[null and void]

“In the waters around Okinawa, the Japanese launched the largest kamikaze, or suicide, attack of the war. Japanese planes rammed into Allied ships, sinking 26 and severely damaging 168. Almost 40% of the U.S. casualties during the battle were sailors lost in these attacks. “

Dad was on the Maryland, trying to shoot down the kamikaze who flew low over his head to impact the top of the #3 turret, killing 12 Sailors and Marines.

[fso301]

Kolakowski noted that some of the lessons learned from the battle can be applied to a possible future battle over Taiwan

Yes and no. As long as China can take Taiwan, casualties are not a concern.

[GreenLanternCorps]

The Unauthorized History of the Pacific War Podcast:

Operation ICEBERG-The Invasion of Okinawa Part 1 with Jon Parshall - Episode 418

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPMv6V0yFlc&list=PLvwPt9MhP599qIpTF0WCuRsNtye6hGb2j&index=21

[Psalm 73]

Spent a couple of months there working at Kadena Air base- fascinating island. Can’t imagine how grueling combat must have been there.

[DFG]

[Rummyfan]

What a bloodbath it was - moreso for the Japanese than for us but still.... As with most wars, the bloodiest battles usually come at the very end. Of course, no one knew if the bomb would work or even be available at the time of Okinawa.

[linMcHlp]

bttt

[Rummyfan]

Buckner was among the Americans killed on Okinawa.

Camp Buckner at West Point named for him I believe.

[Vermont Lt]

The part that a lot of people miss in regard to a Chinese invasion of Taiwan is the incredible scale of sea lift that would have to be applied. The last major amphibious invasion of that scale was Inchon. That’s more than 70 years ago.

Getting the troops across great distances of water is a skill set that is owned, right now, by one nation: The US.

Now, add in the advances in anti-ship missile defense and the idea of a sea borne invasion of Taiwan becomes less and less realistic.

[DIRTYSECRET]

**The Japanese military suffered even more, losing almost their entire force, including many who committed suicide. Around the same number of Okinawan civilians were killed or committed suicide.**

As I recall about 5,000 Okinawans were killed by the Japanese themselves due to ‘military necessity’. In short they were ‘in the way’, meaning the Japanese caste system didn’t think too much of them.

[SamAdams76]

Those who question the use of atomic bombs by the U.S. on Japan in WW2 need to study this battle.

Imagine the casualties that would have occurred had the Allies been forced to invade the mainland by conventional means.