Last Battle Of Okinawa Essay
With World War II drawing near an end, one of the most pivotal battles of the Great War was still undergoing diligent planning by two major opposing forces. The Battle of Okinawa is recognized as one of the most destructive campaigns of WWII, with its usage of the Ryuku Islands as grounds for a grand scale amphibious all-out warfare. The battle is also referred to by many as The Last Battle since it marked the end of U.S involvement in WWII. Although Japan was able to make a swift recovery after the war, partially due to the aid provided by General Douglas A. MacArthur and the Supreme Command of Allied Powers in Japan’s reconstruction, the island of Okinawa has been neglected and pushed aside. Now the only thing the island of Okinawa is remembered by is the thousands of innocent lives that were taken by massacre or forced suicide due to
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the exploitation caused by a corrupt and unjust government.
The extensive military campaigns to take control of the Okinawa prefecture was given the codename operation ICEBERG.
Many factors were taken into consideration in the planning of operation ICEBERG such as harsh weather conditions, various terrains, and above all, a military defense so massive it’s unrivaled.The strategy formulated by the Allied Forces’ was set to invade Japan’s Ryuku islands using an American battalion known as the Tenth Army. The Tenth Army was comprised of infantrymen from several divisions including: 7th, 27th , 77th, and 97th. In 1945, the Tenth Army launched both air-strikes and naval attacks on Okinawa’s Central and South Pacific fronts.
These assaults lead to the capture of three Ryuku islands: Apamama, Tarawa, and Makkin. In addition, Japanese ships were destroyed upon confrontation in order to form a path for the advancement of Allied ships westward. On April 1, 1945, the first land battle was led by the 77th division and it took place on a group of islands neighboring Okinawa, known as the Kerama Islands. The division was eventually able to secure an airfield after enduring kamikaze attacks upon
landing.
The U.S also utilized Luzon, the largest island in the Philippines, as a resting point given the 4,000-mile distance of the Pacific Ocean. American troops were also stationed in the Philippines in order to gain control over air and naval bases while simultaneously blocking off trade ports to the East China Sea.
Japan's defense was unmatched due to their massive military presence. The majority of the Japanese military stemmed from the 32nd army, however, over 40,000 Okinawan citizens were forced into the war due to drafts administered by the Japanese Ministry. A large portion of the Japanese army were drafted Okinawans who were dressed in Japanese military uniforms. Even middle-school and high-school students were drafted into the battle. Their ages typically ranged from 13 to 17. The draft was disguised as a volunteer opportunity, but in actuality schools received threats from the military to volunteer students to be drafted into the army at their own accord. Their main purposes were to either serve as nursing units or to stand at the front lines of assaults resulting in huge casualties.
The Japanese went to extreme lengths to prevent the invasion of the homelands. One of Japan’s nefarious tactics was their bombings of Allied ships using kamikaze fighter pilots. Although this approach is seen as detestable by many, it proved to be effective, destroying approximately 1,100 allied ships.
The struggle faced by both sides came to an end when Japan was forced to surrender and sign a peace treaty with the Allied Powers in September 2, 1945. The campaign resulted in a devastating toll. The Japanese Army was a force to be reckoned with, claiming over 60,000 American casualties: 20,000 were killed in the line of duty while the remaining 40,000 suffered serious injuries. The Battle of Okinawa resulted in the highest number of American casualties recorded in all of campaigns fought in WWII. As a result, the Japanese military experienced even more casualties. Although the Japanese claimed over 70,000 casualties, they still weren’t the biggest victim of the war. Over 140,000 Okinawans were wounded or killed. The abiding wounds inflicted by the Battle of Okinawa still affect the citizens of Okinawa today. Japan continues to perpetuate hostile relations with the residences of Okinawa through their exploitation of the island as a base for United States’ military defense and refusal to address the citizen public outcries of neglect and unjust policies. The residents of Okinawa have continuously protested against the U.S’s military occupation. Their protests are often overlooked by the Japanese government due to a large percentage of the population being elderly. Scott Zhuge provides a valid argument for both sides of the issue in his academic journal where he states:
Although the military presence established by the United States in Okinawa can serve as a strategical point of defense, considerations must be made for the locals and their issues must be adhered to. A compromise must be made discerning the security interests of
Japan and the lifestyle of the Okinawans.
the exploitation caused by a corrupt and unjust government.
The extensive military campaigns to take control of the Okinawa prefecture was given the codename operation ICEBERG.
Many factors were taken into consideration in the planning of operation ICEBERG such as harsh weather conditions, various terrains, and above all, a military defense so massive it’s unrivaled.The strategy formulated by the Allied Forces’ was set to invade Japan’s Ryuku islands using an American battalion known as the Tenth Army. The Tenth Army was comprised of infantrymen from several divisions including: 7th, 27th , 77th, and 97th. In 1945, the Tenth Army launched both air-strikes and naval attacks on Okinawa’s Central and South Pacific fronts.
These assaults lead to the capture of three Ryuku islands: Apamama, Tarawa, and Makkin. In addition, Japanese ships were destroyed upon confrontation in order to form a path for the advancement of Allied ships westward. On April 1, 1945, the first land battle was led by the 77th division and it took place on a group of islands neighboring Okinawa, known as the Kerama Islands. The division was eventually able to secure an airfield after enduring kamikaze attacks upon
landing.
The U.S also utilized Luzon, the largest island in the Philippines, as a resting point given the 4,000-mile distance of the Pacific Ocean. American troops were also stationed in the Philippines in order to gain control over air and naval bases while simultaneously blocking off trade ports to the East China Sea.
Japan's defense was unmatched due to their massive military presence. The majority of the Japanese military stemmed from the 32nd army, however, over 40,000 Okinawan citizens were forced into the war due to drafts administered by the Japanese Ministry. A large portion of the Japanese army were drafted Okinawans who were dressed in Japanese military uniforms. Even middle-school and high-school students were drafted into the battle. Their ages typically ranged from 13 to 17. The draft was disguised as a volunteer opportunity, but in actuality schools received threats from the military to volunteer students to be drafted into the army at their own accord. Their main purposes were to either serve as nursing units or to stand at the front lines of assaults resulting in huge casualties.
The Japanese went to extreme lengths to prevent the invasion of the homelands. One of Japan’s nefarious tactics was their bombings of Allied ships using kamikaze fighter pilots. Although this approach is seen as detestable by many, it proved to be effective, destroying approximately 1,100 allied ships.
The struggle faced by both sides came to an end when Japan was forced to surrender and sign a peace treaty with the Allied Powers in September 2, 1945. The campaign resulted in a devastating toll. The Japanese Army was a force to be reckoned with, claiming over 60,000 American casualties: 20,000 were killed in the line of duty while the remaining 40,000 suffered serious injuries. The Battle of Okinawa resulted in the highest number of American casualties recorded in all of campaigns fought in WWII. As a result, the Japanese military experienced even more casualties. Although the Japanese claimed over 70,000 casualties, they still weren’t the biggest victim of the war. Over 140,000 Okinawans were wounded or killed. The abiding wounds inflicted by the Battle of Okinawa still affect the citizens of Okinawa today. Japan continues to perpetuate hostile relations with the residences of Okinawa through their exploitation of the island as a base for United States’ military defense and refusal to address the citizen public outcries of neglect and unjust policies. The residents of Okinawa have continuously protested against the U.S’s military occupation. Their protests are often overlooked by the Japanese government due to a large percentage of the population being elderly. Scott Zhuge provides a valid argument for both sides of the issue in his academic journal where he states:
Although the military presence established by the United States in Okinawa can serve as a strategical point of defense, considerations must be made for the locals and their issues must be adhered to. A compromise must be made discerning the security interests of
Japan and the lifestyle of the Okinawans.