Editing Battle of Peleliu (section)

==Unit citations==
[[File:"Peleliu Island...Marines move through the trenches on the beach during the battle.", 09-15-1944 - NARA - 532535.jpg|thumb|D-day Peleliu, African Americans of one of the two segregated units that supported the 7th Marines – the 16th Marine Field Depot or the 17th Naval Construction Battalion Special take a break in the 115 degree heat, 09-15-1944 – NARA – 532535]]
* [[Presidential Unit Citation (United States)|Presidential Unit Citation]]:
** 1st Marine Division, 15–29 September 1944<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-M-Peleliu/USMC-M-Peleliu-G.html|title=HyperWar: USMC Monograph—The Assault on Peleliu|website=www.ibiblio.org|access-date=February 18, 2018}}</ref>
** 1st Amphibian Tractor Battalion, FMF<ref name= "peleliu"/>
** U. S. Navy Flame Thrower Unit Attached<ref name= "peleliu"/>
** 6th Amphibian Tractor Battalion (Provisional), FMF<ref name= "peleliu"/>
** 3d Armored Amphibian Battalion (Provisional), FMF<ref name= "peleliu"/>
** Detachment Eighth Amphibian Tractor Battalion, FMF<ref name= "peleliu"/>
** 454th Amphibian Truck Company, U. S. Army<ref name= "peleliu"/>
** 456th Amphibian Truck Company, U. S. Army<ref name= "peleliu"/>
** 4th Joint Assault Signal Company, FMF<ref name= "peleliu"/>
** 5th Separate Wire Platoon, FMF<ref name= "peleliu"/>
** 6th Separate Wire Platoon, FMF<ref name= "peleliu"/>
** Detachment 33rd Naval Construction Battalion (202 Personnel)<ref name= "peleliu"/>
** Detachment 73rd Naval Construction Battalion's Shore Party (241 Personnel)<ref name= "peleliu">Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual NAVPERS 15,790(REV.1953), Part II, Unit Awards, September 15–29, 1944 – Assault and seizure of Peleliu and Ngesebus, Palau Islands, p.15 {{cite web| url = https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/ref/Awards/Awards-II.html#sec1| title = HyperWar: Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual—1953, Part II}}</ref>
* USMC Commendatory Letter:{{efn|Before the battle was even over, [[William H. Rupertus|Major General Rupertus]] USMC wrote: "THE [[Negro|NEGRO RACE]] CAN WELL BE PROUD OF THE WORK PREFORMED [by the 11th Marine Depot Company/ 7th Marine Ammunition Company/ 17th CB]. THE WHOLEHEARTED CO-OPERATION AND UNTIRING EFFORTS WHICH DEMONSTRATED IN EVERY RESPECT THAT THEY APPRECIATED THE PRIVILEGE OF WEARING A MARINE UNIFORM AND SERVING WITH THE MARINES IN COMBAT. PLEASE CONVEY TO YOUR COMMAND THESE SENTIMENTS AND INFORM THEM THAT IN THE EYES OF THE ENTIRE DIVISION THEY HAVE EARNED A "WELL DONE"."<ref>The Right to Fight:African American Marines in WWII, Peleliu and Iwo Jima, Bernard C. Nalty, Marine Corps Historical Center, Building 58, Washington Navy Yard, Washington D.C. 20374, 1974, PCN 190-003132-00 {{cite web| url = https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/npswapa/extcontent/usmc/pcn-190-003132-00/sec10.htm| title = The Right to Fight: African-American Marines in World War II (Peleliu and Iwo Jima)}}</ref><ref>African Americans at War: an Encyclopedia, Volume I, Jonathan D. Sutherland, ABC, CLIO, Santa Barbara, Ca, 2004, p. 480, {{ISBN|1-57607-746-2}}</ref> The Department of the Navy made an official news release of the 17th CBs "Well Done" letter on November 28, 1944.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/museums/Seabee/Cruisebooks/wwiicruisebooks/specials-cruisebooks/17%20Special.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622083734/https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/museums/Seabee/Cruisebooks/wwiicruisebooks/specials-cruisebooks/17%20Special.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 June 2018 |title=17th Special NCB cruisebook |website=Naval History and Heritage Command |page=29 |access-date=October 18, 2017}}</ref>
* On D-day the 7th Marines had a situation. They did not have enough men to man the line and get the wounded to safety. Three men were sent to find help and found two [[Racial segregation|segregated]] units, the ''16th Marine Field Depot'' (11th Marine Depot Co. & 7th Marine Ammunition Co.)<ref name="nps.gov">"The Right to Fight: African American Marine in World War II, Bernard C. Nalty, Marine Corps Historical Center, Bldg 58, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C. 1995 {{cite web| url = https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/npswapa/extcontent/usmc/pcn-190-003132-00/sec10.htm| title = The Right to Fight: African-American Marines in World War II (Peleliu and Iwo Jima)}}</ref> and ''17th Special CB''. The Marines were not certain what their officers would think of them bringing African Americans but, they knew they needed help.<ref name="nps.gov"/> The 17th Special Seabees were assigned to the 1st Pioneers as shore party. Together with the 16th Depot Marines they helped with the wounded that day. At 0200 that night the Japanese mounted a counterattack. By the time it was over nearly the entire 17th had volunteered to hump ammo to the line on the stretchers they were bringing the wounded back on, fill in where the wounded had been, man 37mm guns that had lost their crews, and volunteer for anything. The record for the 16th Depot says they were carrying ammo and wounded back the same as the Seabees and had picked up rifles and become infantry where needed also.<ref>Seabee Museum Archives, Port Hueneme, CA. 93043. 17th Special; NCB p. 29-30 {{cite web| url = https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/museums/Seabee/Cruisebooks/wwiicruisebooks/specials-cruisebooks/17%20Special.pdf| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180622083734/https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/museums/Seabee/Cruisebooks/wwiicruisebooks/specials-cruisebooks/17%20Special.pdf| url-status = dead| archive-date = 22 June 2018| title = Reference at www.history.navy.mil}}</ref><ref>World War II Database {{cite web| url = http://worldwar2database.com/gallery/wwii1431| title = World War II Database| access-date = April 30, 2017| archive-date = August 15, 2017| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170815100834/http://worldwar2database.com/gallery/wwii1431| url-status = dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://worldwar2database.com/gallery/wwii1429|title=African-American Marines of 16th Field Depot Rest on Peleliu – The World War II Multimedia Database|website=worldwar2database.com|access-date=February 18, 2018|archive-date=March 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315222635/http://worldwar2database.com/gallery/wwii1429|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/museums/Seabee/UnitListPages/SPECIALS/17%20SNCB.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622083817/https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/museums/Seabee/UnitListPages/SPECIALS/17%20SNCB.pdf |archive-date=2018-06-22 |url-status=dead|title=17th Special, Seabee Museum|access-date=February 18, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thomas5.com/tribute/Vets10.html|title=Peleliu Shore Party|website=www.thomas5.com|access-date=February 18, 2018}}</ref> The 17th Seabees remained with the 7th through D-plus 3. Before the battle was over and the island secured Maj. General Rupertus wrote three letters saying "Well Done" to the two Marine Companies and the CB . According to the Military History Encyclopedia on the Web, were it not for the "Black Marine shore party personal" the counterattack on the 7th Marines would not have been repulsed.<ref>Peleliu, battle for (Operation Stalemate II) – The Pacific War's Forgotten Battle, September–November 1944, (section: Hitting the Beach, 3rd paragraph), Military History Encyclopedia on the Web, by: Peter D Antill, Tristan Dugdale-Pointon, and Dr John Rickard, {{cite web| url = http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_peleliu.html| title = Peleliu, battle for (Operation Stalemate II) – The Pacific War's Forgotten Battle, September–November 1944}}</ref>}}
** 11th Marine Depot Company (segregated)
** 7th Marine Ammunition Company (segregated)
** 17th Special Naval Construction Battalion (segregated)