The Day Began With A
Fast Boat Ride From Koror
Peleliu is about 25 miles south of Koror as the gull flies, or Cockatoo. The reefs, swells, channels, and islands have a different idea making the trip about an hour and forty minutes long. Upon arrival off the estern coast, we prepared for two dives along the 100+ foot walls.
The dives were awe-inspiring.
The current was not bad at 90 to
100 feet and he scenes were amazing.
Oriental Sweetlips in a school.
A row of Bumphead Wrasse in a parade. Sharks out in the blue. As we rose to the top of the reef the current began to scream. The divers pictured are hooked into the reef and flying like a kite on a string in the current.
That's linda in the middle.
Giant Clams grew along the way. This one is approaching three feet in ength and about a foot in height. Tridacna sp., this clam has been a concern of the US Customs Officials and is protected by the international law none as CITES. It is a Appendix II organism, those not endangered but needing of protection. We have learned that importing the shells to the USA is not permitted.
The Six-Barred Angelfish is often very timid. We have tried to get a good photograph of them for months. This one just seemed to poise for the camera.
The trip ashore was sobering
This is what the US military command called Orange Beach for the invasion of Peleliu in 1944. The landing craft, full of the marines from the 1st division, approached from out at sea to the beach. The beach was heavily guarded by Japanese soldiers as was the point in the distance. It took 24 hours to move approximately 200 yards into the island.
The cemetery for American soldiers and marines at Peleliu. Although the remains have been moved to Hawaii and other locations, this site, just off Orange Beach, was the original resting place for almost 1800 Americans. Wounded Americans totalled 8010.
A US Tank with its muzzle removed was used as a flame thrower.
Orange and White Beaches today at low tide. The marines approached the beach from the left.
An Japanese gun position in a cave in "Bloody Nose Ridge." The ridge is honeycombed with natural and Japanese-made caves.
The Japanese were given access to Palau in 1930 as a result of WW I. They used the 14 years to fortify the island as a protective barrier for attacks on the islands of Japan.
Over 10,000 Japanese soldiers lost their lives in the battle of Peleliu.
This is sobering. This is craziness.
They hiked across the snow-spotted valley and enjoyed the gorgeous scenes...they took photographs and dodged snowballs...
