Lost WWII Combat Footage of U.S. Marines Taking Peleliu

2015-06-19T14:10:18-04:00

Called, “The bitterest battle of the war for the Marines,” the Battle of Peleliu was a decisive victory in the Pacific Theater and a pivotal, strategic stronghold in defeating the Japanese in WWII.

In one month the 1st Marine Division suffered 5,000 casualties on the island.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEZCNTedeEk

US Marines Intense Combat Footage Battle of Peleliu and Ngesebus Island WW2 w/ Sound

US Marines in Heavy Combat Operations on Peleliu and Ngesebus Island WW2 with sound. Mainly shot from a ridge overlooking the battlefield, this film gives th...

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Jun 19 at 2015 2:17 PM

2015-06-19T14:17:09-04:00

Great footage of a fierce battle. Somewhere I have one of the US Military official histories of this battle.

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Jun 19 at 2015 2:22 PM

2015-06-19T14:22:49-04:00

This footage of our Devil Dogs show further show why the men during WWII are known as the Greatest Generation!

The 1st MARDIV suffered 5,000 casualties in a month....you want to know how fierce the fighting was, look at the angle of the big guns, the artillery was firing virtually without any elevation! Thank you for sharing this footage!

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Jun 19 at 2015 2:40 PM

2015-06-19T14:40:25-04:00

Great story. Thanks for the intel. 5,000 in a month. It makes you wonder how anyone survived until the end of the war.

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Jun 19 at 2015 3:58 PM

2015-06-19T15:58:00-04:00

From all accounts Peleliu was a tough nut to crack. The film showing the tank-infantry cooperation was interesting and having served with tanks , it was interesting to see them maneuver in that restricted terrain. The flame weapons employment was interesting to see as well. It is my understanding that flame weapons are no longer used.

Great film of hard combat.

Stay on the tank.

Response by Cpl Eric Witzel made Jun 19 at 2015 4:09 PM

2015-06-19T16:09:07-04:00

The greatest generation! What you did for our great nation will never be forgotten. Semper Fi!

Response by CPO Emmett (Bud) Carpenter made Jun 19 at 2015 4:18 PM

2015-06-19T16:18:46-04:00

My dad and his shipmates picture taken aboard the USS Burfish after doing the recon of Peleilu. My dad is the person with the knife.

Response by SSgt Dan Montague made Jun 19 at 2015 6:25 PM

2015-06-19T18:25:54-04:00

I was able to visit the island back in 98. I could never find words to explain what I saw. Tons of equipment is still there untouched. As we walked around the stories we were told came to light. I have been to several battle grounds, but this one touched me the most. Several things we saw are still fresh in my mind; the radio with a bullet hole through it, pair of boots, helmets riddled with holes a knocked out Japanese and American tank locked in battle so close they could have spit on each other.. Mostly is the story of Capt Pope USMChttp://http://www.sptimes.com/2005/08/28/Worldwarii/A_hero_s_hill_that_no.shtml

What isn't printed is what Pope did when he and his wife went back. They were riding in a vehicle touring the island. Pope yelled to the driver to stop. He jumped out and RAN up HIS hill. Pope hill. As he ran he picked up rocks reciting the names of his men that died that day. He made it half way up the hill before his son retrieved him.
I had the honor of climbing Pope hill. I can't find the words to express what he and his men went through to take that steep hill under constant fire.

Worldwarii: A hero's hill that no one needed

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Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Jun 19 at 2015 8:51 PM

2015-06-19T20:51:54-04:00

Awesome historical approach with much respect to the Marines.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Jun 20 at 2015 3:54 PM

2015-06-20T15:54:47-04:00

I really appreciate everyone's efforts to keep us in touch with our rich military heritage. This footage is awesome and I hope the powers that be do that restoration stuff and put this out to the History Channel type shows, National Archives, etc. I have a hard time viewing them since I got married to a Japanese woman who lost her grandpa in the war. As you can imagine, their citizens don't learn the history of WWII in quite the same way. It must be a really hard pill to swallow. Their focus is on the sacrifice of the military for their country. I told her it is the same thing for us.

Response by CSM William Payne made Jun 1 at 2016 12:48 AM

2016-06-01T00:48:02-04:00

The 1st Marine Division didn't as so much take the island as more fought to a stalemate. Two regiments of the 81st Infantry Division, the 321 and the 323 replaced the 1st Marine Regiment under then Marine Corp legend, COL "Chesty" Puller and another unit early in the fighting. The 81st eventually replaced all the Marines and the fighting went on for about six more weeks until the island was secure. The 1st Marine Divison was so devastated after the September 1944 invasion of Peleliu that they would be out of the fight until the Battle of Okinawa the following April. There have been several books written about the battle from the Marines perspective of the fight where the 81st just seems to be a footnote listed as just coming in to do the cleanup. Not so much. Here is the one book that tells the story from the Army and the 81st Infantry Division's point of view.