Veterans Remember the Battle of Peleliu

Veterans Remember

After visiting this website, or reading our article published in the Old Breed Newsletter, many veterans have writtern us with their memories from Peleliu. These recollections are very valuable to us. With their permission, we have published excerpts. We've made every effort to be accurate, but we welcome your comments if clarifications are needed. We have tried our best to organize the recollections based on our understanding of the 1st Marine Division organization as explained in Frank Hough's book, The Assault on Peleliu.

If you would like to share your own memories of Peleliu with us, please email us. Historical pictures are welcome and greatly appreciated.

1st Marine Division (Reinforced)


Headquarters*

Combat Team 1 (White Beaches 1 and 2)
1st Marines*
Company B, 1st Engineer Battalion
Company B, 1st Medical Battalion
Company B, 1st Pioneer Battalion
Company B (- 1st and 4th Platoons), 1st Tank Battalion
2nd Platoon, 1st MP Company
2nd Platoon, Ordinance Company, 1st Service Battalion
Detachment, Service and Supply Company, 1st Service Battalion
Detachment, 4th Joint Assault Signal Company*

Combat Team 5 (Orange Beaches 1 and 2)
5th Marines*
5th Marines Company B, 1st Engineer Battalion
Company B, 1st Medical Battalion*
Company B, 1st Pioneer Battalion
Company B (- 1st and 4th Platoons), 1st Tank Battalion
2nd Platoon, 1st MP Company
2nd Platoon, Ordinance Company, 1st Service Battalion
Detachment, Service and Supply Company, 1st Service Battalion
Detachment, 4th Joint Assault Signal Company*

Combat Team 7 (Orange Beach 3)
7th Marines (- 2nd Battalion)*
Company C (- 2nd Platoon), 1st Engineer Battalion
Company C, 1st Medical Battalion*
Company C, 1st Pioneer Battalion
1st and 4th Platoons, Company B, 1st Tank Battalion
3rd Platoon, 1st MP Company
Detachment, 4th Joint Assault Signal Company*

Armored Amphibian Tractor Group
3rd Armored Amphibian Tractor Battalion (Provisional) (24 x LVT(A1) & 49 x LVT(A4))*
US Navy Flamethrower Detachment (- one LVT to each CT)

Amphibian Transport Group
1st Amphibian Tractor Battalion (120 x LVT(2) & LVT(4))
6th Amphibian Tractor Battalion (Provisional) (80 x LVT(2))*
Detachment, 8th Amphibian Tractor Battalion (21 x LVT(2))*
454th Transportation Corps Amphibious Truck Company (50 x DUKW) (USA)
456th Transportation Corps Amphibious Truck Company (50 x DUKW) (USA)

Artillery Group
11th Marines (1st-4th Battalions)*
3rd 155mm Howitzer Battalion
8th 155mm Gun Battalion (- Battery C)*

Antiaircraft Group
12th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion (90/40/20mm)*

Shore Party Group
1st Pioneer Battalion (- Companies A-C)
1st Motor Transport Battalion (- Company C)
Detachments, 33rd and 77th Naval Construction Battalions*

Engineer Group
1st Engineer Battalion (- Company 1-c)*
33rd Naval Construction Battalion (-)
73rd Naval Construction Battalion (-)

Service Group
1st Service Battalion (- detachments)
16th Field Depot*
7th Marine Ammunition Company
11th Marine Depot Company

Medical Group
1st Medical Battalion (- Companies A-C; - detachment, Company D)*

Reserve Group
2nd Battalion, 7th Marines*
1st Tank Battalion (- Companies A-C)*
1st Reconnaissance Company
2nd Platoon, Company C, 1st Engineer Battalion
Detachment, Company D, 1st Medical Battalion

Attachments
4th-6th Marine War Dog Platoons
5th and 6th Separate Wire Platoons

Marine Air Group 11
Headquarters*
VMF-114*
VMF-121*
VMF-541
VMF-134


* = recollection available for this group