Eventually most of the 11,000 Japanese soldiers on the island were killed or committed suicide, but it took more than two months to accomplish (September to November 1944), and American casualties were some of the highest of any battle in the Pacific. Wikipedia and other sources claim that Peleliu had the highest casualty rate for US forces in an amphibious operation during the entire Pacific War. To this day, historians argue about whether the battle was even necessary.
In 1952, the original inhabitants of Peleliu, who had been relocated to other parts of Palau by the Japanese, were allowed to return to the island, but basically had to start over, since all vegetation and structures had been destroyed by the American bombing and invasion. Fix’s grandparents were some of those who returned to Peleliu in 1952, though much of his family now lives in the U.S.
2019 was the 75th anniversary of the American invasion and liberation of Peleliu, and a new monument was just opened on the south end of the island, honoring the U.S. Marines who were the first to come ashore.
Bravo!!! You captured it all! Thank you!
Our pleasure! It’s been fun to go through everything. Thanks for reading!