For the Marines pinned down during the battle to take back Palau, things seemed hopeless. However, for any ardent student of history, you know the Marines came out victorious. The conditions during the Pacific Campaigns were brutal, but these Marines persevered and lived to fight another day.
Setting the Stage
The Pacific Campaigns saw the Marines and Army cut through many of the small islands Japan had taken for itself. This came to a head after the capture of Saipan. The main island the Marines pinned down in this newsreel is capturing is Peleilu, located in the Palau Islands.
Amphibious Assault
Before the Japanese forces had the Marines pinned down ships and air power concentrated their efforts. This bombardment allowed for a softening of hard targets to establish a beachhead.
Raining Fire
Both sides fought furiously, exchanging gunfire and shells across the turbulent waters. Landing craft and amphibious armor were being prepped for the main assault.
Taking the Shore
Light amphibious tanks and landing craft let the Marines pour into the beach. However, they would soon face complications.
Facing Fire
The Marines pinned down in this footage drew the ire of over 8,000 Japanese troops. The offensive would stall out initially near a lagoon.
Sitting Ducks
For a brief moment, all seemed lost with the Marines pinned down. However, the 1st Marine Division wouldn’t be kept in place for too long.
Pushing Back
Mortar fire and artillery helped to turn the tide of battle. Marines were ready for a fight, and they were certainly going to give it to the Japanese to help liberate the Phillippines.
Furious Attacks
Marines gave it their all, firing off every weapon they had ashore. While the Marines pinned down at the start of the battle found themselves in an unlucky position, that would change.
Hell on Earth
The island of Peleilu erupted into a pitched battle. The previous battle at Saipan was devastating, but nothing like that would happen here on Peleilu.
Secure and Hold
While the Marines pinned down at the start of this battle faced a nasty situation, things were heading their way. The Japanese defenders were being pushed back in the face of overwhelming firepower. While both sides took heavy casualties, the Marines were able to take and secure ground.
A Heavy Price
Not all of those who stormed the beach would be so lucky as to fight another day. For some of the Marines pinned down, grievous injuries or death were in the cards.
Watch the Full Video
If you would like to take a look back in history, you can view our video here. This astounding footage acts as a window into the largest war mankind has ever seen.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Images from Jeffrey/Shutterstock.com.
