On 15 September, 2004, I had the unique opportunity to take part in the ceremonies commemorating
the 60th anniversary of the landings on the island of Peleliu. Peleliu, the largest of the southern islands
in the Republic of Palau, and the smaller isle of Angaur ten miles south of it, both had Japanese
airfields that General Douglas MacArthur believed would threaten his right flank as he strove north to
liberate the Philippines. Unlike Guam, which had been American soil since 1898, the Palaus had a
long and generally good history being administered by the Japanese. This invasion was not a liberation
as it was on Guam with the locals waiting our return.
This battle marked a change in the tactics of the Japanese; no more would our forces see the mass
and unorganized suicide "Banzai" charges that had been used in the past. The last of those was on
Guam in August of 1944. By now the Japanese had learned to hunker down in their nearly
impenetrable bunkers and make the U.S. Marines and Soldiers flush them out, one fortification at a
time. It was a bloody, viscous fight. The Japanese very nearly succeeded in bleeding the Marines dry
and winning the day.
the 60th anniversary of the landings on the island of Peleliu. Peleliu, the largest of the southern islands
in the Republic of Palau, and the smaller isle of Angaur ten miles south of it, both had Japanese
airfields that General Douglas MacArthur believed would threaten his right flank as he strove north to
liberate the Philippines. Unlike Guam, which had been American soil since 1898, the Palaus had a
long and generally good history being administered by the Japanese. This invasion was not a liberation
as it was on Guam with the locals waiting our return.
This battle marked a change in the tactics of the Japanese; no more would our forces see the mass
and unorganized suicide "Banzai" charges that had been used in the past. The last of those was on
Guam in August of 1944. By now the Japanese had learned to hunker down in their nearly
impenetrable bunkers and make the U.S. Marines and Soldiers flush them out, one fortification at a
time. It was a bloody, viscous fight. The Japanese very nearly succeeded in bleeding the Marines dry
and winning the day.
Rear Admiral Arthur J. Johnson,
Commander, U.S. Naval Forces
Marianas, attended the day's
ceremonies to represent the Navy.
Alongside him, representing the
United States was Ms. Deborah
Kingsland, the Charge d'Affairs for
the U.S. embassy. The Japanese
government was represented by an
official from their embassy. Central
to the opening ceremony on the
island of Koror was a speech by
Tommy E. Remengesau, President
of the Republic of Palau.
Several U.S. veterans, both Marine
and Army, attended, as did several
Japanese veterans. The Palauan
people view themselves as
Commander, U.S. Naval Forces
Marianas, attended the day's
ceremonies to represent the Navy.
Alongside him, representing the
United States was Ms. Deborah
Kingsland, the Charge d'Affairs for
the U.S. embassy. The Japanese
government was represented by an
official from their embassy. Central
to the opening ceremony on the
island of Koror was a speech by
Tommy E. Remengesau, President
of the Republic of Palau.
Several U.S. veterans, both Marine
and Army, attended, as did several
Japanese veterans. The Palauan
people view themselves as
The photographer at the Bloody Nose Ridge monument on
Peleliu. The admiral stopped here to lay a wreath with the
President of Palau.
Peleliu. The admiral stopped here to lay a wreath with the
President of Palau.
caught in a conflict between two "warring brothers", and paid respects to both.
After the ceremonies on the capital island of Koror, the President, admiral, Ms. Kingsland, the
captain of the USS Lake Erie, and myself (the photographer and proverbial "fly on the wall") took the
President's boat to Peleliu for the dedication of a new WWII museum--Palau's first--which had been
built out of the ruins of a Japanese communications building.
Unlike Guam, where I have had years (and still have years) to explore, this was a fast, 36-hour
whirlwind of tours, ceremonies, meals, heat, sweat, flies, sand, dirt, humidity, sun, dehydration, and a
moving encounter with the family of a man the U.S. considers one of the greatest Japanese war
criminals ever. This part of the Digital Heritage Trail is divided into three sections: The
commemoration ceremonies on Koror and Peleliu; a brief overview of some of the historic places and
artifacts on Peleliu; and the story I wrote for the Navy about the day. It has been reviewed and
cleared for release.
The photos are a combination of U.S. Navy photos, which I shot with my government-
issued Nikon D-1H, and personal photos taken with my own small Kodak DC4800 digital camera.
Several times I shot the same image with both cameras, so I could have a photo that I owned. I took
every opportunity I had to play tourist.
My thanks go to LT Consaul, Naval Base Guam's Public Affairs Officer, who recommended me for
the trip, and to Rear Admiral Johnson for taking me along. I was the only enlisted member of the
admiral's party and am grateful for the amount of trust I was given during the ceremonies to do what I
needed to do to get the photos, captions, and stories.
After the ceremonies on the capital island of Koror, the President, admiral, Ms. Kingsland, the
captain of the USS Lake Erie, and myself (the photographer and proverbial "fly on the wall") took the
President's boat to Peleliu for the dedication of a new WWII museum--Palau's first--which had been
built out of the ruins of a Japanese communications building.
Unlike Guam, where I have had years (and still have years) to explore, this was a fast, 36-hour
whirlwind of tours, ceremonies, meals, heat, sweat, flies, sand, dirt, humidity, sun, dehydration, and a
moving encounter with the family of a man the U.S. considers one of the greatest Japanese war
criminals ever. This part of the Digital Heritage Trail is divided into three sections: The
commemoration ceremonies on Koror and Peleliu; a brief overview of some of the historic places and
artifacts on Peleliu; and the story I wrote for the Navy about the day. It has been reviewed and
cleared for release.
The photos are a combination of U.S. Navy photos, which I shot with my government-
issued Nikon D-1H, and personal photos taken with my own small Kodak DC4800 digital camera.
Several times I shot the same image with both cameras, so I could have a photo that I owned. I took
every opportunity I had to play tourist.
My thanks go to LT Consaul, Naval Base Guam's Public Affairs Officer, who recommended me for
the trip, and to Rear Admiral Johnson for taking me along. I was the only enlisted member of the
admiral's party and am grateful for the amount of trust I was given during the ceremonies to do what I
needed to do to get the photos, captions, and stories.