Dick Camp looks at the World War II invasion of the small, Japanese-held island of Peleliu. One of the
bloodiest battles in Marine Corps history, this action was overshadowed by the Normandy landings.
In retrospect, many historians feel the invasion was unnecessary and a senseless sacrifice of American
troops. The horrifying number of casualties taken by the 1st Marine Regiment (as much as 71% in one
battalion) foreshadowed the rest of the Pacific campaign and how the Japanese would fight to the end
rather than surrender on subsequent island strongholds located closer to their homeland.
Filled with combat photos and drawing on the Marine Corps History Divison's vast oral history
collection, Dick Camp's work provides an in-depth account of what happened at Peleliu.
A retired Marine Corps colonel, the author worked closely with two of 1st Regiment's battalion
commanders to create this detailed and moving narrative.