In late August, 1944,

1944年 8月下旬
The 1st division shipped out again

陆战1师再次启航目的地为
headed for a small coral island beten Guam and the Philippines--

关岛和菲律宾群岛间的一座小珊瑚岛
Peleliu.

贝里硫岛
Only six miles long and two miles wide,

该岛只有6英里长2英里宽[英里=1.6公里]
Peleliu held an airstrip that was close to the Philippine islands.

岛上有座简易机场靠近菲律宾群岛
General Douglas Macarthur decided

道格拉斯·麦克阿瑟将军认为
that the capture of that airstrip

只有攻下那座简易机场
was critical to retaking the Philippines

才能夺回菲律宾群岛
As a stepping stone to the invasion

从而以此作为基础
of the Japanese mainland.

进攻日本本土
The navy bombarded Peleliu for three days

海军对贝里硫岛持续轰炸了三天