VISITING THE BATTLEFIELD OF PELELIU (Palau)
Palau today is paradise on earth. It’s clean, diverse and clear waters offer the best diving in the world. Its forests and waterfalls offer amazing hikes. It’s green hills and island are post card perfect. It’s kind people will make you feel welcome. It’s therefore almost impossible to imagine that only 80 years ago this was hell on earth. But the traces of the bloodbath are there to be seen: all you need is curiosity and a good guide to show you these hidden historical treasures.
After winning the epic battles of Guadalcanal, Tarawa and Saipan the 1st Marine Division landed on the southwest corner of Peleliu (Palau) in September 1944. The US thought they now knew how to fight the Japanese on the islands in the Pacific: the recipe was massive naval bombardment of land-based targets followed by troops arriving on shore in waves, gathering on an island’s beaches until they had abilities and numbers to push inland.
The only problem on Peleliu was that Japan had learned their lessons too.
Here, the Japanese troops took on a new strategy: Peleliu’s many caves, connected by networks of tunnels, allowed the Japanese to dig in and hunker down and emerge to fight almost unscathed from the Allied bombardment. They held out for almost a week before U.S. forces were even able to secure the southwest area of Peleliu, including the key airstrip. When the Marines turned north to begin their advance towards the Bloody nose ridge, they were targeted along the way by heavy artillery fire and a fusillade of small arms from Japanese forces that had been installed in caves. Over the next eight days, U.S. troops sustained about 50 percent casualties in some of the most vicious and costly fighting of the Pacific campaign.
36 Comments
3:37 No, "Thousands" of Marines DID NOT get killed.
Less than 1,700 were killed, not "thousands."
Great video and I didn’t mind the background music being looped
Absolutly fascinating thank you so much
Talk about last ditch
Awesome video! Its incredible to think how the hell of the coral ridges was hidden underneath so much vegetation, and how all of it was blasted away by the pre landing naval bombardment
The 1st Marine Division WAS met on the beaches by the Japanese! You can see it portrayed in "The Pacific"… Many of the Amtracks were mortared or hit by artillery by hidden Japanese Guns from the mountains and cliff sides.
That was great! Thanks for making this video. People don't realize how horrific the battle was. In addition to a well entrenched enemy who knew the Marines were coming, the climate and bugs were horrific. Imagine coming ashore in that heat and humidity – your mouth already dry from the stress – only to be told to "push forward". Bitter fighting against a determined and well-trained foe. Total respect to the Marines, especially those guys (yes, guys) who were buried on the island before being returned home. What brave men they were. To all of you Marines, thank you.
Absolutely fascinating video. thanks
I bet it is haunted af
I’m amazed how many artifacts are still laying around (including human bones!). It’s a very well preserved island and serves as a very somber memorial. Shame that such a beautiful island was home to one of the bloodiest battles of the Pacific. Great video showcasing it.
Been there done that as an EOD tech in 1999-2001
My most favorite Marine Corps uncle was there, and on Saipan, Guam and Okinawa. I asked him, when he was alive, had he seen anyone with a camera, and he said yes. I've scoured every picture of these places and haven't seen him, yet. But his war stories prompted me to join the Marines back in '66. He said the Wind Talkers he was with would go out at night on these islands and come back with scalps. A flamethrower Marine fired into a cave and found he had killed many children hiding there… who went berserk after that. A Marine was resting under a coconut tree with helmet off whereas a coconut struck him on the head and killed him on the spot. He saw a Marine staggering along with his intestines being carried in the man's hands… and a lot more eye witnessed horror's.
Tour guide with a pot bowl around his neck.
This was a battle that should never have happened. The island had no strategic value.
My grandfather a cave clearer there. High body count. He had a Thompson. In ww2. Made it back alive. Why I am alive now.
I always wondered how these islands looked today, thanks for the video
How terrible the island looked during and after the battle, and how beautiful it looks now!
a battle that need not have happened ,all political what a same
what a same,,,shame
One can't imagine the amount of explosives, bombs, napal….. used to become the island in the desert it looks like in the 1944 battle, compared to how green it looks now.
My uncle's platoon went missing on Sept. 23, 1944. They've never found his body and didn't add his name to the missing-in-action (at the time was called Missing Presumed Dead) list at the Manilla American Cemetary until 2010. So much for the saying "no one left behind". His name was Corp. Laban Lural Foster, Jr. USMCR.
Note that the bulk of the labour to construct thede tunnels snd gun placements were done by slave labour of Korean, Chinese, Phillipine, and Malaysian people. Most eere killed or sent to another Island after their usefulness expired.
Is that island still in American possession?
Marines didnt fight on the beach at Guadalcanal. Peleliu definitely had alot of casualties on the beach. Not sure what you are talking about.
"Halsey had earlier believed that his forces could seize Ulithi without first seizing Peleliu. The most visible benefit of a subdued Peleliu lay in its use as a link in the flight path and line of communications from Hawaii, and from the Marianas, to the Philippines. The holding was a convenience, but not a necessity."
The music is cool. Anybody know what it is?
Second guessing American strategizing or command decisions is foolishness. No decision was made in the war without considerable thought and planning.
My father was in this battle. B Company, 1 Battalion, 1Regiment (Col Chesty Puller), 1 Marine Division. They were shot to pieces in the first week. 71% causality rate. My father was wounded on D+4 but survived the battle. Never talked about the war with us kids. It must have been hell on earth. Thanks for showing us Peleliu as it is today.
Great video, thanks
I have heard that said before, they killed enemy….that was its value.
Read Eugene Sledges account. Absolutely incredible. My Grandfather was a Paramarine but never made a combat jump. Believe he was attached to the 3rd Marine Division.
That spider was absolutely insane
I lived in Philippines and went to Palau islands and Corregidor its an experience can never forget
Thanks Marines
Americans were benevolent victors…. would the Japanese have treated us the same?
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