Battle of peleliu - Research Paper Example

BATTLE OF PELELIU The history of the Pelelieu battle begins with the decision that was made by the Japaneseto disrupt the landings at the edges of the waters and to focus on the land. This was meant to avoid trying to the enemy at the beach. Earlier on in 1944 the island had been occupied by the nearly around 11,000 Japanese who had come from 14th Infantry Division as well as some Okinawan and Korean. Colonel Nakagawa hoped to use the highest points in Peleliu to his advantage against the enemies.

(Sloan, Bill, 24)Even with these changes in operations that had been hatched by the Japanese, the Americans did not change their plans. They went ahead to land in the beaches close to the airfield located south of Peleiu. The intension of the Americans was to capture the airfield and this made some of them to land through the north. (Wright, Derrick, 25)The peak of the battle was at the arrival of the America marines. They were met with violence from the Japanese who engaged them in crossfire while trying to defend their position.

In the first day, progress was made by the 5th Marine who moved towards the airfield but they retreated. Nakagawa forces had attacked them in the attempt to resist the Americans and protect the airfield. The marine later managed to destroy the tanks of Nakagawa as well as the infantry. These attacks continued with the marine moving eastwards. Work citedSloan, Bill. Brotherhood of heroes: the Marines at Peleliu, 1944 : the bloodiest battle of the Pacific War. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2005. Print. Wright, Derrick.

To the far side of hell: the battle for Peleliu, 1944. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 2005. Print.