Okinawa -- Last Great Battle of World II

April 1 was the date scheduled for the invasion of Okinawa and that was when the real battle started although some activity was underway March 31 so that is sometimes given as the official day for the beginning of the last, and perhaps most important, battle of World War II. There will not be many commemorations of the 66th anniversary of the  battle, but I will continue to observe it as long as I live. Tomorrow I will tell of my personal experience as our ship, the Pickens, played its part but today I will  write a few words about the battle and why it was so important to the nation and to me personally.

Few people realize that Okinawa was the largest sea and land operation of the war, larger than Normandy in ships, men and supplies. Okinawa lies some 350 miles from Japan and in American hands could be used as a staging area from which to attack the Japanese mainland.  Japan's leaders knew that loss would leave them with two options, surrender or wage a war of national suicide.  They hoped that if Japan were invaded they would wage costing so many lives that Americans would agree to negotiate a peace.

The battle waged from April 1 to June   22 with casualties high for both sides, Americans losing more than 12,000 dead, including almost 5,000 Navy dead and almost 8,000 Marine and Army dead and 30,000 wounded. In addition, non-wounded casualties numbered 26,000.  Japan lost 130,000 soldiers killed and 10,000 surrendered or captured.  Civilian deaths were estimated at 132,000.

Allied forces lost  34 ships sunk, mostly by kamakaze, 368 ships and crafts damaged, and 763 aircraft destroyed. Casualties were so high  there were congressional calls for an investigation into  the conduct of military commanders.  The effectiveness of kamakaze attacks was proven beyond doubt and it was only a sample of what American could expect in an invasion of Japan.  The high cost in lives convinced President Truman to drop the atom bomb, leading to Japan's surrender.  This saved the lives of hundreds of thousands, including me, who were preparing to invade Japan when that nation surrendered.