George Delmar Haws

Grandpa Haws' Military Service Card says he was part of the 5th Marine Division. Wikipedia says that was commanded by Harold D. "Bucky" Harris. The photo is of some members of the 5th Division on Orange Beach. A major general estimated the attack would take four days, but the Japanese defenses were better than anticipated and the pre-attack bombing wasn't as effective as they thought, so the marines were fighting there for more than two months. The heat index read around 115 degrees. (Wikipedia article "Battle of Peleliu") His division was supposed to land in the middle of the beach, and while guarded by a division to the north and south, capture the airfield in the center of the island. The 5th division made progress because they were sheltered by coconut groves. Perhaps this was the infamous coconuts his unit was supposed to clean up after the battle that were rotten and disgusting that made him hate coconut anything for the rest of his life. He would never eat Almond Joys and coconut topped cakes. I thought it was silly until my mom told me why. He also received a purple heart for injuries received in action from this battle (says his service card). Wikipedia said there were 900 injured and 200 killed. I think I remember my mom or grandma telling me he got shrapnel in his back. His back hurt the rest of his life, around 60 more years. My mom would drive slowly over bumps for him, sometimes he would sleep in his recliner, and he really enjoyed warm baths to make it feel better. When we were visiting we'd sneak dish soap in his running water so he would have bubbles. He pretended to be surprised. After the 5th division secured the airfield, they were sent north to Ngesebus Island. The bombardment was successful here, unlike Peleliu, so it was not so difficult to take the island. The other divisions were left with more bitter, nasty battles where the enemy would shoot stretcher bearers because they were an easy target that would never run out. That battle that my grandpa escaped was called the most difficult fight that the U.S. Military encountered during the entire war (Hough, Major Frank O., USMC. "Chapter V: A Horrible Place". The Seizure of Peleliu. USMC Historical Monograph. Historical Branch, G-3 Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. p. 94. Retrieved 2012-02-07.) I read that Ken Burns' documentary The War contains photos and video from the battle of Peleliu; it looks like that is in episode 5 of the 14 hour presentation. (My local library has the movie and I just reserved it.)

Grandpa Haws' Military Service Card says he was part of the 5th Marine Division. Wikipedia says that was commanded by Harold D. "Bucky" Harris. The photo is of some members of the 5th Division on Orange Beach. A major general estimated the attack would take four days, but the Japanese defenses were better than anticipated and the pre-attack bombing wasn't as effective as they thought, so the marines were fighting there for more than two months. The heat index read around 115 degrees. (Wikipedia article "Battle of Peleliu") His division was supposed to land in the middle of the beach, and while guarded by a division to the north and south, capture the airfield in the center of the island. The 5th division made progress because they were sheltered by coconut groves. Perhaps this was the infamous coconuts his unit was supposed to clean up after the battle that were rotten and disgusting that made him hate coconut anything for the rest of his life. He would never eat Almond Joys and coconut topped cakes. I thought it was silly until my mom told me why. He also received a purple heart for injuries received in action from this battle (says his service card). Wikipedia said there were 900 injured and 200 killed. I think I remember my mom or grandma telling me he got shrapnel in his back. His back hurt the rest of his life, around 60 more years. My mom would drive slowly over bumps for him, sometimes he would sleep in his recliner, and he really enjoyed warm baths to make it feel better. When we were visiting we'd sneak dish soap in his running water so he would have bubbles. He pretended to be surprised. After the 5th division secured the airfield, they were sent north to Ngesebus Island. The bombardment was successful here, unlike Peleliu, so it was not so difficult to take the island. The other divisions were left with more bitter, nasty battles where the enemy would shoot stretcher bearers because they were an easy target that would never run out. That battle that my grandpa escaped was called the most difficult fight that the U.S. Military encountered during the entire war (Hough, Major Frank O., USMC. "Chapter V: A Horrible Place". The Seizure of Peleliu. USMC Historical Monograph. Historical Branch, G-3 Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. p. 94. Retrieved 2012-02-07.) I read that Ken Burns' documentary The War contains photos and video from the battle of Peleliu; it looks like that is in episode 5 of the 14 hour presentation. (My local library has the movie and I just reserved it.)

Grandpa Haws' Military Service Card says he was part of the 5th Marine Division. Wikipedia says that was commanded by Harold D. "Bucky" Harris. The photo is of some members of the 5th Division on Orange Beach. A major general estimated the attack would take four days, but the Japanese defenses were better than anticipated and the pre-attack bombing wasn't as effective as they thought, so the marines were fighting there for more than two months. The heat index read around 115 degrees. (Wikipedia article "Battle of Peleliu") His division was supposed to land in the middle of the beach, and while guarded by a division to the north and south, capture the airfield in the center of the island. The 5th division made progress because they were sheltered by coconut groves. Perhaps this was the infamous coconuts his unit was supposed to clean up after the battle that were rotten and disgusting that made him hate coconut anything for the rest of his life. He would never eat Almond Joys and coconut topped cakes. I thought it was silly until my mom told me why. He also received a purple heart for injuries received in action from this battle (says his service card). Wikipedia said there were 900 injured and 200 killed. I think I remember my mom or grandma telling me he got shrapnel in his back. His back hurt the rest of his life, around 60 more years. My mom would drive slowly over bumps for him, sometimes he would sleep in his recliner, and he really enjoyed warm baths to make it feel better. When we were visiting we'd sneak dish soap in his running water so he would have bubbles. He pretended to be surprised. After the 5th division secured the airfield, they were sent north to Ngesebus Island. The bombardment was successful here, unlike Peleliu, so it was not so difficult to take the island. The other divisions were left with more bitter, nasty battles where the enemy would shoot stretcher bearers because they were an easy target that would never run out. That battle that my grandpa escaped was called the most difficult fight that the U.S. Military encountered during the entire war (Hough, Major Frank O., USMC. "Chapter V: A Horrible Place". The Seizure of Peleliu. USMC Historical Monograph. Historical Branch, G-3 Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. p. 94. Retrieved 2012-02-07.) I read that Ken Burns' documentary The War contains photos and video from the battle of Peleliu; it looks like that is in episode 5 of the 14 hour presentation. (My local library has the movie and I just reserved it.)

Grandpa Haws' Military Service Card says he was part of the 5th Marine Division. Wikipedia says that was commanded by Harold D. "Bucky" Harris. The photo is of some members of the 5th Division on Orange Beach. A major general estimated the attack would take four days, but the Japanese defenses were better than anticipated and the pre-attack bombing wasn't as effective as they thought, so the marines were fighting there for more than two months. The heat index read around 115 degrees. (Wikipedia article "Battle of Peleliu") His division was supposed to land in the middle of the beach, and while guarded by a division to the north and south, capture the airfield in the center of the island. The 5th division made progress because they were sheltered by coconut groves. Perhaps this was the infamous coconuts his unit was supposed to clean up after the battle that were rotten and disgusting that made him hate coconut anything for the rest of his life. He would never eat Almond Joys and coconut topped cakes. I thought it was silly until my mom told me why. He also received a purple heart for injuries received in action from this battle (says his service card). Wikipedia said there were 900 injured and 200 killed. I think I remember my mom or grandma telling me he got shrapnel in his back. His back hurt the rest of his life, around 60 more years. My mom would drive slowly over bumps for him, sometimes he would sleep in his recliner, and he really enjoyed warm baths to make it feel better. When we were visiting we'd sneak dish soap in his running water so he would have bubbles. He pretended to be surprised. After the 5th division secured the airfield, they were sent north to Ngesebus Island. The bombardment was successful here, unlike Peleliu, so it was not so difficult to take the island. The other divisions were left with more bitter, nasty battles where the enemy would shoot stretcher bearers because they were an easy target that would never run out. That battle that my grandpa escaped was called the most difficult fight that the U.S. Military encountered during the entire war (Hough, Major Frank O., USMC. "Chapter V: A Horrible Place". The Seizure of Peleliu. USMC Historical Monograph. Historical Branch, G-3 Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. p. 94. Retrieved 2012-02-07.) I read that Ken Burns' documentary The War contains photos and video from the battle of Peleliu; it looks like that is in episode 5 of the 14 hour presentation. (My local library has the movie and I just reserved it.)