US Marines in the Battle of Peleliu Island during the Second World War.
Marine Private First Class Douglas Lightheart (right) with his friend Private First Class Gerald Churchby sat in a trench for a smoke break. Picture taken during the Battle of Peleliu Island.
The small island of Peleliu is located in the southern part of the archipelago of Palau. Its length is about 6 miles and a maximum width of about 2 miles. On this island was an airfield, built by the Japanese. Capture Peleliu Island provide complete dominance over the group of islands of Palau.
Storming of the piece of land lasted two weeks and went down in history as the site of one of the bloodiest battles in the Pacific.
Photography Location: Peleliu, Pacific
Time taken: 14 September 1944
Source of the US marines: US National Archives