Peleliu 1944

Osprey's examination of one of the bloodiest conflicts between the United States and Japan during World War II (1939-1945). Equalling Tarawa, Iwo Jima and Okinawa in scale and ferocity, the battle for Peleliu has long been regarded as the Pacific War's "forgotten battle", and perhaps one that should never have been fought. A massive carrier-based attack some weeks before the invasion destroyed all aircraft and shipping in the area and virtually isolated the Japanese garrison. 1st Marine Division commander, General Rupertus, made extravagant claims that the capture of Peleliu would "only take three days - maybe two." But the Japanese fought a bloody battle of attrition from prepared positions and in a struggle of unprecedented savagery a whole Marine Division was bled white.

JIM MORAN has written extensively on the uniforms, equipment and history of the United States Marine Corps. He is an enthusiastic collector of Marine Corps memorabilia and a member of the 2d Marine Division Association. When his is not accompanying USMC veterans on trips to the battlefields of WWII, Jim lives with his family in South Yorkshire. GORDON L ROTTMAN entered the US Army in 1967, volunteered for Special Forces and completed training as a weapons specialist. He was assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group until reassigned to the 5th Special Forces Group in Vietnam in 1969-70. A highly respected and established author, Gordon is now a civilian contract Special Operations Forces Intelligence Specialist at the Army's Joint Readiness Center, Ft Polk.