NRR Project: The Library of Congress Marine Corps Combat Field Recording Collection, Second Battle of Guam (July 20-August 11, 1944)

 

NRR Project: The Library of Congress Marine Corps Combat Field Recording Collection, Second Battle of Guam

July 20-August 11, 1944

As usual, I must point to Karen Fishman’s excellent explanatory essay on this entry.

The combat field recordings in this collection were captured by Marine combat correspondents during battles in the Pacific. The original intent was to record native songs and rituals on the islands fought for by U.S. forces.

However, the project morphed into something larger. Taking incredible risks, correspondents recorded actual combat, and also covered briefing sessions, interviews, and messages home. Altogether, many hours of material was gathered, and remains stored in the Library of Congress for the use of researchers. This represents the first time thorough documentation of combat was attempted.

The National Recording Registry Project tracks one writer’s expedition through all the recordings in the National Recording Registry in chronological order. Next time: Louis Jordan performs Caldonia.