Battle of Peleliu - Part II - An Eyewitness Account

This is Part II of an eyewitness account of the World War Two Pacific Battle of Peleliu by Corporal James Edward Ellis. My father, James Ellis, was a member of the First Marine Division. He fought in four major Pacific battles: Guadal Canal, New Britain, Peleliu, and Okinawa, where he was wounded on the third day of battle and received the Purple Heart.

Please check out my novel, "The First Shall Be Last," which is based on my father's war memoirs of the Battle of Peleliu. It is available at Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, or can be ordered at your local bookstore or library.

IBSN =978-09796655-2-3

Link to Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/First-Shall-Be-Last/dp/0979665523/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&am...

BarnesandNoble.com:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-First-Shall-Be-Last/Joe-Charles-Ellis/e/...

This is Part 2 of a 3 part series. Check for part 3 in the near future.

If you have any questions or comments you can email me at joecellis@comcast.net.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• First
• Marine
• Division
• World
• War
• Two
• ii
• Peleliu
• Pacific
• Theater
• Iwo
• Jima
• Tarawa
• soldiers
• freedom
• japanese
• Guadal
• Canal

[eagleart351]

My dad Anthony(john)Esposito was a Marine ,1st Div. did 3 battles.New Britton, Peleiu, and Okinawa. I never spoke too him about the war as I was 7 when he died. Just yesterday spoke to a Marine that was with him in Pavavu,on R&R.and told me so much I did not know.It was an honor to speak to him , and I told him so....

[whalehead]

We owe a great debt to our fathers for their courage and valor in these horrific battles. The older I get, the more I appreciate the freedoms your dad and my dad preserved for us. We must never forget.

[DonnieDope]

Extremely interesting recollection. We owe all of those guys a huge debt of gratitude. Thanks for sharing it.

[whalehead]

@DonnieDope -- If you get a chance, check out HBO's The Pacific. They will be covering the Battle of Peleliu in April and May. It's a great series.

[Lunkanp]

My grandfather was in the 1st marine division on both Peleiu and guadalcanal. Awarded the silver star and purple heart...I always wonder if anyone has ever heard of him or knew him-George Derderian?

[whalehead]

Your grandfather made it through two of the toughest battles of the Pacific theater. My hat's off to him for his courage and valor in the face tremendous opposition. I know you must be proud of him.

[MrMichigan1981]

My grandfather was in the 2nd Marine Division at Guadalcanal, Tarawa, & Saipan. He was awarded the Navy Cross and two Purple Hearts. He was awarded the Purple Heart on Guadalcanal & the Navy Cross and another Purple Heart on Saipan.

[berserker276]

@crayznik Who are you talking to lol

[jared6598]

grasias a este video veo como marar

[XxCHARLLIIExX]

my grandfather was in the british queens regiment and fought in naples in italy, he was a paramedic

[crayznik]

Did you father know Pvt. Eugene Sledge or Pvt. Robert Leckie or Sergent John Basilone?

[potaoesNgravy]

@Billdriver another one is at 2:00 when he is talking about gas masks. it shows a picture of sum german soldiers from world war I in a shell hole. but at least he made the effort to find a picture. and i agree with you. many men from many lands died and should not be forgotten, weather it be our fellow canadians, or americans, or british, or anything really. they united and died for freedom.

[lonefisherfox]

my granddad was in the pacific (he wasnt a marine but just in the army) and he was a flamethrower. i never got to ask him wat battles he took place in before he died. being a flamethrower must have suck because of seeing all the burning japs running around and shit

[Billdriver]

@nelson3300 lol,well put.

Taking notice and learning military history is something some people really enjoy(as I do)

and if that includes being a stickler in editing then that indeed is a great gift you may have nelson.Thx for the reply and you and everyone take care.

Cheer's from Canada