Today
Peleliu was the site of some of the bloodiest battles of WWII. Though only 5 sq miles (13 sq km) in area, in two months there were over 20,000 casualties, more than the current population of the whole country.  Many of the island's residents today are survivors of that campaign. During the fighting, Peleliu's forest were burned to the ground, but now regowth has replaced the scars of war.  If there weren't the occasional pillbox, rusting tank or war memorial to remind you, you could almost forget the island's violent past. Heavily defended by the Japanese, there are still tanks, amtracs, a Zero, canteens, helmets, etc. are still scattered in the jungle from the war.

History
6,000 Japanese defended the island when the 1st Marine Division assaulted on September 15, 1944, landing on the southwest corner of the island. The American drive was halted for a month on Umurbrogol ridge (know as the Battle of Bloody Nose Ridge). Organized Japanese resistance ended on October 13, 1944 although some Japanese soldiers held out for the rest of the war to harass American forces, or even longer

Orin Whitman 1st Marine Division recalls:
"Went back to peleliu in sept 1999 for the 55th anniversary. The Island didn't look the same but lot of the pill boxes, bunkers, air strip,guns and gun emplacements were just as we left them, Peleliu was one hell of a place in 44, no way I can describe it."

American & Japanese Missions Against Peleliu
June 9, 1944 - November 29, 1944

Peleliu Airfield
Built by the Japanese, captured by American forces in September 1944.

White Beach & Bloody Beach
Site of the initial US Marine landings. There is a huge blockhouse inland of White Beach that has been renovated into the new Peleliu musuem. During the battle, the blockhouse was heavily fortified and delayed the advance of the 1st Marines. Supporting arms failed to neutralize the position and it finally took the 14-inch guns of a battleship to destroy the fortification! Maj. Ray Davis then moved his CP group near the structure and the blockhouse was used as the 1st Battalion aid station. Thanks to Eric Mailander for this information.

Japanese Memorial Simple memorial tori gate and park area.
US Army 81st Infantry Memorial Simple memorial of two stone pillars and a white cross
Orange Beach Wreckage remains on shore.

Umurbrogol (Bloody Nose) Ridge
The American drive was halted for a month at this ridge by stubborn Japanese resistance. Wreckage includes an American Tank.

War Museum
A small war museum in the main village, Klouklubed.

Bunkers and Japanese HQ
Japanese bunkers and headquarters building are also tucked into the jungle regrowth.

Diving
Palau has some 30 WWII wrecks that the US sunk in a bombing mission in 1944. Most of the wrecks here are relatively untouched.

Japanese Supply Ship

This is a recently discovered shipwreck. The ship has depth charges, gas masks, helmets, forks and pots in the compartments and cargo holds.