1945 Press Photo U.S. Marine Stanford Optowsky Directs "Traffic" in Saipan

After the invasion of the Marianas, some members of the Second and Fourth Marine Divisions, veterans of Guadalcanal and Tarawa, returned to the States for a well-earned rest. Staff Sergeants Stanford Optowsky, a Marine Corps combat correspondent, and Andy Knight a combat photographer, revisited Saipan to make up an illustrated open letter for the boys back home as follows: "Dear Buddies. Quite a few months have passed since your departure from this area after two long years of Pacific fighting. How is "stateside" duty with Mom's good cooking, the old girl friends, juke boxes and those air conditioned cocktail lounges? Perhaps you're wondering what Saipan looks like today - well, you know from past experiences what miracles the Seabees and Army Engineers have worked, and it's the same here. You wouldn't know that old coral and mud of a few months back. The latest news bulletins have revealed that the famed B-29's are based here and have been blasting Tokyo. Kinda makes you feel that our past efforts were worthwhile. But maybe you would like to take a tour of the island and see for yourself, so hop into our jeep and let us show you some of the more interesting sights."

Photo is dated 1945.

Photo measures 8.25 x 10 inches.