Battle of Okinawa 

U.S. #2981c from the WWII 1945: Victory at Last sheet.

On April 1, 1945, the Battle of Okinawa began.

By the spring of 1945, the Allies’ successful island-hopping campaign had brought them to the Ryukyu Islands, about 350 miles from Japan. Air bases on the islands, including Okinawa, could be used in the planned attack on the mainland.

US #2981c – Classic First Day Cover.

The landing on Okinawa began on Easter Sunday, April 1, 1945, and was the last and largest amphibious assault of the Pacific Campaign.  Expecting immediate resistance, as at Iwo Jima, troops were surprised to find little enemy activity.  Hours after troops had swarmed ashore, a vital airstrip was captured without a single shot being fired.  For five days US troops waited to engage the enemy.

US #2981c – Mystic First Day Cover.
US #1869 – Nimitz commanded naval forces at Okinawa.

As it turned out, the Japanese had a plan.  Instead of meeting the Americans on the shore, the Japanese built strong defenses in caves, pillboxes, and castles.  Then on April 6th the Japanese struck – General Ushijima had pulled his forces back to the southern part of the island and was waiting to trap the Marines.

For two days, nearly 700 enemy aircraft, including 350 kamikazes, pounded the beachheads and the offshore forces.  From that point on, Okinawa was won in a series of bloody battles.  Japanese strongholds had to be conquered one cave or pillbox at a time.  The Japanese also forced Okinawa’s citizens to fight.  By May, the Allies faced another enemy – the monsoon season.

US #3420 – Stilwell commanded Army troops in the final days of the battle.

In spite of the many hardships, the Allies pushed forward, securing the island on June 21, 1945, though some Japanese defenders held out for another day.  The casualty toll was more than 200,000, including many civilians.

America’s sea power, encroaching land force, and formidable air power now posed an immediate threat to the Japanese mainland.  Some members of the Japanese government favored surrender, others wanted to fight on.  With their bases in line, the Allies proceeded with their plans to force Japan into unconditional surrender.

Because of the large number of casualties experienced during the battle for Okinawa, US military officials decided not to attack Japan, fearing an even greater loss of life.  Instead, two atomic bombs would be dropped to force a Japanese surrender and prevent further casualties.

US #1398 from the Prominent Americans Series.

Among the casualties at Okinawa was American journalist Ernest “Ernie” Pyle.  He had been reporting on the war from Europe since 1940, and went with the Navy when they invaded Okinawa.  On April 18, 1945, Ernie was on Iejima Island, northwest of Okinawa.  He was traveling with four other men to observe the front line action when the jeep was fired upon by Japanese machine guns.  Pyle was shot in the temple and died instantly.  He was later awarded a Purple Heart, one of the few civilians to receive it.  When the Navy secretary announced Pyle’s death, he said the war correspondent had “helped America understand the heroism and sacrifices of her fighting men.”

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4 Comments

  1. The art teacher where I attended high school had shared with me that part of his service in the Army involved going ashore under the cover of darkness with a small force and bringing back sketches and maps of where the Japanese were entrenched on several islands. He was adamant that the decision to drop atomic bombs saved countless lives of not only many of his fellow servicemen but perhaps even his own. All accounts tell of the brutal battles on many islands.

    1. My uncle, Wallace Bruce Twichell, was a decorated pilot in the Air Force during WWII, and the whole family is very proud and thankful for his service to our country

  2. Another important bit of history broadly known but Mystic puts it into perspective in easily and quickly read articles. My daily dose of brain food along with my morning tea.

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