World war 2 battle of Peleliu (Palau): how it looks today!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ส.ค. 2024
- 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.
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.
damn
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.
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.
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.
My brother and I did this same tour in September. Our dad was in both theaters of the war but not here. It was quite moving, thinking about the conditions of suffocating heat on top of the battle and everything these men endured. Thank God for people like them.
How terrible the island looked during and after the battle, and how beautiful it looks now!
Outstanding presentation! My father US Army 1942-45 With the 672 Amphibious Tractor Battalion (AMTRACS) not at Peleliu but other amphibious assaults. The music is soothing yet eerie at the same time. Sounds like something from Fleetwood Mac.
A small handful of Japanese holdouts surrendered in 1947
There was a group of 3 or 4 who never knew the war ended. I forget if it was on Peliliue or not. 1 of the men held out for over 20 years without knowing the war ended.
And in 1954.
@@h0lyhandgr3nad36That was true on the Philippines also.
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 lived in Philippines and went to Palau islands and Corregidor its an experience can never forget
Thank you. I visited in 2017 (former US Marine). You got to see much more than I did so it was good to view that. Amazing that they are resurrecting the airstrip too. Such a forgotten and somewhat controversial battle, and the battlefields seemed so much more concentrated than what I had imagined while reading the books about it. Tough fighting for both sides for sure.
This was a battle that should never have happened. The island had no strategic value.
War is man's insanity on parade.
The lives lost makes me appreciate the freedom I have however to the families of the lost my heart breaks for your loss. May God bless you and give you peace.
Amazing how the jungle has grown back.
Excellent video!! We'll done and LOVE the music--what is the song and artist?
They will never get people to fight like that again. Solemn ground.. my Great Uncle fought there.
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
Thanks for taking the time to do this. Enjoyed your video.
Well done, looks pretty much the same as it did in the late 90's.
The whole operation was a travesty driven by MacArthurs obsession that his southern flank would be vulnerable in the coming return to the Philippines if we bypassed this island. Nothing could have been further from the truth, the Navy guys like Nimitz & Halsey saw this, said a bypassed Peleliu would be no threat. We were soon to have an entire fleet anchorage at nearby Ulithi with no casualties at all, landed unopposed. Nimitz proposed that we concentrate resources towards Formosa and the backwater of Peleliu could be used for target practice. FDR's handlers favored Mac and catered to his every whim, and the needless slaughter commenced.
Not only badly conceived but poorly scouted, they estimated the island would be clear within 8 days, and we all know how that turned out.
My Dad fought in this battle and landed on Orange Beach three. They cleared the southern tip and the lagoon. there’s a beautiful museum in Vacaville California that displays many of his World War II Rolex and a nice piece of this entire battle. My sister wrote a book of his story along with his brother. The book is called Semper Fi, Marine. And is written by my sister, Rhonda Lomeli.
My dad was witness to the Sherman tank that hit the landmine and his account of this is in the book
Incredible!!! Awesome work, thank you!
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.
I find it unlikely that he would have been at Saipan, Guam, Peleliu, and Okinawa given that the guys who fought on Saipan did not go to Peleliu as well as the fact that Saipan took place just a few months before Peleliu. Marine units at the time were usually given a few months at least of RR after a battle like Saipan or Peleliu. The First Marine division had roughly 5-6 months of downtime after Peleliu.
@@cwcovington16 All wrong. Eyewitness account overrules your speculation.
@oldmanjoe6808 He COULDN'T of been at Peleliu and Saipan, this battle was fought exclusively by one division of the USMC, the 1st Marine Division in September to mid October 1944. The old breed never set foot on Saipan as they would've been resting on Pavuvu during the time the battle was fought. I'm not doubting that your uncle fought as a Marine in WW2, but you're definitely confused about where he fought.
@@jaybeeonyt I'll take the word of the eyewitness before that of a total stranger who wasn't there.
Great video thank you 👍 really good tour
Honest feedback - the music gets a bit wearing - consider having more silence or ambient sound instead of non stop short loop
I always wondered how these islands looked today, thanks for the video
Great video and info about that battle,when you have a chance,bring more info about the another islands close by,👍🏻
Powerful. Well done, very respectful.
Surprised to see human remains, presumably Japanese, as Japan is these days a major benefactor to Palau, and strong on repatriating their dead. Many, including myself, now go to Peleliu to dive the spectacular walls and holes of the southern tip area. Our guides took us to a picnic spot on an inlet (Camp Beck dock?). Very peaceful, very pretty. The locals in that area not interested in even acknowledging visitors.
Absolutely fascinating video. thanks
"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."
I bet it is haunted af
Thank you.
Absolutly fascinating thank you so much
That spider was absolutely insane
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.
Great video and I didn’t mind the background music being looped
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.
26 apparently
TY🙏🙏
This was really well done!
The 1st MARDIV did not fight on Tarawa or Saipan.
Did you stay at Dolphin Bay?
Nice video.
Thanks for correcting the misnomer!
G/2/5 1st MarDiv 68-69
@@Boz_-st4jt My Great Uncle was a replacement after Peleliu. I have a picture of him and some other Marines after Okinawa hanging on my bedroom wall.
Very good video!
My grandfather was almost killed there as well. He was marine and never wanted to talk about what happened. I have a picture of my grandfather on this island.
tammy.....a PIC.. WOW!
Please do yourself a favour... Don't throw stuff around if you don't know what it is when you walk the battlefield. It could be a fuze or something semilar. Some of them could still explode.
Nice video and take care of yourself.
Great video, thanks
Marines didnt fight on the beach at Guadalcanal. Peleliu definitely had alot of casualties on the beach. Not sure what you are talking about.
If the island of Peleliu hasn't already done so it should build a museum depicting that battle. Also, they should have it equipped to accommodate both American and Japanese tourists.
There is a museum there. All of Palau is set-up to accommodate both American and Japanese tourists.
Sadly, it sounds like the museum has fallen to disrepair.
Very good video. The battlefield seems much better preserved than Tarawa.
whats Tarawa
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.
Reading it now- hard read. Gotta wonder why humans do the things they do. Heartbreaking.
What music is that? I would like to hear more
I have heard that said before, they killed enemy….that was its value.
My wife’s uncle fought there.
The music is cool. Anybody know what it is?
Im also wondering who recorded the music
Thank Almighty GOD for the United States Marine Corps!
At 6:37 I don't think this are Marines, they could Air force engineers.
Just saw this video. You end to research better. The 1st Marine Div. Did NOT fight at Tarawa or Saipan.
a battle that need not have happened ,all political what a same
Were did all the inhabitants of the island go to escape the battles and where are their memorials?
At 12:21 the 1st paragraph explains that those inhabiting the island were taken off before any fighting.
The background music is appropriate for a vacation spot video, but not for this kind of presentation.
What a waste of Manpower, total slaughterhouse, could have been bypassed n Marine lives spared, but you know Marine officers dont know how to say no, Chesty Puller just kept throwing his men into the meat grinder.
Nimitz wanted to go in a different direction which would've bypassed Peleliu, but Roosevelt sided with MacArthur and his wanting to re-take the Philippines. At the time, Peleliu was supposed to be key in aiding MacArthur.
The operation was going to be called off, but it was too late and it was already underway
Air HQ is definitely the original nazi zombies map on COD!!
Yep, they reused the building asset from the Peleliu missions
Is that island still in American possession?
Know your history.
Talk about last ditch
Second guessing American strategizing or command decisions is foolishness. No decision was made in the war without considerable thought and planning.
what a same,,,shame
Been there done that as an EOD tech in 1999-2001
What are the legalities over "cavers" removing gold teeth from the remains of Japanese?
How about “sick”.
Tour guide with a pot bowl around his neck.
Godwin is a great guy.
Thanks Marines
HEMIC....the ARMY doesn't count?
Americans were benevolent victors.... would the Japanese have treated us the same?
Dont do the "my hair...my face.." intros man..poor taste in that solemn context.
Yea, and that was after I had to pause each time to read a paragraph that was up for 5 sec.
Only lasted till "my face my hair" ten..
Im gone wit this.
Thanks for your heads on tackiness ✌️
You are right, sorry about that. Regret having that in there. My bad!
@@martintravelmaniac youth and exuberance are understandable...elders are here to help cuz we made the mistakes. Only way we notice them...ur good to go now i reckon