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This month marks the 55th anniversary of the end of the Okinawa Campaign in World War Il. It was the largest amphibious assault of the Pacific War-a joint campaign effectively conducted against a capable and determined enemy.
The 82-day battle for Okinawa began on 1 April and ended on 21,June 1945. It was the bloodiest battle of the Pacific War, and it resulted in approximately 110,000 Japanese combatant deaths and an additional 150,000 to 270,000 Okinawa civilian deaths. American casualties included 12,500 killed and 33,000 wounded.
Why Okinawa?
Okinawa is approximately 350 miles south of Kyushu, the southernmost home island of Japan. Its 485 square miles include several flat open areas that are well suited for airfields. The island also contains several protected anchorages. As Gerald Astor so eloquently stated in his 1995 book Operation Iceberg, "Okinawa [was) the equivalent of England for the Normandy invasion," and would serve as the primary staging base for the invasion of Japan.
Okinawa is approximately 60 miles long, and ranges from 2 to 18 miles wide. The northern two-thirds of the island is comprised of rough, hilly terrain. The southern one-third of the island has gentler hills and terrain that is more open. Japan annexed the island in 1879. Tn 1945, Okinawa had a distinct local culture and racial mix that was largely Chinese influenced. At the time of the invasion, Okinawa's civilian population was around 500,000.
Japanese Force Composition
The defense of the Ryukyu Islands was assigned to the 32d Army's four divisions and two independent brigades: 9th, 24th, 62d, and 28th Divisions, and 44th and 45th Independent Mixed Brigades. Ultra communication intelligence intercepts of Japanese military traffic estimated between 55,000 and 65,000 32d Army troops on Okinawa, but there were actually around 110,000. The 32d Army was subordinated to the Western Army Group, which was responsible for the defense of Kyushu.
The 32d Army consisted primarily of seasoned veterans from Japan's Manchurian campaign. The 32d Army Commander was LtGen Mitsua Ushijima. He was a charismatic, well-liked commander that had the confidence of his staff and men. He had a cordial demeanor, letting his staff engage in the heated debates, while he would simply reject or approve their recommendations.
Ushijima handpicked MajGen Isamu Cho as his...