Editing Battle of Peleliu (section)

===Bloody Nose Ridge===
[[File:Marines wait in their foxholes - Peleliu.jpg|left|thumb|Marines waiting in their [[Defensive fighting position|fighting holes]]]]

After capturing "The Point", the 1st Marines moved north into the Umurbrogol pocket,<ref name=Moran/>{{rp|81}} nicknamed "Bloody Nose Ridge" by the Marines. Puller led his men in numerous assaults, but each incurred severe casualties from Japanese fire. The 1st Marines' movement was constrained by the narrow paths between the ridges, with each ridge fortification able to support the others with direct and indirect fires.

[[File:Corsair attacks jap bunker on Peleliu.jpg|thumb|A F4U Corsair drops napalm on Japanese positions atop Umurbrogol.]]
The Marines took increasingly heavy casualties as they slowly advanced through the ridges. The Japanese again showed unusual fire discipline, striking only when they could inflict maximum casualties. As casualties mounted, Japanese [[sniper]]s began to take aim at [[stretcher]] bearers, knowing that if stretcher bearers were injured or killed, more would have to return to replace them, providing more targets. In small groups, Japanese soldiers also frequently attempted to infiltrate the American lines at night. The Marines built two-man fighting holes, so one Marine could sleep while the other kept watch for infiltrators.

A particularly intense engagement occurred on Bloody Nose Ridge, when the [[1st Battalion 1st Marines|1st Battalion, 1st Marines]]—under the command of [[Major (rank)|Major]] [[Ray Davis (U.S. Marine)|Raymond Davis]]—attacked Hill 100. Over six days of fighting, the battalion suffered 71% casualties. Captain [[Everett P. Pope]] and his company penetrated deep into the ridges, leading his remaining 90 men to seize what he thought was Hill 100. It took a day's fighting to reach what he thought was the crest of the hill, which was in fact another ridge occupied by more Japanese defenders. [[File:Resting on Peleliu Island.jpg|thumb|Marine Pfc. Douglas Lightheart (right) cradles his .30 caliber (7.62×63mm) [[M1919 Browning machine gun]] in his lap, while he and Pfc. Gerald Thursby Sr. take a cigarette break, during mopping up operations on Peleliu on September 15, 1944.]]
Trapped at the base of the ridge, Pope set up a small defensive perimeter, which was attacked relentlessly by the Japanese throughout the night. The Marines ran out of ammunition and had to fight the attackers with knives and fists, even resorting to throwing coral rock and empty ammunition boxes at the Japanese. Pope and his men managed to hold out until dawn, which brought on more deadly fire. When they evacuated the position, only nine men remained. Pope later received the [[Medal of Honor]] for the action.

The Japanese inflicted 70% casualties on Puller's 1st Marines, or 1,749 men.<ref name=Moran/>{{rp|66}} After six days of fighting in the ridges of the Umurbrogol, Geiger sent elements of the U.S. Army's 81st Infantry Division to Peleliu to relieve the regiment.<ref name=Moran/>{{rp|66}} The [[321st Infantry Regiment (United States)|321st Regiment Combat Team]] landed on the western beaches of Peleliu—at the northern end of Umurbrogol mountain—on 23 September. The warren of ridges still occupied by Japanese troops became colloquially known as "the Pocket" by American forces on Peleliu. The 321st and the 7th Marines had fully encircled this "Pocket" by 24 September, D+9.<ref name=Moran/>{{rp|75,81}}

By 15 October the 7th Marines had suffered 46% casualties, and Geiger relieved them with the 5th Marines.<ref name=Moran/>{{rp|83}} Col. Harris adopted siege tactics, using bulldozers and flamethrower tanks to methodically destroy Japanese positions, and pushed into the ridges from the north.<ref name=Moran/>{{rp|83–84}} On 30 October the 81st Infantry Division took over command of Peleliu. It would take another six weeks, using the same tactics as the Marines, to finally reduce "The Pocket".<ref name=Moran/>{{rp|85}}

After emerging victorious in the [[Battle of Angaur]], the 81st Infantry Division was ordered to assist the 1st Marine Division in their efforts to seize Peleliu. The 81st Infantry Division eventually relieved the 1st Marine Division, and assumed command of combat operations on Peleliu. The 81st Infantry Division remained engaged on the island until the end of organized Japanese resistance on 18 January 1945.

On 24 November Nakagawa proclaimed, "Our sword is broken and we have run out of spears". He then burnt his regimental colors and performed [[seppuku|ritual suicide]].<ref name=Moran/>{{rp|86}} He was posthumously promoted to lieutenant general for his concerted defensive campaign on Peleliu. On 27 November the island was declared secure, ending the 73-day-long battle.<ref name="Western Pacific"/>

A [[Japanese holdout#1945-1949|Japanese lieutenant]] with twenty-six 2nd Infantry soldiers and eight 45th Guard Force sailors held out in the caves on Peleliu until 22 April 1947, only surrendering after a former Japanese admiral convinced them the war was over.<ref name=Moran/>{{rp|81}}