The End of the Okinawa Fighting
Hari-kari to end Okinawa
‘The Fall of Japan” by William Craig, excerpt submitted by Rosalinda Morgan who can be found at https://subliblog.wordpress.com/
On the evening of the twenty-first of June, Generals Ushijima and Cho sat down to a sumptuous meal in their home under Hill 89. Overhead the Americans walked on top of the escarpment, where Japanese soldiers continued to resist them by fighting for every rock and tree.
The generals ate quietly. As their aids offered toasts, the two leaders drank to each other with dregs of whiskey preserved for this moment. A full moon shone on the white coral ledges of Hill 89 as a final tribute rang through the cave: “Long live the Emperor.”
At 4:00 A.M. on the morning of the twenty-second, Ushijima, cooling himself with a bamboo fan, walked with Cho between lines of crying subordinates to the mouth of the cave. There Cho turned to his superior and said, “I will lead the way.” The two generals emerged into the moonlight. They were followed by several staff officers.
Outside the entrance a quilt had been laid on top of a mattress. Loud firing sounded on all sides as American infantrymen, no more than fifty feet away, sensed movement. Ushijima proceeded to sit down and pray. Cho did the same.
Ignoring the guns and grenades, Ushijima bowed low toward the ground. His adjutant handed him a knife. The general held it briefly in front of his body, then ripped it across his abdomen. Immediately his adjutant raised a jeweled sword and brought it down across his neck. Ushijima’s head toppled onto the quilt and blood spattered the onlookers. Within seconds, General Cho died the same way.
***** ***** *****
By 30 June, even the mopping up was completed’
The battle of Okinawa had ended. Over 12,000 Americans and more than 100,000 Japanese were dead and there were 7,401 military prisoners. The American flag flew only 350 miles from Japan.
***** ***** *****
During the Okinawa campaign, a very strange “armed truce” occurred on a nearby island. The commander of the small Japanese garrison asked to have time to consult with Tokyo about continuing his pointless holdout. He later met several American emissaries on his beach and informed them that he was forbidden to surrender – but he would not fire on parties visiting the island for recreational purposes – on the condition that they did not molest his people. Quite an improvement on the “old Pacific War”.
Click on images to enlarge.
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Military Humor –
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Farewell Salutes –
Alan I. Armour – Chicago, IL; US Army, Korean War, Lt., battalion cmdr. 187th RCT “Rakkasans”
Raymond Bonang – Boothbay Harbor, ME; US Army Air Corps, WWII, PTO, 880th Airborne Engineers
John Broderick – Pittsbourgh, PA; US Army, 756th Field Artillery Battalion, MSgt.
William Fouty Sr. – Tukwila, WA; USMC, WWII, PTO
G.M. ‘Jim’ Greene – Conway, AR; US Army, WWII, PTO, 7th Cavalry
John McGinnis – NY; US Army, Vietnam, 173rd Airborne Brigade
Chalmers Murray – Ft. Lauderdale, FL; US Army, WWII
Percy Overman Jr. – Newport News, VA; Merchant Marine, aviator
Howard Wildrick – Highland, NY; USMC
Thomas ‘Vic’ Varnedoe – Nashville, TN; US Army, Sgt., 2nd Infantry Division
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Posted on August 30, 2018, in WWII and tagged 1940's, Army, History, Marines, Military, Military History, Okinawa, veterans, war, WW2, WWII. Bookmark the permalink. 91 Comments.
I liked the “armed truce” you mentioned. Sometimes I think there is hope for humanity.
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I sometimes feel that way, and then remember just how many wars we’re in right now – and hope all fades away.
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It can be hard to keep the faith, especially these days. Small pockets of good deeds here and there help keep it alive.
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Zoveel doden verschrikkelijk en het blijft maar doorgaan in de wereld..Men zal het nooit leren maar laten we toch niet vergeten waarvoor soldaten hun leven gaven
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Excellent words, Mary Lou, thank you.
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So much senseless useless slaughter, and we never learn
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True. No matter how much I share the results of war here – it will go on, I’m afraid.
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Grim and terrible reading that serves to emphasise the futility of war. We humans never learn, no matter what the cost in human misery. Thank you for your research and sheer tenacity to keep telling the truth.
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I’ve certainly tried to do my best and I appreciate you saying so!! Thank you, Maureen.
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thank God
it’s ended,
finally 🙂
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It seemed endless to them too.
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I think this is still happening GP.
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How do you mean? The arguments over the US base on the island?
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Just in general I am stating this. Soldiers still follow commands, even bad ones. Kessinger supposedly made a remark (to China ) referencing the post engagement of US troops in Vietnam, that USA Troops just do as they are told. Not an untruth but I guess it was how I perceived it as to presumably whom and how it was said. Thanks G P, but I am not exactly sure of the statement’s source or its entirety.
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What a bloody battle for that island
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It was about the worst, according to historians. But according to me, every battle would be the worst!
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True. No matter what Pacific battle I read up on (and you read more) I’m always thinking, “man, this is sooo terrible!”
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Use your imagination and to go through it is even worse. That’s why I’m always pushing for people to remember them.
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And for that I’m thankful you post things for us to remember
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What a leader to lead the way… To the death!
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As was their culture at the time.
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Quick note about an addition to your next farewell salute: Henry Sakaida, a Pacific War historian, died on the 28th. More here: https://www.facebook.com/PacificWrecks/photos/pb.27508020381.-2207520000.1535729625./10155741914950382/?type=3&theater
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Thank you for the contribution. He was one of the best.
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That was a very sad ending to a battle that was fought harder than anyone would expect. I like the story of the truce.
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Too bad those ideas of truce weren’t more common!
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As you know I was in the infantry and deployed but I can´t imagine that, too much.
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It isn’t in our culture to commit hari-kari – thank goodness!! I appreciate you stopping by, Charly.
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I alwayas stop by, when I can and read you as much as I can, WW2, I´m a history fanatic,
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I know you do, but I figure I should at least show my appreciation once in a while!
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And I do appreciate it, hell, your Reading (I guess….) my crazy things
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haha. I have to admit, you confuse me at times, but I know you’re enjoying it and I take it that way.
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I only confuse you?….. Imagine the girls then.
I should call myself Confussius.
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You found the name of your next blog – by then you’ll have enough for a book by the same name!!
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I did smile at that …,,..,,,look 🙂
That is what MY people tell me.
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What a terrible choice they had to make. It was death anyway that you looked at it. Thanks for sharing their story.
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A different culture may be difficult to understand of course. The Japanese felt it a dishonor to surrender and live to become a prisoner and yet this country is now having a POW lie in state, honored in Washington DC. Two different ideas of thought.
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Hara kiri, Bushido, kamikaze … I guess one has to be “to the manner born” to properly understand.
We have a ‘Japanese Garden’ in Queens Park in Invercargill, I go there often to relax and on occasion I sneak into the trees to sit and meditate. It works … but if I were the kind to take offence I’d bleat about the way the stones have been raked lately. But some folks haven’t a clue—and (thank heavens) why should they?
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Japanese gardens do seem to have a calming effect on most people. Maybe every town should have one these days!!
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I’ll post some of my snaps soon in my other blog (‘Dreaming Cavalier’). I tend to get relaxed there and just keep snapping …
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Sounds like a plan.
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Reblogged this on John Cowgill's Literature Site.
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Thank you, John.
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You are very graciously welcome.
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That last story of the commander of the Japanese garrison is remarkable. He found a neat way to do several things at once: remain obedient to his command, avoid surrendering, reduce bloodshed, and so on. If only we had such creative thinkers commanding our government — things might look a little different than they do.
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Isn’t that the truth!! Smitty always said there is a logical solution to every problem if you just think through it enough.
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Not readily assimilated in the mind, this mind boggling to me as a civillian, not in my normal daily experience, to read of it is breathtaking.
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Like a whole different world, isn’t it?!
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It sure is, when you read this slice of life.
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Sir Max Hastings called bushido demented and I wouldn’t argue with that. The man on the nearby island had the right idea.
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I’ve read into the Samurai thought on bushido and found that there are variations, difficult to comprehend it all for this brain. I agree that commander was using logic.
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Although I’d never heard this before, I knew where those generals were heading. You wrote it so beautifully and yet in such a haunting way. What a terrible way to die.
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To some it is honorable, but that isn’t our culture, so many are having trouble understanding. Thank you, Amy.
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I enjoyed the story of the Japanese commander of that island. He was a realist for sure. The Japanese code of Bushido was a tough one to reconcile in the West. It led to atrocities such as occurred on the Bataan Death March and elsewhere. To surrender was dishonorable. Those that did surrender were dishonored. (including our troops) Super post, GP.
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Very true. What they did during the March was unspeakable, but there are some reasons behind it. The enemy never expected so many prisoners which resulted in lack of supplies to feed them all, not enough transportation to move them and the young guards were petrified of the superiors if the line didn’t keep moving. Many a Japanese soldier was killed for NOT being hard enough on the POWs. A terrifying situation for everyone!!
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For sure.
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Reblogged this on Dave Loves History.
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Thank you Dave for helping to keep this history alive.
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Millions dead, maimed and murdered.
Because of the stupidity and evil of a few.
As always.
But imagine if you/we hadn’t prevailed?
May we never take our Freedoms for granted.
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I agree with you wholeheartedly – now, can we convince others?
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Somehow I missed that this was the ending. There was a nobility in this fight. They had to lose but they fought for the right reasons.
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Quite a code of honor, eh?!
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Reblogged this on quirkywritingcorner.
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Your sharing is much appreciated.
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Capturing Okinawa was quite an accomplishment for the Allied forces. The closer the Allies got to the Japanese home islands, the harder they fought. What was accomplished in the Pacific in rolling back the Japanese is especially remarkable when we recall that throughout the war the effort in the Pacific was secondary to Europe. Our forces were second in line for supplies and material almost right to the end.
The “armed truce” on that nearby island is an interesting anecdote. The commander of that garrison found a unique way to surrender – and save himself and his troops.
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Quite right all the way around, Packardman. I can’t add to your comment!
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What a gruesome way to commit suicide! The honour code of the Japanese army through all the ranks including the generals is very hard for us westerners to understand.
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Yes it is, Peter, and I believe that was partly to blame for the war.
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The way the two generals died is stunning.
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Thanks for coming by, Katie.
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Sounds like quite a clever commander of that small Japanese garrison.
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Yes, he was logical and reasonable.
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Such an alien culture
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I do believe our lack of understanding that culture was partly the cause of the war with them.
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No doubt
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For perspective – Read NISEI The Quiet Americans
Author: Bill Hosokawa
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I’ll have to look into that one. I have a friend whose father was a Nisei. I’ve read up on them quite a bit, but not that one. I have the utmost respect for them. My father thought the world of them and all they did during the war.
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Reblogged this on Rosalinda R Morgan and commented:
I find it difficult to understand the practice of hari-kari.
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I appreciate your help in keeping this history alive, Rose.
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Thanks for posting this. I love the military humor. I’m reblogging this.
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Glad you liked the humor. I thought sure someone would get offended! haha
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Offended? Not me. You made my day! Funny!!!
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I’m sure glad to hear that.
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Reblogged this on Truth Troubles.
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Thank you for helping to share this post.
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Sir I love the history lessons I get from reading your articles, I am going to reblog this article for you.
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I glad you found it interesting.
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112,000 killed taking Okinawa. That’s equivalent to the population of a city. I can only imagine the casualties resulting from an invasion of mainland Japan. Just as well that wasn’t necessary.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I know exactly where my father would have gone into Japan – no one is happier than I that it never happened!!
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Thank you GP! And the humor is fantastic too. 😉 “Yes we can!” – “Impossible to translate!” LoL Michael
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The humor helps to keep our military going in bad times, so shall it do so here!! Glad you liked it, Michael!
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Yes, i understand GP! Wonderful! Michael
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