Battle of Peleliu

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Battle of Peleliu

Date	September 15, 1944 – November 25, 1944
Location	Peleliu, Palau Islands
Result	American victory

Combatants

United States

Japan

Commanders

William H. Rupertus, USMC

Kunio Nakagawa

Strength

2 divisions (1st Marine Division and the USA 81st Infantry Division)

Approximately 11,000 men

Casualties

2,336 killed and 8,450 wounded

10,695 killed, 202 captured

Mariana and Palau Islands campaign
Saipan – Philippine Sea – Guam – Tinian – Peleliu – Angaur

The Battle of Peleliu, like the bloody World War II island campaigns before it, was a fight to capture an airstrip on a speck of coral in the Western Pacific. And, as with previous island battles, the Americans would prevail, but at a higher cost than anticipated, against the determined resistance of the Japanese forces.

By the summer of 1944 victories in the Southwest and Central Pacific had brought the war even closer to Japan, with American bombers now able to strike at the Japanese homeland itself. But there was disagreement by the U.S. Joint Chiefs over two proposed strategies to crush the Japanese Empire. One strategy proposed by General Douglas MacArthur called for the recapture of the Philippines, followed by the capture of Okinawa then Formosa for an attack at the Chinese mainland. From there, the eventual invasion of Japan would come. Admiral Chester Nimitz, on the other hand, favored a more direct strategy of bypassing the Philippines, but seizing Okinawa and Formosa as staging areas for the future invasion of Japan's southernmost islands.

As for Peleliu, both commanders' strategies included the invasion of this island, but for different reasons, and the 1st Marine Division had already been chosen to make the assault. To settle this dispute, President Franklin D. Roosevelt traveled to Pearl Harbor to personally meet both commanders and hear their respective arguments. After a review of both positions, MacArthur's strategy was chosen. However, before MacArthur could retake the Philippines, the Palau Islands, Peleliu and Anguar specifically, were wrongly thought to be necessary for neutralization and building an airfield to protect his right flank. This turned out not to be necessary at all. What followed was a ferocious battle lasting more than two months and costing over 12,000 lives on both sides. Engaging on Peleliu was the 1st Marine Division, and also the US Army 81st Infantry Division that had already overrun the smaller island of Anguar.

The 1st Marine Division was severely mauled by casualties on Peleliu, and it remained out of action until the invasion of Okinawa on April 1, 1945.

On the recommendation of Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr., the planned occupation of Yap Island in the Palaus was cancelled. Halsey actually (rightly) recommend that the landings on Peleliu and Anguar be cancelled, too, and their Marines and soldiers be thrown into Leyte Island, instead. But Halsey was overruled by the CINCPAC, Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz.

[edit] Honors and recognitions

Two marines rest during mopping up operations on Peleliu

The nation's highest award: The Medal of Honor was presented to eight Marines in the fight for Peleliu, five of whom were decorated posthumously (indicated by *):