Peleliu: 75 Years After WWII


Nov 2019

Peleliu: A Practice in Descriptive Writing as we walk through what remains of World War II.  Written by Michael (12)

Japanese Headquarters

The massive concrete building towers over the lush landscape as the forest attempts to retake what it once had - the land the building is on. Roots cling to the hole and bullet-riddled walls and slowly cover everything in sight. The roof sags in and threatens to collapse. Brave sprouts spring from cracks in the blackened floor, defying the concrete they had been trapped in.




200 mm Gun Cave

The massive turret guards the hill, guards the cave concealed behind it. The cave mouth beckons any spelunker to enter it’s dark interior, to face the army of crickets waiting to strike. Water drips from the roof as the cave cries, mourning the loss of it’s inhabitants who died decades ago due to the attacks of savages that call themselves Americans. It wants revenge.


Catacombs

Darkness beckons explorers to approach the cave mouth, armed with flashlights and backpacks. The tunnels split into many rooms, like King Minos’s Labyrinth, and some have been blocked off by bulldozers with gears and electricity running through them. Electricity that made the grenades in the factory, that made the grenades that were thrown into the catacombs depths, killing all the inhabitants. Old beer bottles litter the ground, liquid cleaner than the oil-splotched water that the soldiers had to drink.






Peleliu: A Journal Entry by Elizabeth (14)


Wednesday licked my hand and wagged her tail as we waited for our tour guide to come pick us up for a tour I will never forget. Michael spotted a grey van rolling down the road. Godwin pulled into the gravel patch, dreadlocks flying and earring twinkling in the sunlight. He greeted us in perfect English and instantly I knew that he would make a perfect tour guide.


The Japanese Headquarters made my mind flash back to WWII, because the building had bomb holes in the roof and bullet dents in the walls. It was eerie. There were still toilets and metal grips on the stairs. The main control room was behind a six inch thick metal door. Even though the control panels had been taken out, you could still picture what it would have been like 75 years ago. We got to walk on the top floor as well! One tree had its roots all over one wall. It looked like a scene from a movie with old ruins. When we were done looking around the headquarters, we got to explore a bomb shelter right next to the building. 


The other WWII site that we visited was the 1000 Men Cave for the Japanese. The whole cave was manmade by Japanese slaves. A whole network of catacombs and square chambers went on and on in a limestone passage. There was also a medical chamber with a Japanese prayer stick. Beer bottles littered the floor (both American and Japanese brands) and broken bits of glass sparkled in our torch light.  We passed crickets on the ceiling and little bats that sent high pitched squeaks echoing throughout the caves! We exited the cave into the green forest! It was such a relief to stretch my back out after having to duck down for so long while we were in the passages!


The very last thing that we saw was a German tank that had been blown onto its side by a mine. The men inside were killed, but I didn’t know how at first. That is, until I walked over and saw that the bottom of the tank had been blown in! The 1/2 inch metal had been molded like clay with the force of the explosion! It was mind blowing to think of how strong the mine would have been to bend and contort the metal so much!! This tank still had its engine in it and I got to look at it through the tank’s rusting metal exterior. It was maybe 3 times the size of Field Trip’s engines and was covered with cobwebs and dust!

Today has been so interesting but sad. 11,000 men died here and we even saw a human bone while on the shoreline. When you look at the old pictures of Peleliu, there was no bush or trees. No grass even! It was all rocks and mud. The temperature was 115º during the WWII and men died of heat exhaustion sometimes! Imagine having to carry 50 lbs of gear, with full suits on in that temperature! The soldiers also had to drink oil-tainted water which made them sick. It must have been horrible for the troops that came here. Their bravery and courage shall never be forgotten. 




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