Kikuchi and the memorial

Kikuchi at one of the memorials to US and Japanese troops on Peleliu.

Only 262 Japanese soldiers survived; their commanding officer, Kunio Nakagawa, did not. At the end Nakagawa proclaimed 'Our sword is broken and we have run out of spears'. He then burnt his regimental colors and committed ritual suicide. He was posthumously promoted to Lieutenant General for his valor displayed on Peleliu.

Wikipedia: "The reduction of the Japanese pocket around Umurbrogol mountain is considered to be the most difficult fight that the U.S. military encountered in the entire Second World War. The 1st Marine Division was severely mauled and it remained out of action until the invasion of Okinawa on April 1, 1945. In total the 1st Division suffered over 6500 casualties during their month on Peleliu, over a third of their entire division. The 81st Infantry Division suffered over 3000 casualties during their tenure on the island."

The full story on my blog.