Over 100,000 Okinawans died along with 80,000 Japanese troops. Almost every family suffered at least one casualty during the U.S. bombardment by air, sea and on land.
The island's lush green landscape was turned into a scorched wasteland.
More than 12,000 Americans also died, the worst bloodshed suffered by them during the War in the Pacific.
Many felt this slaughter and bloodshed foretold of what would happen should the U.S. be forced to invade Japan itself.
Yoshiko Shimabukure lost two older siblings and was told that should she be captured by the Americans that she would be raped and burned alive.
--GreGen
My Cooter's History Blog has become about 80% World War II anyway, so I figured to start a blog specific to it, especially since we're commemorating its 70th anniversary and we are quickly losing this "Greatest Generation." The quote is taken from Pearl Harbor survivor Frank Curre, who was on the USS Tennessee that day. He died Dec. 7, 2011, seventy years to the day. His photo is below at right.
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
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