁U . S . ▁Navy . ▁After ▁several ▁weeks ▁of ▁heavy ▁fighting , ▁Japanese ▁forces ▁officially ▁surrender ed ▁on ▁August ▁ 1 0 , ▁ 1 9 4 4 . ▁ ▁Gu am ▁was ▁subsequently ▁converted ▁into ▁a ▁forward ▁operations ▁base ▁for ▁the ▁U . S . ▁Navy ▁and ▁Air ▁Force . ▁Air fields ▁were ▁constructed ▁in ▁the ▁northern ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁island ▁( including ▁Anders en ▁Air ▁Force ▁Base ), ▁the ▁island ' s ▁pre - W W II ▁Naval ▁Station ▁was ▁expanded , ▁and ▁numerous ▁facilities ▁and ▁supply ▁dep ots ▁were ▁constructed ▁throughout ▁the ▁island . ▁ ▁Gu am ' s ▁two ▁largest ▁pre - war ▁communities ▁( Sum ay ▁and ▁H ag å t ña ) ▁were ▁virt ually ▁destroyed ▁during ▁the ▁ 1 9 4 4 ▁battle . ▁Many ▁Cham or ro ▁families ▁lived ▁in ▁temporary ▁re - sett lement ▁cam ps ▁near ▁the ▁be aches ▁before ▁moving ▁to ▁permanent ▁homes ▁constructed ▁in ▁the ▁island ' s ▁outer ▁villages . ▁Gu am ' s ▁southern ▁villages ▁largely ▁escaped ▁damage , ▁however . ▁ ▁Self - det erm ination ▁The ▁immediate ▁years ▁after ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁saw ▁the ▁U . S . ▁Navy ▁attempting ▁to ▁res ume ▁its ▁pre domin