PELELIU, Palau — Sweet hymns of love and salvation echoed through the jungle on Saturday, January 17, as Bethania High School alumni sang above the cawing birds at the U.S. WWII Memorial site in Peleliu. Just a few hundred yards from Orange Beach, one of the Pacific theater’s bloodiest battlegrounds, they gathered to honor the life and legacy of World War II veteran Evans E. Palmer.
Palmer, a U.S. Navy corpsman who served in US Navy Hospital 20 in 1944 on Peleliu, later returned to Palau as a missionary teacher in the late 1970s. During his five years at Bethania High School, he became a mentor, father figure, and teacher to many of his students, leaving a lasting impact that endured long after he left the island.
Following his death at age 96, Palmer’s daughters, Claire Palmer and Amber Craig, fulfilled his final wish to return to Peleliu. Together with his adopted Palauan family members — Limasang Recheked, Linda Subris, and Wright Kuartei — and Bethania alumni, they gathered to honor his life. His ashes were spread at sea as his family bid final farewell.
The ceremony, organized in partnership with the U.S. Armed Forces Veterans Association of Palau, included military honors rendered by the U.S. Marine Corps. Claire Palmer shared memories of her father’s life of sacrifice and devotion, recalling his unwavering faith and his dream of returning to Peleliu, a place he held close to his heart even at the age of 93.
Family members spoke of Palmer’s enduring commitment to faith and service, which guided him throughout his life. Although he left Palau after his mission work, Palmer continued to serve others well into his 90s.
Palmer’s family, including Amber Craig, Rebecca Palmer, Claire Palmer, Larry Torrey, and Karlin-Petrus Ludwig, expressed their gratitude to the people of Peleliu for honoring their father and embracing his memory.
“Thank you for welcoming and honoring our father, WWII veteran Evans E. Palmer, on this sacred land,” the family said in a statement.
Palmer’s life and legacy serve as a testament to sacrifice, service, and faith that transcended borders and generations. (by: L.N. Reklai)