Lost Evidence: "Peleliu" 1 of 5

It was officially known as "Operation Stalemate II" but the survivors still call it "The Forgotten Battle". It was one of the last big Pacific battles of World War II and one of the bloodiest. Even the names associated with the inhospitable strip of land in the Palau islands sound hostile and discordant: Bloody Nose Ridge, the Pocket, Five Sisters, Five Brothers and the China Wall. And to many Marines, it still represents, to steal a phrase from Charles Dickens, the worst of times.
The street named for the Palau island where thousands of young Marines lost their lives in the fall of 1944 runs peacefully through a Camp Lejeune housing area. Peleliu -- it rolls off the American tongue with difficulty -- is one of those places official military historians would prefer to pretend just doesn't exist. But it does and it has the ghosts to prove it.
The invasion of Peleliu began on Sept. 13, 1944, with concentrated naval bombardment of the island designed to help clear a path for the attack. D-Day, Sept. 15, started with a pre-dawn shelling, a couple of bombing runs and the launch of Amtrak's full of infantrymen. But these were no ordinary infantrymen.
Although there were a number of battle-hardened veterans aboard those Amtrak's, many of the Marines deployed at Peleliu were young, inexperienced draftees, teenagers straight out of basic training. It was upon these young, unpracticed shoulders that the burden of taking Peleliu would fall. Take it they would, but the price they paid would be heavy, every inch of that island bought and paid for in blood, both American and Japanese.
The decision to take Peleliu still confounds many historians. The strip known as the Palaus was considered operationally insignificant at that late point in the contest to control the Pacific theater. But a battle of wills between the Navy's Chester Nimitz and the Army's Douglas McArthur led to an American operational plan to proceed with the battle on Peleliu.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• WorldWarII
• Peleliu
• naval
• combat
• empire
• japan
• axis
• allies
• pacific
• Navy
• Mcarthur
• phillipines
• island
• death
• violence

[Nick1944]

If you want to talk to a REAL Peleliu and Okinawa Veteran, send a friend request to "Sterling Mace" on facebook. He's the real deal. He was a BAR man in K/3/5. He is a really nice guy and will talk to anyone. He has a lot of friends from around the globe on facebook and he has a book about his experiences coming out later this year, I highly recommend adding him as a friend.

[MisterSam1000]

@Hamptoncltn Well first off i'm Australian not an American but i must say this, your grandfather was a hero and i appreciate that. In my opinion anyone who fights for their country is a hero in my books. May he Rest In Peace.

[Mrgruntastic]

@Nick1944 please link me his page or something

[Mrgruntastic]

@Nick1944 I was in 3/5 Kilo!!! Doing it now

[MAKER6450]

How can something like this become a "forgotten battle"???

i just dont get it.

This is one of the bloodiest and most brutal fights in history....and it was forgotten?

well im glad i know about it and iv got nothing but respect for the lads that fought there.

[alphex1000]

Americans really underestimated the japan forces may the veterans rest in peace

[TimothyOakes]

I think it is important that the veteran's who are willing to share their experiences really should good or bad..axis or allied. Stories like these can't be forgottten.

[FantasyFinal4]

@MrBob142536 You know what. I know that. I also know the defeat of Japan during the battle for Manchuria.. And how they were "Allied" With the japs until 1945. Then the Soviet Union agreed to Allied pleas to terminate the neutrality pact with Japan and enter the Second World War's Pacific theatre.

[MrBob142536]

@cbinardo

The japs knew the jungles and how to use them against the USMC, The tanks were weak but small meaning there easily hidden, there arty was also at times easily hidden, can you imagine a 5 foot guy charging you with a bayonet about 2 feet?, the M4A3's armor was easily penetrated, the marines HAD to use the flamethrower to advance in Palau and Guadalcanal at times, the jap navy and air force was better equipped than the USMC's...any more questions?

[MrBob142536]

@FantasyFinal4

Japan invading the USSR...Or you crazy or just stupid...there were over a million soviets waiting for a jap attack and there was still plenty in reserve fighting in Stalingrad, Leningrad and Moscow

[fallout111111]

@FantasyFinal4 yes if they hadent dropped the atomic boms japan would never surrender and they would have to kill every japanse

[FantasyFinal4]

@cbinardo Japanese became desperate. They began to suicide bomb. They began to charge their man direct in enemy fire. They used children just as hitler used childerens. It was even worse than Germany. Their troops were driven by anger and by starvation. If you ask an Japanese soldier today. They wouldnt say. FIGHT TO THE LAST MAN STANDING.

And dont try to use the U.S Atomic bombs as an excuse. Because those bombs saved millions uppon millions of lives.