Presidential Message on the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Okinawa

whitehouse.gov ^ | June 22, 2020 | President Donald J Trump

[ransomnote]

On this day 75 years ago, one of the most intense conflicts of World War II—the Battle of Okinawa—concluded in a historic victory for the United States.  Today, we pause to remember the more than 12,000 American heroes who perished in that monumental struggle and pay tribute to thousands of service members who were instrumental in the forces of freedom emerging triumphant.

The Battle of Okinawa was the last major battle of World War II.  Dubbed Operation Iceberg, a fleet of 1,300 American ships and 50 British ships descended on the island of Okinawa in April of 1945, with a mission of securing it as a critical strategic base for Allied Forces for the final stages of the war, which ended just months later in September 1945.  By the time the battle ended, 26 of these ships had been sunk and another 168 were severely damaged.  In total, the battle cost more than 200,000 lives, including the tragic loss of nearly 100,000 Okinawan civilians.

The grueling struggle on Okinawa lasted 3 months and consisted of multiple battles, both at sea and on the island.  American and Allied troops had to navigate treacherous terrains, including cliffs and tunnels.  They valiantly rose to the challenge, demonstrating the bravery and resolve that have always defined the men and women of our Armed Forces.  In total, Presidents awarded 23 Medals of Honor to true American patriots for their gallantry and courage during the 82-days of fighting on the island.  Their service and sacrifice, along with that of their fellow brothers in arms, are a tribute to the selflessness and stalwart bravery of their generation—the Greatest Generation.  The legacy of that sacrifice includes our alliance with Japan—forged after that terrible conflict—that embodies our shared commitment to freedom and democracy, which is a beacon for the world.  Today, that alliance is on watch against would-be adversaries who, but for the combined strength of the United States and our Japanese allies, would undermine the global order to the advantage of totalitarian ideologies and dictatorial autocracy.

Today, we remember our Greatest Generation and salute those who answered our Nation’s call with unyielding valor and intrepid resolve.  As our country continues to recover from the unprecedented hardships we have faced over the past months, let us draw from their patriotism and conviction in our efforts to build a stronger, more united country for all Americans.

The White House

[WalterSkinner]

..my father was in Shanghai with the CBI troops at the time, and would no doubt have been part of the reserves in the invasion of Japan—I might not be writing this...

[Peter W. Kessler]

Everything about the Pacific Theater was, and still is, more difficult. I’d like to visit Iwo Jima, but the island is open only one day a year. Transportation to the islands is via “tiny little airplane,” and a two or three week tour is horrendously expensive.

[tet68]

My father was there on a picket destroyer.
He said when the kamikazes flew over trying to
take out a larger ship, they flew close enough
that he could see the pilots eyes.

God bless those brave sailors, soldiers and Marines.
The landing was the easy part, the rest was a bloody
grind that presaged what an invasion of the home islands
would be like.

The atom bomb was a blessing and most
WWII vets thanked God for it.

[yarddog]

I doubt those soldiers who fought in the Battle of the Bulge thought it was a cake walk. We lost more there than at Okinawa.

Also the Germans lost less than we did which surprised me when I read it.

[dfwgator]

I just think of the conditions in the Pacific, compared to Europe: The stifling heat, the mosquitos (and all the diseases that came with it), the difficulty in getting supplies to troops. Yes, Battle of the Bulge dealt with severe cold.

[BushCountry]

Hundreds of Japanese women and school children leapt to their deaths at a suicide cliff there.

[mountainlion]

It occurs to me the reason that the statues are being pulled down is that the heroes of the past were dedicated and quite smart. It seems that the current generations can be given a College education, money and lots of praise. The the things they can’t be given is heroism and achievement except in some video game.

[OftheOhio]

My uncle Leon was right there with them. He didn’t get his purple heart (shot in the leg) until he was a very old man. He never talked about it. The only thing he ever said to me was to ditch my pack if I ever came off a landing craft.

[Verginius Rufus]

Gen. Simon Bolivar Buckner, Jr., killed near the end of the Okinawa campaign, was the son of the man who surrendered Fort Donelson to U.S. Grant in 1862 (after Grant made his famous "unconditional surrender" demand).

My father was one of the Marines who fought on Sugar Loaf Hill. Victor Davis Hanson's cousin was killed in the battle of Sugar Loaf Hill (but was in the 29th Marines, my father was in the 22nd).

[DFG]

Suicide Cliff is on Saipan.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_Cliff

[yarddog]

My Father’s battalion was ordered to cease logging operations in the Ardennes and proceed to a point blocking the German spearhead.

They were fortunate that the Germans chose another route and another Combat Engineer Battalion, the 291st bore the brunt of the attack. The 208th must not have seen much combat. tho a sergeant shot down an fW-190 which was strafing them.

They did see fierce fighting at St. Lo, the assault crossing of the Rhoer and the assault crossing of the Rhine.

[ransomnote]

It occurs to me the reason that the statues are being pulled down is that the heroes of the past were dedicated and quite smart. It seems that the current generations can be given a College education, money and lots of praise. The the things they can’t be given is heroism and achievement except in some video game.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I think it's also an attack on the rule of law. Statues are typically pulled down during a coup because the new regime wants a clean slate upon which to rewrite history.

Antifa uses a flag based closely on the design of Nazis for a reason. Note that Nazis came to power claiming they, too, were against facism.

Donald Trump warned, before he became president, that we might see the tearing down of statues. He knew that there is a steady coup being enacted against our country.

[SunkenCiv]

One of the largest battles of WWII, Japan used up what remained of its navy as suicide attack ships. The battle led US planners to realize the level of carnage which would result from an invasion of the Japanese home islands. Luckily for US forces and for everyone in Asia except the Japanese, nuclear bombs were available. Took a second one to convince the Emperor that it was time to lay down arms.

[laplata]

That’s right. The Japanese had made up terrible stories about what the Americans would do to them.

The GI’s did everything they could to stop them from jumping.

[jjotto]

My father was on the battleship Mississippi. They were hit by one of those kamikazes, but remained in service. The ship was credited with destroying Shuri Castle, the Jap HQ.

[Verginius Rufus]

I once heard an after-dinner speech by an American who had been in the Battle of the Bulge. I've also heard a speech by a survivor of the USS Indianapolis.

[Rockingham]

Of a feudal and militaristic mindset, the Japanese government thought little of not just Okinawans but also of the lives and welfare of their own people. Japan's plans for the defense of the home islands provided vast deep tunnels and secure bunkers for the leadership and the protection of their military forces while, in preparation for the invasion, most civilians were to be told to stay home, dig foxholes, and attack invading American troops with spears and grenades. The Japanese also seem to have intended to use biological weapons, with the US preparing for possible tactical use of chemical nerve agents to clear the way for American troops.

Moreover, the Japanese government knew that the US had an atomic bomb program and would use it to attack Japan's cities. Through a cash deal, impoverished Portugal's diplomats and intelligence service spied for Japan on the US A-bomb program. Japan's nuclear scientists then provided a remarkably accurate estimate of the A-bomb's destructiveness and rate of production. This led Japanese strategists to conclude that, like the devastating US bombing of Japan's cities, they could withstand US use of a few nuclear weapons -- or use initial American nuclear attacks as an excuse for surrender and a basis for international sympathy.

The Japanese strategy was therefore to make the battle on Okinawa so ferocious, long, and appallingly costly that the US would in the end agree to permit the Emperor to remain in power rather than have to invade Japan's home islands. In the event, US casualties on Okinawa were so high that the US dropped two nukes on Japan and agreed to let the Emperor continue on the throne after a nominally unconditional surrender.

Japan gots its terms but MacArthur and the US subverted the expectations of the Japanese leadership by regarding the Emperor as a mere figurehead, treating the Japanese people with humanity and respect, and reforming Japanese society along modern, democratic lines. No small part of Japan's friendship with the US is based on popular gratitude toward and friendship with their US occupiers. With Japan's defeat, Americans provided ordinary Japanese with a better life than Japan's leaders ever intended for them.

[lodi90]

My Grandfather was involved in the battle of Okinawa Shima.

---

Same. He was on a Navy tin can offshore. His ship was hit by a suicide boat and they withdrew for repairs to Seattle. That’s where he met grandma.

[EvilCapitalist]

Mine was a Corporal in the 6th Marine division.