The Ultimate Battle: Okinawa 1945--The Last Epic Struggle of World War II
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The Ultimate Battle: Okinawa 1945--The Last Epic Struggle of World War II Customer Reviews
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♥♥♥♥♥
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A grunt's eye view of the Typhoon of Steel
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| An excellent book. It is personal snapshots of the events of one of the bloodiest battles for America in WW II. This is the most detailed examination of this battle I've ever read. It reviews the Japanese preparations and strategies, tactics, and errors. General Ushijima lead an excellent delaying defensive action attriting the American forces to the point of condemning Hiroshima and Nagasaki to nuclear strikes to end the war. This battle started on April Fool's Day, and for the first week was nearly a lark as the Americans moved inland taking objectives the didn't expect to take for several days including Kadena and Yontan air bases. Once the Americans encountered the Japanese defenses the discovered how well armed and deeply the Japanese were dug were they still didn't understand how difficult the coming fight would be. Both sides made tactical errors that increased the carnage. On the Japanese side it involved Ushijima listening to his second and launching a counter offensive from the Shuri line losing several thousand men that could have reinforced and held the Shuri line for several more days or even weeks. The error by General Buckner is a little more debatable. When the Americans drive stalled in front of the Shuri line several subordinates pressed for an amphibious end around assault on the Japanese from the south end of the island. If the Americans had the resources available this could have pressed the Japanese from both sides and prevented the Japanese from withdrawing to the southern end of the island and extending the fight for another month. The personal stories (exclusively American) reveal how vicious the individual engagements were. The fight for the small hill called "Sugarloaf" was especially bad. The Americans took this lump nearly a dozen times before they kept it. The hill was little more than 50' high and maybe 250 yards long but was one of three points southwest of the Shuri Castle that controlled the area. The hill isn't much to look at but like nearly every other strong point on the island was honeycombed with caves and strong points. Having been on Okinawa it's hard to imagine the visuals this book generates. I've been to Mabuni Hill, Shuri Castle, the Naval underground headquarters, and been a stones throw from Sugarloaf (to many UXOs around to approach). I've been up on Kakazu ridge and looked down on the invasion beaches. Looking down from Kakazu is a sobeing sight visualizing what the Japanese saw those opening days waiting for the Americans to come to them. Not having read the Band of Brothers but seeing the series I'd favorably compare this book to that one. |
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