PHOTOS: It's Been 75 Years Since the Battle of Okinawa

May 29th marks the 75th Anniversary of the fall of Shuri Castle, the final remaining and largest Japanese defensive base of operations on Okinawa. The fortification and the Japanese troops within had endured two weeks of constant bombardment from a massive combined arms force that included all branches of the United States military.

The battle for Okinawa, which began on April 1, 1945, was codenamed Operation Iceberg and later called the “Typhoon of Steel.” Intensely chaotic, the island of Okinawa looked nothing like it once did after the dust settled.

It was essentially the last major battle of WWII. It’s been 75 years.

The capture of Okinawa – more specifically, its airfields – was essential. Located at the southern tip of Japan, Okinawa is the largest of the Ryukus islands and would provide the U.S. a base of operations for the final push to mainland Japan.

The cross-branch force with major elements of the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Army Air Corps fought in the battle. The combined effects of artillery and naval gunfire along with air bombardment in support of ground forces wreaked havoc on the enemy and essentially destroyed all of Shuri, which was the second largest population center on the island and also housed the Japanese command element.

Soldiers at the time wore the famed M1 helmet, which was standard issue until 1985.
The M1’s roots can be traced back to the famed Carnegie Steel Company. Its unexpected universality is often remembered humorously. Remove the liner and it could be used as a shovel. Or hammer. Or bowl. But warfighter beware – this conduct weakened the shell of the historic M1.

By the time of the Battle of Okinawa, the M1 featured a new liner made by General Motors. They were made of cotton cloth treated in a phenolic balm. At first the Army rejected the liner because it was found that it gave into pressure too easily. However, there was a dire need. So, into action they went.

The M1 weighed about 2.9 lbs. Here’s a breakdown:

Depth: 7 in.
Width: 9.5 in.
Length: 11 in.
Thickness: 1/8 in.

Needless to say, it’s a much different piece of equipment than the Team Wendy EXFIL^® Ballistic SL, which debuted in 2018.

The Battle of Okinawa officially ended on June, 22, 1945. The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki came about a month and a half after the Battle of Okinawa negating the need to establish a base of operations on the island.

A memorial stands on Okinawa remembering the lives lost. The U.S. military estimates that 110,071 Japanese soldiers were killed during the battle, while the United States suffered more than 82,000 casualties. The U.S. military maintains a presence there to this day.

I was fortunate to be stationed there in 2002 and given the opportunity to see the terrain that was fiercely fought over. If you happen to visit Okinawa or be stationed there, I highly recommend visiting the Himeyuri Peace Museum and the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum. The landmarks offer a fascinating and brutal glimpse into the last major battle of World War II.