Desmond thomas doss february 7, 1919 march 23, 2006 was a united states army corporal who served as a combat medic with an infantry company in world war ii. A landmark text on the greatest land battle of the pacific war. The last battle of world war two, penguin books, new york. Church to honor 241k people who died in battle of okinawa. Okinawasen, codenamed operation iceberg, 1 was a series of battles fought in the ryukyu islands, centered on the island of okinawa, and included the largest amphibious assault in the pacific war during world war ii being the 1 april 1945 invasion of the island of okinawa itself. Okinawa, the last great battle of the second world war, tells the two stories sidebyside as the massive landing operation stalls and the battle turns to neartrench warfare against dugin japanese troops, set against the military and political decisions about a full invasion of japan or whether to drop the. Finally a military historian has written a book which gives humanity to the japanese, without taking anything away from what the americans endured and achieved on that island david fits perfectly into the fine tradition of war books by max hastings and antony beevor. Few foreign writers ventured to okinawa in the early postwar period, but in the 1980s and 90s several accounts of the battle of okinawa were published, including okinawa. The ultimate battle tells the full story of the battle of okinawa as it has never been told before, using the same upclose narrative style and gruntseye view. The capture of okinawa was seen as a precursor to an invasion of the japanese home islands. Critical acclaim for the battle for okinawa an indispensable account of the fighting and of okinawa s role in the japanese defense of the home islands.
Uchinaa ikusa, codenamed operation iceberg, was a major battle of the pacific war fought on the island of okinawa by united states marine and army forces against the imperial japanese army. Civilian memories of the battle of okinawa, a remarkable new book based on japanese eyewitness testimony from one of the bloodiest land battles of the war. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read okinawa. It is difficult to ascertain an accurate number of deaths at the battle of okinawa. Kamikazes at the battle of okinawa history news network. Leckie is a skilled military historian, mixing battle strategy and analysis with portraits of the men who fought on both sides to give the reader a complete account of the invasion. Naval institute has been dedicated to preserving and sharing naval history since 1873. The last major battle of world war ii hachette books, 2020, and nine previous books. This book, for me anyway, was ideal for increasing my knowledge of that conflict, especially given the way it gives a voice to all those that were involved. The last battle of world war ii by robert leckie, with the old breed. Colonel yahara was the strategist and executor of the entire japanese defense during the bloody military encounter which lasted from april to july 1945, the last battle in the pacific theater during wwii.
This is compilation of interviews with nine okinawan women from different generations, who tell us. These books are available from the library of the marine corps and select mccs base libraries. The battle of okinawa began april 1, 1945, and lasted 82 days. With the same gruntseyeview narrative style that distinguished his brotherhood of heroes on the battle of peleliu, bill sloan presents a gripping and uniquely personal saga of heroism and sacrifice in which at least 115,000 soldiers, sailors, and airmen from both sides were. This qpme guide provides information and learning resources about the united states marine corps role in the battle of okinawa, the largest amphibious assault in. Books on the battle of okinawa military history encyclopedia. The battle of okinawa was the last major battle of world war ii, and one of the bloodiest. Nine voices from a garrison island by ruth ann keyso. Rating is available when the video has been rented. World war ii history books about the battle of okinawa.
This book provides an unforgettable picture of men at war and also the context for understanding one of the most ominous events of the 20th century. The battle lasted eightyone days, and by the time it ended, it was the bloodiest battle of the war at the pacific front. Life for the crew of texas off okinawa was vastly different. The blood and the bomb ebook written by george feifer. For over 50 days, the crew of texas remained confined to their battle stations. For decades the question has lingered, as historians have challenged one of the most important american rationales for dropping the bomb.
On the morning of april 1st, us navy ships rained a prelanding bombardment of 44,825 shells, 33,000 rockets and 22,500 mortar shells plus napalm attacks by carrier planes on the invasion beaches tsukiyama 1999. Learn more about the significance of the battle of okinawa in this article. The battle of okinawa 1945 paperback pen and sword books. In examining the disastrous collision of three disparate culturesamerican, japanese, and okinawanthis book provides an unforgettable. Okinawa 1945the last epic struggle of world war ii. It was a busy life, but the sailors were wellfed and entertained, with shipboard bands playing concerts, films shown on the main deck, and books and music available from the ships library. The book is written with the styling of a sports reporter which makes for a quick read. However, the peace monument which stands at the commemorative museum. He also appears in several books about the battle, including an extensive firstperson treatment in the book operation iceberg, the official name of the attack. But thanks to the magic of reading, and a surprising interest in military history that i discovered as an adult, i have read history books about the battle of okinawa. Penguin delivers you to the front lines of the pacific theater with the reallife stories behind the hbo miniseries former marine and pacific war veteran robert leckie tells the story of the invasion of okinawa, the closing battle of world war ii.
The last battle of world war ii written by robert leckie who was a veteran of guadalcanal and peleliu details with great clarity the struggle to take the last hostile japanese held island in wwii. Battle of okinawa april 1june 21, 1945, world war ii battle fought between u. George feifer is the author of many successful books, including the battle of okinawa, originally published as tennozan. World war ii history books about the battle of okinawa hachette. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Former marine and pacific war veteran robert leckie tells the story of the invasion of okinawa, the closing battle of world war ii. The amphibious operation to capture okinawa was the largest of the pacific war and the greatest airlandsea battle in history, mobilizing 183,000 troops from seattle, leyte in the philippines, and ports around the world. The initial invasion of okinawa on april 1, 1945, was the largest amphibious assault in the pacific. Okinawa was an epic amphibiousairsealand battle the likes of which may never be seen again.
The last battle of world war ii ebook written by robert leckie. Joseph wheelan is author of the forthcoming bloody okinawa. Marines in the victory on okinawa marines in world war ii commemorative series, marine corps. The battle of okinawa was the largest landseaair battle in history, yet remarkably little is know about this final major engagement of world war ii.
Robert leckie talked about his recently published book, okinawa. They have a wide range of books such as language study books, magazines and childrens picture books. On this 50th anniversary of the battle of okinawa april to june 1945, we can expect an avalanche of titles about this last major battle of world war ii. Contributed by kelly just wanted to let you guys know about two books that might interest you if you are moving to living in okinawa. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read battle of okinawa. The battle of okinawa apriljune 1945 was the largest amphibious assault operation of world war ii. It claimed more than 14,000 american lives during or after the fighting, about 110,000 japanese troops and at.
The coverage of the battle of okinawa is brought to you by the members of the u. They also have books of japanese literature translated in english, magazines on interior decoration and food, and books on the japanese culture such as tea ceremony and bonsai. Critical acclaim for the battle for okinawa an indispensable account of the fighting and of okinawas role in the japanese defense of the home islands. Lasting 83 days and surpassing dday in both troops and material used, the battle of okinawa was a decisive victory for the allies, and a huge blow to japan. The last battle of world war two, penguin books, new york, 1996. While the book clearly focuses on the battle for okinawa it does a great job in showing the strategy and battles leading up to that final attack. On april 1, 1945easter sundaythe navys fifth fleet and more than 180,000 u. The japanese army, beleaguered and knowing that okinawa was the americans last steppingstone to their homeland, dug in against the largest amphibious force of the pacific campaign. The blood and the bomb 9780762772797 by feifer, george and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. I have read a great many books on both world wars, though before now i knew little of the battle for okinawa. The battle of okinawa and the atomic bomb, and a new york times notable book.
Battle of okinawa project gutenberg selfpublishing. Tuttle book store is located at the plaza house shopping center. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. One americans unforgettable firsthand account of the. Through naval history, proceedings, naval institute press books, our photo archives, and oral histories, the u. The battle for okinawa the small island of okinawa was the scene of the final, bloody showdown between the japanese and american armies in the long and brutal war in the pacific. Moscow farewell, a book of the month club main selection.
The wall street journal a fascinating, highly intelligent glance behind the japanese lines. Rocket ships of the pacific amphibious forces by ron mackay jr. Twentyfive years ago, i went to okinawa with my father for the 50th anniversary of the battle and wrote about it for the towson times and other patuxent publishing newspapers. The ultimate battle is the full story of the last great clash of world war ii as it has never before been told. The last battle is the work of combat historians of the 1st information and.