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Battle of Okinawa ends
During World War II, the U.S. 10th Army overcomes the last major pockets of Japanese resistance on Okinawa Island, ending one of the bloodiest battles of World War II. The same day, Japanese Lieutenant General Mitsuru Ushijima, the commander of Okinawa’s defense, committed suicide with a number of Japanese officers and troops rather than surrender.
The Japanese lost 120,000 troops in the defense of Okinawa, while the Americans suffered 12,500 dead and 35,000 wounded. Of the 36 Allied ships lost, most were destroyed by the 2,000 or so Japanese pilots who gave up their lives in kamikaze missions. With the capture of Okinawa, the Allies prepared for the invasion of Japan, a military operation predicted to be far bloodier than the 1944 Allied invasion of Western Europe. The plan called for invading the southern island of Kyushu in November 1945, and the main Japanese island of Honshu in March 1946. In July, however, the United States successfully tested an atomic bomb and after dropping two of these devastating weapons on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August, Japan surrendered.
Battle of Okinawa ends
During World War II, the U.S. 10th Army overcomes the last major pockets of Japanese resistance on Okinawa Island, ending one of the bloodiest battles of World War II. The same day, Japanese Lieutenant General Mitsuru Ushijima, the commander of Okinawa’s defense, committed suicide with a number of Japanese officers and troops rather than surrender.
The Japanese lost 120,000 troops in the defense of Okinawa, while the Americans suffered 12,500 dead and 35,000 wounded. Of the 36 Allied ships lost, most were destroyed by the 2,000 or so Japanese pilots who gave up their lives in kamikaze missions. With the capture of Okinawa, the Allies prepared for the invasion of Japan, a military operation predicted to be far bloodier than the 1944 Allied invasion of Western Europe. The plan called for invading the southern island of Kyushu in November 1945, and the main Japanese island of Honshu in March 1946. In July, however, the United States successfully tested an atomic bomb and after dropping two of these devastating weapons on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August, Japan surrendered.
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Battle of Okinawa ends
Posted from history.com
Edited 3 y ago
Posted 3 y ago
Responses: 6
Posted 3 y ago
Stationed on Okinawa from 1968-1970 before we gave it back to Japan. Not many signs of the war left. Suicide point was interesting.
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GySgt Thomas Vick
3 y
Yes it was I've been there also, stationed at Camp Schwabb, and Camp Butler did two tours.
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Posted 3 y ago
The Kamikazes sunk many of our ships and killed many Sailors.
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MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D.
3 y
Including the Tenth Army's first CG: Gen. Simon Bolivar Buckner, Jr. Buckner was USMA Class of '08 and his father commanded Ft. Donelson. His surrender to Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant in 1862 earned Grant the nickname "Unconditional Surrender." Buckner, Jr. was killed by shrapnel from an arty round that hit near him.
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