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Mark VII -> RE: Trip to Palau and Peleliu (1/5/2018 12:37:07 AM)
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Not sure of this pic but it is Peleliu.
The guide on our first trip talked about people he has taken there, including the commander of the Marines who was there at the time of the battle. LVT flamethrowers were used to seal up Japanese caves in the cliffs. More often than not, Japanese soldiers were entombed in the caves. Jerry told us that when he escorted the commander of that battle, Everett Pope, back to the site of the battle, he was in tears as he remembered the heroics of his men. Pope was awarded the Medal of Honor: “For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Commanding Officer of Company C, First Battalion, First Marines, First Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces on Peleliu Island, Palau Group, on 19–20 September 1944. Subjected to point-blank cannon fire which caused heavy casualties and badly disorganized his company while assaulting a steep coral hill, Captain Pope rallied his men and gallantly led them to the summit in the face of machine-gun, mortar, and sniper fire. Forced by widespread hostile attack to deploy the remnants of his company thinly in order to hold the ground won, and with his machine-guns out of action and insufficient water and ammunition, he remained on the exposed hill with twelve men and one wounded officer, determined to hold through the night. Attacked continuously with grenades, machine-guns, and rifles from three sides and twice subjected to suicidal charges during the night, he and his valiant men fiercely beat back or destroyed the enemy, resorting to hand-to-hand combat as the supply of ammunition dwindled and still maintaining his lines with his eight remaining riflemen when daylight brought more deadly fire and he was ordered to withdraw. His valiant leadership against devastating odds while protecting the units below from heavy Japanese attack reflects the highest credit upon Captain Pope and the United States Naval Service.”
[image]local://upfiles/9748/B185F72CEA7E44B398F54BC0506A754D.jpg[/image]
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