Peleliu: Paradise Island Marked by a Grim WWII Battle

Peleliu in Palau bears the scar of one of World War II’s bloodiest Pacific battles, fought in 1944 when Japanese caves and fortified positions turned a quick invasion into months of brutal combat that left roughly 14,000 Japanese and 10,000 Americans dead. Today the lush island preserves ruins, military cemeteries, and cave sites that visitors tour to reflect on memory and landscape changes wrought by war, while locals emphasize the Palauan perspective on the conflict; a modern tourism mix includes heritage tours and gamer interest sparked by the Call of Duty game.