Today in History 4/1/9

On 01APR45 US forces begain the attack on the Island of Okinawa.

Okinawa is the largest of the Ryukyus islands at the southern tip of Japan. Okinawa is about 60 miles long and between 2 and 18 miles wide. Its strategic importance could not be underestimated – there were four airfields on the island that America needed to control.

My uncle fought there, he was in the second wave of Marines landing on the south side of the Island. From what my mother told me, he only spoke of it once when he first came home, then never again speaking of the war. In fact, I did not even know he was a Marine myself until after I until after I had joined in 1991.

Ushijima decided on his tactics – he would concentrate his forces in the southern sector of the island and station his men in a series of secure fortifications. If the Americans wanted to take these fortifications, they would have to attack the Japanese in a series of frontal assaults.

The attack on Okinawa had taken a heavy toll on both sides. The Americans lost 7,373 men killed and 32,056 wounded on land. At sea, the Americans lost 5,000 killed and 4,600 wounded. The Japanese lost 107,000 killed and 7,400 men taken prisoner. It is possible that the Japanese lost another 20,000 dead as a result of American tactics whereby Japanese troops were incinerated where they fought.
The Americans also lost 36 ships. 368 ships were also damaged. 763 aircraft were destroyed. The Japanese lost 16 ships sunk and over 4,000 aircraft were lost.

This is a bloody battle that had a huge impact on the war with Japan. Most people will remember the image of the American flag being hosted up on Mt. Suribachi.

On a side note: I realized that today’s date corresponds with the unit I deployed to Iraq with 4th BCT 1st squadron 9th Cavalry. 4/1/9. No relevant history, just something interesting I noticed.