Bloody Beaches: The Marines at Peleliu

War in the Pacific

Nonfiction, History, Military, United States, World War II, Biography & Memoir, Historical
Cover of the book Bloody Beaches: The Marines at Peleliu by Gordon D. Gayle (Ret), Desmond Gahan, Desmondous Publications
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Gordon D. Gayle (Ret), Desmond Gahan ISBN: 1230000462365
Publisher: Desmondous Publications Publication: June 1, 2015
Imprint: Language: English
Author: Gordon D. Gayle (Ret), Desmond Gahan
ISBN: 1230000462365
Publisher: Desmondous Publications
Publication: June 1, 2015
Imprint:
Language: English

On D-Day 15 September 1944, five infantry battalions of the 1st Marine Division’s 1st, 5th, and 7th Marines, in amphibian tractors (LVTs) lumbered across 600–800 yards of coral reef fringing smoking, reportedly smashed Peleliu in the Palau Island group and toward five selected landing beaches. That westward anchor of the 1,000-mile-long Caroline archipelago was viewed by some U.S. planners as obstacles, or threats, to continued advances against Japan’s Pacific empire.

  The Marines in the LVTs had been told that their commanding general, Major General William H. Rupertus, believed that the operation would be tough, but quick, in large part because of the devastating quantity and quality of naval gunfire and dive bombing scheduled to precede their assault landing. On some minds were the grim images of their sister 2d Marine Division’s bloody assault across the reefs at Tarawa, many months earlier. But 1st Division Marines, peering over the gunwales of their landing craft saw an awesome scene of blasting and churning earth along the shore. Smoke, dust, and the geysers caused by exploding bombs and large-caliber naval shells gave optimists some hope that the defenders would become casualties from such preparatory fires; at worst, they would be too stunned to respond quickly and effectively to the hundreds of on-rushing Marines about to land in their midst.

  

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

On D-Day 15 September 1944, five infantry battalions of the 1st Marine Division’s 1st, 5th, and 7th Marines, in amphibian tractors (LVTs) lumbered across 600–800 yards of coral reef fringing smoking, reportedly smashed Peleliu in the Palau Island group and toward five selected landing beaches. That westward anchor of the 1,000-mile-long Caroline archipelago was viewed by some U.S. planners as obstacles, or threats, to continued advances against Japan’s Pacific empire.

  The Marines in the LVTs had been told that their commanding general, Major General William H. Rupertus, believed that the operation would be tough, but quick, in large part because of the devastating quantity and quality of naval gunfire and dive bombing scheduled to precede their assault landing. On some minds were the grim images of their sister 2d Marine Division’s bloody assault across the reefs at Tarawa, many months earlier. But 1st Division Marines, peering over the gunwales of their landing craft saw an awesome scene of blasting and churning earth along the shore. Smoke, dust, and the geysers caused by exploding bombs and large-caliber naval shells gave optimists some hope that the defenders would become casualties from such preparatory fires; at worst, they would be too stunned to respond quickly and effectively to the hundreds of on-rushing Marines about to land in their midst.

  

More books from Historical

Cover of the book Whispers: A book about mental health by Gordon D. Gayle (Ret), Desmond Gahan
Cover of the book Vinland Saga by Gordon D. Gayle (Ret), Desmond Gahan
Cover of the book The Anger of God by Gordon D. Gayle (Ret), Desmond Gahan
Cover of the book Firebrand by Gordon D. Gayle (Ret), Desmond Gahan
Cover of the book Fargo 9: The Sharpshooters by Gordon D. Gayle (Ret), Desmond Gahan
Cover of the book Mrs. Budley Falls from Grace by Gordon D. Gayle (Ret), Desmond Gahan
Cover of the book The Sonnet Lover by Gordon D. Gayle (Ret), Desmond Gahan
Cover of the book Hump Pilot by Gordon D. Gayle (Ret), Desmond Gahan
Cover of the book The Texians 2: The Horse Marines by Gordon D. Gayle (Ret), Desmond Gahan
Cover of the book The Brothers Karamazov by Gordon D. Gayle (Ret), Desmond Gahan
Cover of the book A Christmas Angel by Gordon D. Gayle (Ret), Desmond Gahan
Cover of the book To the Ends of the Earth by Gordon D. Gayle (Ret), Desmond Gahan
Cover of the book An Ending by Gordon D. Gayle (Ret), Desmond Gahan
Cover of the book The Old Northwest A Chronicle of the Ohio Valley and Beyond by Gordon D. Gayle (Ret), Desmond Gahan
Cover of the book Crossed Arrows 1: Rocky Mountain Warpath by Gordon D. Gayle (Ret), Desmond Gahan
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy