World War II

Michael S. Byczek
World War II

Compiled by Michael E. Byczek
Grandson and Illinois Attorney

19-Page PDF Compiled Documentary

Draft Card: Front - Back
Medical File obtained about 2008
National Archives - Enlistment records: (Gallery)
Death File: Version I, Version II

Military personnel records were destroyed by a fire in the 1970s. Very little information is available through FOIA, such as a brief summary (obtained about 2006).

Michael E. Byczek and his father Michael M. Byczek obtained the medical file (about 2008) that detailed how Michael S. Byczek was injured and treated, which was kept at a different location.

Copies of the three most important books about the Wildcats in World War II are in the Michael E. Byczek Genealogy Collection:

1. An official Wildcat historical book from their own perspective (1948) [Front / Info]

2. An official account through the perspective of the Marines at Peleliu with extensive reference to the Wildcats (1950) [Front / Info]

3. A present-day documentary about the Wildcats with emphasis on Peleliu, but covers the entire war (2011) [Front]

National Archives - Photos
(Note: Very few photos of Peleliu compared to Angaur. Possible that Anguar and Peleliu are lumped under Anguar label)

Angaur Gallery
Peleliu Gallery

National Archives - Videos (Focus on Anguar)

Note: Some video files listed below play on macOS with Safari, but may not on Android devices with Chrome.

56-27 [Source]
1790 [Source]
2460 [Source]
5541 [Source]
5546 [Source]
5556 [Source]
5691 [Source]
5716 [Source]
5718 [Source]
9643 [Source]
9736 [Source]
33468 [Source] - 1st couple minutes of full Wildcat documentary

National Archives - Videos (Focus on Peleliu)

126 [Source]
2489 [PDF] [Source]
3421 [PDF] [Source]
3424 [PDF] [Source]
3426 [Source]
3435 [PDF] [Source]
3437 [Source]
3438 [PDF] [Source]
5456 [Source]
5467 [Source]
5529 [Source]
5530 [Source]
5531 [Source]
5532 [Source]
5533 [Source]
5535 [Source]
5536 [Source]
5549 [Source]
5550 [Source]
5551 [Source]
5552 [Source]
5553 [Source]
5554 [Source]
5555 [Source]
5557 [Source]
5560 [Source]
5561 [Source]
5562 [Source]
5567 [Source]
5568 [Source]
5569 [Source]
5571 [Source]
5573 [Source]
5588 [Source]
5590 [Source]
5591 [Source]
5592 [Source]
5593 [Source]
5616 [Source]
5641 [Source]
5642 [Source]
5643 [Source]
5645 [Source]
5646 [Source]
5648 [Source]
5649 [Source]
5651 [Source]
5668 [Source]
5669 [Source]
5684 [Source]
5699 [Source]
5702 [Source]
5704 [Source]
5708 [Source]
5714 [Source]
5733 [Source]
5736 [Source]
5740 [Source]
5741 [Source]
5766 [Source]
6154 [Source]
6155 [Source]
6156 [Source]
6157 [Source]
6158 [Source]
6213 [Source]
6214 [Source]
7033 [Source]
9622 [Source]
9643 [Source]
9735 - Fury [Source]
9905 [Source]
10893 [Source]
12965 [Source]
14633 [Source]
15821 [Source]
15917 [Source]
15966 [Source]
16019 [Source]
165148: I, II, III [Source]
19415 [Source]

National Archives - Video Card Files (Focus on Angaur)

2400: PDF
2401: PDF
2403: PDF
2428: PDF
2458: PDF
2459: PDF
2460: PDF
2466: PDF
2511: PDF
3401: PDF
3412: PDF
3413: PDF
3414: PDF
3430: PDF

National Archives - Video Card Files (Focus on Peleliu)

2485: PDF
2489: PDF
3418: PDF
3421: PDF
3424: PDF
3426: PDF
3431: PDF
3435: PDF
3436: PDF
3437: PDF

Third-party videos (some appear to be from National Archives)

Angaur: Video - Full Wildcat Documentary
Angaur: Video
Angaur: Video
Angaur: Video
Angaur: Video
Angaur: Video

National Archives - Files

Angaur Operational Map: Map - Description
Battle of Peleliu Landmark (specific details and dates about Wildcats): PDF - Source

Online Photos (Note: Some photos are repeated to show how different resources label the same photo)

321st Training Photos in California: Gallery
81st Division Training Photos in California: Gallery
New Caledonia: Gallery
Battle of Angaur: Gallery
Battle of Peleliu: Gallery
Peleliu (Present Day): Gallery

Operational Reports

Capture of Angaur: National Archives, PDF Color Version - [Source: 1, 2]
Special Operation Report (Angaur): Gallery - National Archives
Battle of Peleliu: PDF (Part 1) - PDF (Part 2) (Source: 1 - 2)
Ulithi Atoll and other Western Caroline Islands: Gallery - National Archives
Palau Islands to New Caledonia to Leyte, PI to Japan: Gallery - National Archives

Transition for 81st Division from the Phillipines to Japan: PDF (Source: 1 - 2)
Source (Angaur and Peleliu Reports): 1 - 2

Leon: Diary I - Gallery
Leon: Diary 2 - Gallery
Leon: Palau Details - Gallery

Index of APOs

81st Division
APO 81
APO 502
APO 703: Part 1 - Part 2
Alphabetical Index: PDF
Numerical Index: PDF

Books

Combat Divisions of World War II: 81st Division - Cover of Book - Book Info - Full PDF
Army Unit Histories: 81st Division - Cover - Book Info - Full PDF
Army Almanac: 81st Divison - Page 1 - Page 2 - Cover - Book Info - Full PDF
The Assault on Peleliu (large amount of narrative for 321st Regiment): Book Info - Full PDF

Maps and Photos

Gallery - Overall collection
Aerial Views of Anguar and Peleliu
Google Views of Wildcat Monument

Google Street View Videos of Peleliu

Wildcat Monument
Wildcat Bowl
Peleliu WW II Museum
Japan Navy HQ
East coast of island
Southwest shore

Newspapers

1942-1947

Military Organization

Battalion (Reference to Company M): Overview - Full
Heavy Weapons Company: Overview - Full
Heavy Weapons Platoon: Overview - Full
Military Organization for Heavy Weapons Company: PDF - Source 1 - Source 2

Websites

81st Infantry Division (Wikipedia)
321st Regiment (Military)
81st Division (Military)
Battle of Angaur (Wikipedia)
Battle of Peleliu (Wikipedia)
Battle of Peleliu (Military)
Operation Stalemate II (Military)
Marine Perspective on Battle of Peleliu (Military)
Third party website with details about Company M: 1 - 2
Camp Rucker (Wikipedia)
Camp Horn (Wikipedia)
Camp Horn (Description)
Camp Obispo (Wikipedia)
Camp Beale (Wikipedia)
Camp Stoneman (Wikipedia)
Angaur (Wikipedia)
Palau (Wikipedia)
Peleliu (Wikipedia)
Guadalcanal (Wikipedia)
Repl Depot in Zama, Japan (Source)
Leon Ship (Military)
Leon Ship (Wikipedia)
Photo of Leon Ship (Third Party)
PC 1251 Ship (Military)
Washington VIII Ship: 1 - 2
Fold3 - Includes some unit group photos

Battle of Peleliu Memorial

Congressional Recognition of Wildcats at Peleliu - 60th Anniversary in 2004
Military Ceremony
Photos/Snaps: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8

Compiled by Michael E. Byczek, Illinois Attorney
Grandson of Michael S. Byczek

Original HTML format created in May 2021 for Memorial Day
Last Revision: November 2025

Back to Detailed Genealogical Lineage

https://michaelbyczek.pro

Copyright © 2025. Michael E. Byczek. All Rights Reserved.