THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY - PALAU PASSAGE THROUGH WAR, 1944-1945

On March 30, 1944, the violence of World War II reached the Palau Isla nds. Aircraft from US Navy carriers launched air strikes on Japanese i nstallations in the island group. In September 1944 the southern islan ds of Angaur and Peleliu were invaded by US troops. The 183 Islanders remaining on Angaur took refuge in caves for over 3 weeks before emerg ing to live under American military government until the end of the wa r. The northern islands of Babeldaob and Koror were ''bypassed'' and ' 'neutralized.'' Marine aircraft based on Peleliu made regular daily st rafing and bombing raids over the islands. Palauans on Babeldaob strug gled for survival, enduring air strikes, famine, and increasing Japane se brutality. This article reconstructs these different experiences of war in Palau by integrating Palauan voices with American military rec ords.