Chapter 3, On to Peleliu Summary and Analysis

Late in August, Sledge and other marines board LST 661 for transport to combat. They first touch at Guadalcanal where they participate in extensive large-scale amphibious assault training. In early September, they depart for an unknown objective. Eventually they learn their destination is Peleliu, a tiny island in the Palau group. The plan calls for 28,000 marines, about nine thousand of whom are combatants, to assault ten thousand entrenched Japanese. General William H. Rupertus, the commander, believes the attack with be like that upon Tarawa. That is, the Japanese are expected to perform an all-out beach defense followed by banzai charges. Rupertus predicts a rapid victory. The day before the assault the marines chatter nervously and are gripped by fear. Like Rupertus, they all expect an all-out beach defense and numerous banzai charges.

On D Day, Sledge...