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FIRST MARINE DIVISION
D-DAY PELELIU PHOTO GALLERY
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The First
Marine Division served across the Pacific from first to last in the Second World War. With campaign credit for four amphibious operations, the Old Breed fought in many hard battles. D-Day at Peleliu ranked as one of the toughest of their many tough days in combat. Marine combat cameramen accompanied the assault echelons into battle and captured these incredible images on film. To them, as to all servicemen who struggled (not always successfully) to survive in World War II, we owe a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid.
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Peleliu, 15 September 1944. A battleship of RAdm Oldendorf's Fire Support Group fires its main batteries in support of the 1st MarDiv landing. During three days of pre-assault bombardment, the FSG fired 2,255 tons of ammunition at Japanese positions on Peleliu. Still image from USMC motion picture film |
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As the leading waves approach the shoreline, heavy suppressive fire rakes the beachhead. The white explosion at left is a white phosphorous round detonating. Still image from USMC motion picture film |
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An amtrack drives out of the tank deck on an LST. On D-Day, the LST's began debarking their amtracks at 0630. Still image from USMC motion picture film |
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Laden with its cargo of infantry Marines, an amtrac debouches from its LST headed for the Peleliu beachhead. Still image from USMC motion picture film |
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Medium-caliber naval rounds rake the beach as the leading waves approach the shoreline. The US Navy fired over 100,000 rounds of 40mm, 12,937 of 5-in, 1,427 of 8-inch, 1,020 of 6-in, and 1,845 rounds of 14-inch in the pre-assault bombardment. Still image from USMC motion picture film |
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Naval gunfire pounds the small unnamed islet just south of Beach Orange 1. Still image from USMC motion picture film |
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A Marine officer and his radioman make final coordination during the run-in to the beachhead. Still image from USMC motion picture film |
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Amtanks of the 3rd Armored Amphibian Bn crossing the line of departure on D-Day. Closest to the camera are two LVT(A)-4's. Further away are the older LVT(A)-1's. The first wave made shore at 0832. Still image from USMC motion picture film |
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Amtanks of the 3rd Armored Amphibian Bn crossing the line of departure on D-Day. Closest to the camera are the older LVT(A)-1's. 72 amtanks accompanied the assault echelons ashore on D-Day. Still image from USMC motion picture film |
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A troop-carrying LVT off shore at Peleliu, probably during the forming-up phase of the operation. Elements of three amphibian tractor bns carried 1st MarDiv troops ashore at Peleliu, and they were equipped with 223 tractors. Two types of amtracks were used in the operations: the LVT-2, and the LVT-4. Still image from USMC motion picture film |
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In this photo, Marines are cross-decking between a Higgins Boat(right) and an LVT (left). This procedure took place outside the coral reef as empty tractors returned from the beach. Cross-decking was extremely hazardous, even in calm seas. Still image from USMC motion picture film |
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A rocket-firing LCI precedes the first wave, laying down a suppressive rocket barrage in the final seconds before the Marines come ashore. 18 of these ships, each armed with 4.5 inch rockets, led the assault waves and they approached to within 1000 yards of the beach. Still image from USMC motion picture film |
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In this image, smoke from the rocket barrage obscures the beach as the first wave goes in. A rocket-firing LCI is visible ahead of the amtracks. Still image from USMC motion picture film |
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Sailors, probably in a control boat near the LD, observe the beachhead. These boats helped the assault waves and escorted the waves. Control boats were not expected to make it all the way to shore, since they could not get over the fringing reef. Still image from USMC motion picture film |
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An amphibian tractor is captured on film as it touches down on the beach. In a few seconds, this vehicle will debark its cargo of infantry Marines. Smoke from the naval gunfire and rocket barrage hangs in the air. Still image from USMC motion picture film |
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Marines "unass" their amtrack under heavy fire. The cameraman, himself in danger, shelters behind the armor of his own amtrack to get this shot. Still image from USMC motion picture film |
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Marines debark from their amphibian tractor under fire. Still image from USMC motion picture film |
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An LVT(A)-4 amtank of the 3rd Amphibian Tank Bn comes ashore in the lower right-hand corner. Wrecked amtracks litter the beach. Behind the amtank, an amtrack is mired deeply in the sand. Still image from USMC motion picture film |
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Marines take cover as they watch a US Navy fighter making a close support run. Shore Party command post at the junction of Orange Beaches 1 & 2. These beaches were assigned to the assault battalions of the 5th Marines. Still image from USMC motion picture film |
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After having just given his Marines the word to move, an NCO leads the way off the beachhead. Still image from USMC motion picture film |
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A portion of the "the Point," a terrain feature on the northern side of White Beach 1. Under the command of Capt George Hunt, K 3/1 was tasked with securing this heavily-defended Japanese positions. Later awarded the Navy Cross for his heroic leadership, Hunt wrote of his company's exploits on the Point in the classic book Coral Comes High. Still image from USMC motion picture film |
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An infantry NCO gives his Marines the order to move out. He carries a Thompson submachine gun. Still image from USMC motion picture film |
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An infantry unit forms up just prior to moving off the beach. Still image from USMC motion picture film |
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While moving up off the beach, a Marine checks a fallen buddy. Still image from USMC motion picture film |
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An M4 medium tank of the 1st Tank Bn drives across the beachhead. Still image from USMC motion picture film |
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Having just come ashore, Marines take cover as they get organized before moving out to the O-1 line. Still image from USMC motion picture film |
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A medium tank of Baker Co, 1st Tank Bn and infantrymen of the 5th Marines fight their way inland off the beach. Still image from USMC motion picture film |
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A radioman looks out over the blasted landscape from the beachhead. Still image from USMC motion picture film |
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Covered by a tank of Charlie Co, 1st Tank Bn, Marines evacuate a severely-wounded buddy. Still image from USMC motion picture film |
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A heavy machine gunner carries his M1917A1 .30 caliber gun forward off the beachhead. These weapons were so heavy and awkward, they were broken down into subassemblies for carrying. Still image from USMC motion picture film |
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A Marines sends a transmission on the field telephone. Still image from USMC motion picture film |
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The view off of Beach Orange 1 in the 1st Bn, 5th Marines sector. Assault units are just starting to move off the beach. Still image from USMC motion picture film |
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A 1st Tank Bn medium tank and infantrymen of the 5th Marines fight across the airfield. In this view looking generally northeast, the hill mass of Bloody Nose Ridge is visible in the distance. Still image from USMC motion picture film |
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A Marine warily checks the corpse of a dead Japanese soldier next to a knocked-out after the Japanese tank attack on D-Day. Still image from USMC motion picture film |
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Infantrymen of the 5th Marines begin their move across the Peleliu airfield accompanied by a medium tank. Still image from USMC motion picture film |
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Landing craft laden with casualties standby to offload their wounded Marines at the portside ladder of a hospital ship off Peleliu. Four hospital ships were assigned to the operation and this one is likely USS Samaritan (AH-10). The last LCVP in line belongs to USS Leedstown (APA-56) Still image from USMC motion picture film |
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The price of victory. A dead Marine and wrecked equipment on the beach at Peleliu. Still image from USMC motion picture film |
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The Price, by Tom Lea, depicting a wounded Marine of the 1st MarDiv during the D-Day assault on Peleliu. About this painting, Lea later wrote: "Lying in terror looking longingly up the slope to better cover, I saw a wounded man near me, staggering in the direction of the LVTs. His face was half bloody pulp and the mangled shreds of what was left of an arm hung down like a stick, as he bent over in the stumbling, shock-crazy walk. The half of his face that was still human had the most terrifying look of abject patience I have ever seen. He fell behind me, in a red puddle on the white sand." U. S. Army Art Collection |
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