The Taking of Peleliu: Necessary? NO Unavoidable? YES

The island of Peleliu is only one of the islands in the island nation of Palau and was also a stage for one of the battles of WWII. The battle at Peleliu is still questioned today. Was it avoidable? Was it even necessary? Many answer yes and many answer no to both of these questions.

What advantages to the United States' war effort grew from the battle of Peleliu? It assured total and complete control of all the islands in the Palaus to the security of General MacArthur's right flank as he continued westward, then northward from New Guinea into his Philippines campaign. Within the Palaus group, it destroyed facilities which survived Admiral Marc A. Mitscher's devastating strike of March 1944. It insured total denial of support to the enemy from other submarine basing facilities, also decreasing the Japanese submarine capability east of the Philippines. The United States position on Peleliu completed the neutralization of 25,000 Japanese troops in northern Palau. The landing on Peleliu did not contribute to the seizure of Ulithi. Admiral William F. Halsey had believed that his forces could seize Ulithi without first seizing Peleliu.

The taking of Peleliu contained many benefits towards the United States. The biggest benefit of seizing Peleliu laid in its use as a link in the flight path and line of communications from Hawaii to the Philippines. The holding was a convenience, but not a necessity. Also having United States troops on Peleliu led to the rescue of the survivors from the sinking of the Indianapolis ship. They were only rescued because one of the naval pilots working on Peleliu managed to spot them while patrolling. They were rescued four days after the sinking.

What did the seizure of Peleliu cost? Marine casualties numbered to 6,526, including Navy corpsmen and doctors, of whom 1,252 were killed. The 81st Division totalled up to 3,089 casualties, of whom 404 were KIA (killed in action). Total U.S. troop casualties were 9,615 with 1,656 dead.

The costs at Peleliu held warnings for the remaining allied operations to be issued across the pacific to Japan. Even with local air and naval superiority, heavy naval gunfire, bombs, and napalm weaponry, the seizure of Peleliu consumed one American casualty and 1,589 rounds of heavy and light troop ammunition for each single Japanese soldier killed or driven from his prepared position. A few months later, the attacks on Iwo Jima and Okinawa would confirm this miserable and dark effort of war against determined Japanese soldiers.

The question of whether seizing Peleliu was necessary remains flat even up to today. The heroism and brave acts of the 1st Marine Division and the soldiers of the 81st Infantry Division on the miserable island are spoke of and told everywhere. The capture of Peleliu was essential, in the view of Admiral William F. Halsey's recommendation through Admiral Nimitz to the Joint Chiefs of Staff on September 13, 1944, which was two days before D-Day, that the landing should be cancelled, however by then, it was too late and Peleliu was added to the long list of battles in which marines fought, suffered, and prevailed.

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