OKINAWA---THE INVASION

ON APRIL 1st, 1945 A COMBINED ARMY AND MARINE FORCE STORMED THE BEACH ON OKINAWA, THE FIRST PIECE OF JAPANS HOMELAND, IN WHAT WAS TO BECOME ONE OF THE BLOODIEST BATTLES OF THE WAR.  IT WAS ONE OF THE LARGEST OPERATIONS IN THE PACIFIC WAR WITH SOME 1500 SHIPS AND 1000 CARRIER AIRCRAFT INVOLVED. 130,000 JAPANESE DEFENDED AGAINST OVERWHELMING ODDS AND SUFFERED 124,735 KILLED, WOUNDED AND CAPTURED.
THE SHIPS FACED A FLURRY OF KAMAKAZI SUICIDE PLANES IN THEIR FANATIC DEFENSE.
THREE MONTHS LATER THE ISLAND WAS SECURELY IN ALLIED HANDS.
THE ALLIED FORCES SUFFERED 82,600 CASUALTIES.......Medicineman!