Peleliu Battle Visitor Comments

It is 2007 in July, my Dad, a member of K Company 3rd Batt 1st Marines 2nd platoon just passed on this past December 3 and was laid to rest in Calverton National Cemetery on Pearl Harbor Day. Dad was working in New York at one of the newspapers and was on the teletype so he was one of the first to read or hear about Pearl Harbor that is what came to mind as we arrived at the Cemetery. He and his best friend went out and joined the Marines and they spent boot camp and the rest of the war together until Peleliu.

Dad never talked much of the combat as you say. He spoke of Guadalcanal and Australia and how on Cape Gloucester . Puller had them lined up behind tanks as the went across an open field on the terrain. He was to the left of the tank trap that 2nd Platoon found themselves in on D day on Peleliu. He and another made their way to Capt Hunts CP and spent the first night on the Point cut off and in hand to hand combat. He never spoke about it, except to say he was lucky.I too have found some members of 2nd Platoon there are about 5 left alive from that battle. They have sort of adopted me. I always tried to find Marines on the Internet hoping to find guys dad knew. I found a cousin of Lt Woodyard who was killed the first day but that was all now after Dad's demise I am finding them.

We all owe so much to these men who help preserve the "World" I hope that when history looks back on the "Boomers" it finds them in good company with their Mothers and Fathers. No one wants war, I certainly do not not for me or my family or any other but I do not know how to end this fanatical insistence from abroad against our democracy. I hope that the voices from our fathers will guide us from the street of Heaven. For as we know the street of Heaven are guarded by the United States.

I am a graduate student in invertebrate biology who has been working on the ants
of Micronesia. Last week I published the descriptions of several species of
ants which are new to science. One of these species was first collected on
Peleliu Island only months after the terrible WWII battle there. As this
species has only been found on Peleliu, I have named it "Camponotus
peleliuensis," and I dedicate its naming to the U.S. Marines and Infantrymen
who fought there.

Please find attached the scientific publication in which this species is named
and dedicated. The description starts on page 9, its photos are in Plate 3B-D,
and the dedication is on page 10 under "Etymology." This paper appeared in the
journal "Zootaxa" on May 17th.

It is my sincere hope that the families of Peleliu veterans will accept my small
tribute. I join all Americans in sending them my appreciation for their
sacrifice on this Memorial Day.

Ronald M. Clouse May 28, 2007
Department of Organismic & Evolutionary Biology, and Museum of Comparative Zoology, Dept. of Invertebrates Harvard University
Click here to read Clouse's article and see a picture of the Peleliu ant, Camponotus peleliuensis

My grandfather, Roy J Jones, fought on Peleliu in 1944. Was part of the first wave of Marines to storm the beaches. I was too young to remember any of his stories, not that he talked a lot about it, but I remember him saying he was 16 years old and an E-5 during this time. If anyone has any information on my grand father, I would greatly appreciate it.

My name is Neil Pantelis and I'm from Chicago. My father (Constantine G. Pantelis) was a radioman on New Britain, Peleliu, & Okinawa (7th Marines). They just called him "the Greek" back then. I recently stumbled on your photographs of Peleliu and some of your writings on the internet. I have learned a lot about Peleliu in the past 10 years or so and I appreciate and share in your respect for those soldiers. Dad is 85 and doing well in Florida. He has been telling me much about his time in the service and I have made quite a few cassette recordings of him speaking. I will one day pass them on to my son who is 20 years old now. I just wanted to say hi and pass along a copy of the only photo we have from then (New Britain Island). Dad is in the bottom row all the way to the right with the his finger near the trigger of his Thompson. The Japanese were very close to this position. As you probably know, there was rarely a clearing on New Britain Island so this photo was quite an achievement for the photographer. Years back I was able to contact one other man in the photo by the name of Karl Crawford, a Navaho from California. He was happy to receive a copy of this photo because it was the only thing he brought back from the war and lost his copy in around 1969. Hope you and your family are well. A hello and thank you to your father. Click here to see the New Britain Photograph.

Hi. Something I would like to say to all Pacific veterans:
THANK YOU

M. Roman May 9, 2005

I just finished the chapter on your visit to Peleliu. I can imagine the intense emotions of visiting the places of you dad's youth. Having read George Hunt's book, Coral Comes High, I was fascinated to see the perspective from the Japanese position on The Point. I've read before that the island has been reforested over the decades since World War II. I wonder how this affected your own ideas of what it might look like before your trip? Peleliu holds special meaning for you since your dad was in combat there, and you have an appreciation for what he and his brother Marines and Soldiers did there. I would love to visit the Pacific battlefields someday. The perspectives always seem broader in World War II photos. When I look at modern color pictures of the Pacific battle fields, they always seem so cramped and constricting.
   I heard a few days ago from the son of LtCol John Butler. He was the skipper of LT 1/27 on Iwo Jima and was killed by a direct hit on his jeep by a Japanese 47mm antitank round on 3 March 1945. His son visited Iwo for the 60th anniversary. He wrote me the island is mostly covered now with 15-20 foot tall shrubbery that really blocks the views of specific locations.
   In 2000 I was stationed in Kuwait at Camp Doha. I was the first sergeant for the Ground Element for CJTF-Kuwait. One day I was standing in line at the disbursing office waiting to cash a check when I felt a tap on my shoulder. It turned out to be my platoon leader from Desert Storm. He was assigned to ARCENT Headquarters and was in Kuwait for a big CPX. We got to talking about the old days and decided to take a staff ride on our route of attack through northern Kuwait in the war. We took some other folks along with us and left Camp Doha heading northwest into the Badlands near the old neutral zone.
   I think I experienced some of the same feelings you did as you hiked up Pope Hill. In my case, it was my memories of Desert Storm. We found the spot where we broke through (overran really) the last Iraqi positions on the Highway going north out of Kuwait City into Safwan. We stood right on the same spot where we knocked out some Iraqi tanks in 1991, but 9 years later. We had one of the other soldiers take our picture on the crossroads. I felt like my younger (I know this sounds corny, but it's how I've always thought of it) ghost, or something, was standing behind me. I always felt like I left a part of me in the desert out there.
   My dad is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. He served in Italy as an infantryman in the 85th Inf Div. He spoke very little about his wartime experiences, but I always knew they tortured him throughout his life. He was a career soldier who also served in the Korean War. He died much too young. I've been back there twice to visit his grave, the last time in 2003. Like you hiking down Pope's Hill, I was overcome with emotion at my dad's grave thinking about him and the cost of World War II, which is still being paid to this day.
   I know some people would read your book and classify your trip as a vacation. I don't see it like that at all. It seems to me you took a sort of pilgrimage to those places. I really like the title of your book. I feel like I have a better than average understanding of the Marine Corps in World War II. Even to me, places such as Peleliu, Tarawa, and Guadalcanal, all seem like they might as well be on the moon, they're so far away. It must have seemed even more so to Marines like your dad in the 1940's.
   It's too bad your book isn't in wider distribution. It really fills an interesting a little covered niche. It's a combination travel log and historical monologue. It was funny, because when I first started reading it, I thought, "I don't care anything about scuba diving." But it sucked me in, and I found just that part to be fun, especially since it's something I've never read about. But then I thought of it as a link to your dad's wartime service.
   Thanks very much. Your dad had a unique and interesting career in the Corps. It's just fortunate that you had the interest in preserving his story. So many of them are being lost to us. There is so much to the military experience besides what we read about in battle histories.
Web sites like yours do a great service, because they remind people that war isn't just about the battles, but the entire experience, of which combat plays a huge role.
PS–Are you professional historian?
Keep up the great work,

Mark Flowers, March 20, 2005 & December 29, 2004 www.ww2gyrene.org

My name is Don Brizzolara and I am a petroleum geologist living in Alaska. I am a former Army veteran of the Vietnam era and have had a long passion for military history. I commend you on your wonderful Peleliu website. I have visited Peleliu and Iwo Jima on several occasions and will most likely make a return trip to Peleliu in 2005. Peleliu keeps drawing me back as it is a beautifully preserved WWII battlefield..a veritable time capsule. I noticed several of your photographs were taken by Gabe Ineichen. Gabe’s father-in-law happens to be John Bailey, a Peleliu veteran and very good friend of mine. There is still much that I would like to accomplish up in the Umurbrogols…so many caves, tunnels and long forgotten fighting positions to explore. Hence, I must return before the scrub jungle returns it all to its natural state. Thanks, once more, for your wonderful memorial to your father. I found it deeply moving. I have often stopped to study in detail the photgraph of the Marines tossing their explosives…the one with your father in it…what a great photograph. The pained facial expressions tell of an absolutely horrific encounter. Please write when you can. I would surely like to hear more about your observations.

Don Brizzolara, December 15, 2004

My dad that was in the Marines. He passed away in 1989. He was in the 1st Marines, 1st Regiment, 2nd Battalion G company. He landed on White Beach, he was at Bloody Nose Ridge and said that it was the closest that he every came to being an animal. Like your father, my dad said that he could not remember much of what happened through most of our lives when we would ask him questions. But just before he died he started to tell us a little about it. The biggest surprise was that he remembered everything like it had just happened yesterday. We have just learned recently that G company was a where the gunners and their crews were dispersed to the different companies as they were needed. I have read different accounts of the battles and G company was not mentioned very often and we think this is why. We never knew which company he was assigned to during the battle. He said that of the 3 major campaigns that he was in, Peleliu was by far the worst.

Harry Cannady, July 29, 2004

I read your article on Palau Island. My brother was killed on Peleliu in 1944. He was with the 1st Marine Division and I think he was 22 years old when he was killed. I would like to speak with your father and show him a picture of my brother to see if he knew him.

Gary Bratsos, June 3, 2004

I read your article in the Tampa Tribune about your father and the battle of Peleliu with great interest. My father was with the 1st Marines and was also there. He kept a journal which I transcribed after his death in 2000. I found this to be very theraputic. I wished I had asked more questions about the war, but like so many of his generation it was just something they didn't talk about. He lived in Memphis, TN when he enlisted after graduation from Christian Brothers High School. I have attached the journal if case you'd be interested in reading it. He mentions Bob Hope and a number of the same things in your website. Thanks for all the information.

Linda D. Frank, June 2, 2004

My father's only sibling, PFC Alonzo Austin Ford, died on Peleliu in October of 1944. I grew up with stories of my "Uncle Lonnie". With the passing of my father last year, I have continued to regret not telling my uncle's story. A photo taken of him very shortly before his death is in the book, "The Old Breed". Dad found it quite by accident while browsing a bookstore years ago. The fact that Lonnie would be remembered through that book meant a great deal to my dad. I enjoyed reading about your father's journey on that same little island. Our generation is indebted to men like your father. Thank you again for sharing his story.

Martha J. Fry, June 1, 2004

That is one terrific web site. Congratulations on your excellent work. I read about it in the Sunday Tampa Tribune and immediately went to your web site. I think it is a great tribute to America's Greatest Generation.

Allen D. Gwyn, May 30, 2004

Great website! I'm Phil Orr, and I provided the present day photos of Peleliu for the Marine Corps monograph Bloody Beaches that you reference. I've traveled extensively in the Pacific, and worked on the 40th anniversary of the battle of Guam and the 50th of Guam, Saipan and Peleliu. I plan to return to all three next year for the 60th anniversaries and wondered if you might be interested in a visit yourself. The visit will probably occupy the entire month of July 2004.

Ed Reply: Thanks for your note and I will give your suggestion serious thought. I have already booked a trip to Truk, Yap and the Palaus (including Peleliu) for early in 2004. I've made arrangements with Tangie Hesus (highly recommended by Everett Pope) to guide me to the battle sites on Peleliu. I'm looking forward to diving the waters around the islands and visiting the battle sites where my father served in the USMC and also keep my own personal journal of thoughts and impressions. Here’s Tangy’s note to me from Peleliu:

Hey Pat,

Phil Orr: I met Tangie in 1994 and Everett Pope in 1998 at a Medal of Honor Convention here in Riverside, Ca. On the archaeological side, I prefer the summer at the end of the dry season, since there is less vegetation then and things are easier to find/see. I think you would be surprised at the sheer volume of detritus on Peleliu... and especially compared to some of the other island battlefields. Palau has a wealth of wrecks to dive, although most were at least partially salvaged right after the war. The wrecks on Truk are fantastic by comparison, as most have been left relatively untouched. Based on your itinerary, you'll stop in Guam, and there is an interesting, although picked over wreck site in the harbor there. It's unique in that a W.W. II wreck is actually touching a W.W. I wreck..... two ships together. I have a porthole from the Japanese freighter. I found it somewhat puzzling that locals would seemingly pretend not to know about things such as a pillbox that might be 40 yards from their house. At the same time they seemed very nonchalant about potential lethality. I remember Tangie kicking a hand grenade out of his way for example. I never really tried to explain it, but it did make for some interesting tidbits to add to various things I wrote. I personally had to learn which pieces of ordnance to be afraid of over the years, and it is everywhere. But I distinctly remember the feelings that if it hadn't blown up in the 40 or 50 years it had sat there, what was the likelihood of it doing so while I was briefly there? Sometimes I guess we doubt our own mortality. But, I will no longer disturb a 6.5 cm knee mortar round for example. Is there wisdom with age?

Ed Reply: I have received a copy of the Marine monograph Bloody Beaches in mint condition. Noticed your photos on pages 19, 28 and 33 during a quick perusal before sending it via FedEx to my father. The maps are very detailed, and I saw that one of your photos showed ordnance scattered about. My father has identified himself in a photograph on page 36, standing up as he and other Marines launched grenades or other incendiary devices. This was corroborated by two of my siblings who picked him out while leafing through the booklet. We have pictures of him from those days, and it is easy to recognize him. His right hand is bandaged from a bullet wound. He still carries the scar. My sister asked him why he didn't follow the fundamental rule "duck and cover."

Phil Orr: That's pretty cool, and may even be the first time he's seen the photo. I wonder though if there is a second edition, as in mine it's page 30. I think I noticed page differences in other emails you have mentioned about the book. I believe in that monograph I have about ten photos, but they also gave me credit for one of the Tom Lea paintings. I had Everett Pope and Arthur Jackson sign the monograph at the 1998 Medal of Honor Convention. In fact I have the complete monograph series, which the Marine Corps Historical Center was kind enough to give me. It was actually by chance that I had met the Director after returning from the 50th's and then found him in some of my photographs from the various ceremonies. Their photographs didn't turn out, so I provided them for a couple issues of Fortitudine and that led to the Peleliu monograph...which luckily for me was about 8 months behind in its publication date. I now have over 2000 photos of extant artifacts on various islands going as far back as 1982 and including 11 bodies that I have discovered.

Ed Reply: My father was wounded on Hill 260 while serving with 2/7. The hill might be one of the Five Sisters. He got there by going down the west road and climbing the ridge. The battle went on for months, and they were still pulling enemy soldiers out of the caves in 1947, so the idea of a traditional "front" does not apply to the network of caves and tunnels on Peleliu.

Phil Orr: Five Sisters is consistent with what is reported as the line of battle on the 26th. From the West Road it would have been about 150 yards over the karst and he would have had to cross in front of the mouth of Death Valley. Hill 260 is bound to be on a map somewhere, but I have yet to see a very detailed one. Perhaps some of the early writings would contain a good map. Suffice it to say though that the Umurbrogol is a very confusing place. Prominent ridges are easy to spot from without or from the air, but once you get "into" it, it kind of closes in around you. If it's 1000 yards from Hill 100, it's going to be quite a bit more west than north. Your Dad also references "Bloody Nose Ridge," which is quite prominent. There is a photo of it on page 42 of the monograph and currently there is a monument on it as well. The two ridges in the photo correspond to the two lowest right ridges depicted near the road intersections on the map on page 27 of the monograph. While the line of battle was a little beyond it on Sept 26th, it sounds like he was probably right near there. Although, you'd have to say that the line of battle as depicted in various books was actually quite fluid given that most of the cave positions were only discovered when they started firing upon U.S. troops.... often after they had passed by. It should be real easy to locate Hill 100, which is just off the East Road, which still exists. I've never actually pinpointed it, but know about where it is. Tangie may know. Actually there are about 500 caves and many of which are still sealed from demolition and nearly impossible to locate now. There are 8 different cave configurations on Peleliu.

USMC WWII Combat at Peleliu
August - September 1944

Visits & Contributions

USMC WWII Combat at Peleliu August - September 1944

Visits & Contributions

USMC WWII Combat at Peleliu
August - September 1944