If you need any more proof of a dog’s loyalty — or his firm role as man’s best friend — look no further than this photo, taken during the Second Battle of Guam. During a rare moment of peace and playfulness, a United States Marine looks at a husky scouting dog. There’s something surreal about how normal their exchange feels, in the midst of such chaos. After Guam was captured by Imperial Japanese forces in December 1941, Americans were defeated during the First Battle. The island remained occupied by the Japanese until August 1944, when US forces were finally able to reclaim it. While the second battle was brutal for American forces, losing 1,777 men, the Japanese were thought to have lost 18,657.
Guam, Mariana Islands.
August 1944.
Image taken by W. Eugene Smith.
Credit: Anti-Worlds
