Posted on 04/01/2018 8:30:33 PM PDT by BBell
I've been to a lot of the battles fields and you do still find bones on occasion.
My grandfather was First Lieutenant/Damage Control Officer on the Bunker Hill when it was kamikazied during that battle.
The Okinawans still don’t like the Japs. A percentage, not sure how large, would like to go back to the Kingdom of Ryukyus.
I bet he had some stories, that is if he would tell them.
Spent 18 months there back in the ‘60’s - gorgeous country, lovely people - stories were around that there were still Japanese soldiers up in the hill ready to carry on the fight, but seemed to be more mythology than reality......
Did that dumb SOB actually say that? It would not surprise me.
Did the Japanese kill off 5k of their own in Okinawa? The mainlanders I understand didn’t think too much of them.
Just heard about this story this year.
Really fascinating. Was a village secret until 1997.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1945_Katsuyama_killing_incident
I believe the severity of the fighting, convinced the leaders that this was what an invasion of Japan was going to be like, and tipped the scales in favor of using the Atom Bomb.
He didn’t (RIP). He was awarded the Navy Cross, and his only comment was that every man on that ship should have gotten one.
My dad was an LST coxswain, he drove one of the small boats that carried troops from the big navy ships to the shore. Talk about a cr@ppy dangerous job!!! He drove LST’s for the invasions of the Solomon Islands, Saipan, and Okinawa. He was on two ships that were sunk by kamikazis at Okinawa. It’s a miracle that he survived the war.
Both my Mom and my Dad had brothers who were Marines there.
During the battle he jumped into a foxhole. Moments later a Japanese soldier jumped in also, apparently ducking for cover as well.
The Japanese soldier said something. Uncle Rob didn't know what. Without even thinking he decapitated the soldier with his bayonet.
I won’t say he was lucky, more likely he was skilled at survival.
Excellent writer.........And was THERE!
Wow. Fascinating.
Until this battle most Japanese civilians and many of their military didn’t even know how bad the war was going. Almost every news report in Japan until then was of their “victories.” First time many Japanese heard how bad things were going was their schoolchildren singing songs on the radio in support of their “brave defenders” on Okinawa. Had many people in Japan wondering what else they were lied to about for the first time.
Propaganda was so strict in Japan that every sailor who knew what happened at The Battle of Midway ( the loss of the 4 carriers ) was banned from ever returning to Japan until the end of the war. Wounded from that battle who had to be taken back to Japan were in their own hospital ward and restricted to base, not getting out until the war ended. Just talking about the defeat could mean death.
Coincidentally, I recently finished reading “With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa” by EB Sledge.
His recounting of his experience at Okinawa is almost beyond belief. This book and “Helmet for My Pillow” were the basis for the “Pacific” series.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.