On September 19, 1944, 25-year-old Captain Everett Pope led his Marines up Hill 100 at Peleliu under relentless fire. Cannon shells and machine guns scattered his men, but Pope refused to surrender.
All night, with only a handful of Marines, he fought off wave after wave of Japanese assaults. When their ammunition was gone, they used rocks and bare fists, determined to hold their ground until dawn. By morning, only 9 remained alive.
Pope’s courage saved his unit and inspired generations. He was awarded the Medal of Honor and lived to the age of 90. His story reminds us that true heroes never surrender — they fight on, even when all hope seems lost.