Lat
26° 20' 15N Long 127° 48' 9E Located 700 miles
north of the Philippines, and only
300 miles from the tip of Japanese home islands. Ie Shima is located offshore that was also an important battlefield and base.
History
Attacked on April 1, 1945 at 08:30am by US Army and USMC forces. The battle lasted 83 days, until June 22nd when declared secured. The defense of the island was divided into three
strong Japanese defense lines where hidden guns, machine guns and
bunkers covered approaches and fields. Soldiers on the ground fought
a grueling battle to occupy the island. The Navy and its support
ships where hit by kamikaze attacks from the air.
Japanese Missions Against Okinawa (partial list)
April 6 - 11, 1945
Casualties
The Battle of Okinawa resulted in 40,000
US casualties (7,600 dead or missing). Of the 120,00 Japanese defenders,
only 10,000 surrendered, the rest fought to the death.
Intense
An estimated 200,000 total were killed, including many Japanese civilians caught in the battle, with the military or committed suicide.
Naha (Nawa, Nafa)
Lat 26° 12' 26N Long 127° 40' 24E Located at the south-west corner of the island, Largest city on the island.
Naha Airfield
Built by the Japanese and used until the American liberation in April 1, 1945. Still in use today as Okinawa Airport.
Battle of Okinawa Museum
Located in Camp Kinser off Highway 58. Non-military personnel must be escorted onto base. This museum has six display rooms, with many relics collected from tunnels over the years.
Invasion Beach
Located to the north or Naha, on Route 58. This is seven mile stretch of beach where USMC landed between on April 1, 1945. There is a commemorative marker at Chatan-cho. The landing area stretches from Bolo Point, past Torii Station First Special Forces Camp and Kadena Air Base to Camp Foster. At the end of the
first day of the Marine landing, 60,000 troops had landed on the
beach 10 miles
north of Naha. There was little resistance the first day, only 28 casualties,
mostly to friendly fire.
Hacksaw Ridge
Part of the Maeda Escarpment, this ridge running along central Okinawa from east to west between Hanby to Kita-Nakagusuku. On April 26, 1945 American forces attacked the ridge, suffering heavily due to the well dug in Japanese. Located south of Kadena on Route 58. At the top of the hill near the Garlic House Restaurant, to Urasoe Castle. There is a military park, that offers panoramic views of the invasion beaches and area. There are still various tunnels, caves and smaller memorials in the area.
Urasoe Castle
Located at the top of Hacksaw Ridge.
Kakuazu Ridge
Part of Hacksaw Ridge,
At this location 2,500 Japanese held off more than 45,000 troops of three US divisions.
Moshinawa Airfield (Machinato)
Wartime airfield four miles north of Naha.
Shuri (Shui, Syuri)
Lat 26° 13' 15N Long 127° 43' 3E Located in the center of the southern portion of the island, to the east of Naha.
Shuri Castle (Shuri-jo)
1-2 Kinjo-cho, Shuri, Naha-shi
Fortress built in 1429. During the battle, it was a Japanese command center, destroyed during the battle. Its capture was the turning point of the land battle. After the war, it was rebuilt after the war, it is a popular tourist attraction, open 9-6 daily.
Okinawa Prefecture Museum
Onaka-cho, Shuri, Naha-shi
Located a short distance from Shuri Castle, this museum deals with Okinawa culture, but has a section of the first floor dedicated to the WWII history of the island.
Itoman
Lat 26° 7' 29N Long 127° 40' 10E Located in the southern part of Okinawa Island.
Buckner Monument
Maisato, Itoman-shi
Located in the southern corner of the island, a stone marker sits atop a small hill (best accessed with local knowledge) where the American commander of the Okinawa campaign, Lt. General Simon Bolivar Buckner, Jr. (the second highest ranking general KIA in WWII) three days before the island was declared secured. Sadly, US Army Brigadier General Claudius Easley was killed on the same spot a day later.
Kyan Memorial (Kyan Misaki Enchi)
Kyan, Itoman-shi
Large black marble monument where civilians jumped to their death off cliffs during the battle.
Himeyuri Monument & Museum (Himeyuri No To)
Aza-Ihara, Itoman-shi
Museum that covers the history of the battle, and documents the smaller stories of civilians mobilized and killed during the battle, working in a hospital, left behind to commit suicide.
Konpaku No To (Mass Grave Site)
Komesu, Itoman-shi
Located off Route 331 Japanese monument where an estimated 35,000 victims of the battle were buried in a mass grave.
44th Independent Mixed Brigade Cave
Natural cave that was expanded by Japanese military into a tunnel system. Recommended to hire a local guide to find this site.
Peace Memorial Museum
614-1 Aza-Mabuni, Itoman-shi
Two-story museum documenting the war on Okinawa. Museum includes exhibits, relics, photos, wartime footage presented in both Japanese and English signs. Politically charged, the exhibits acknowledge Japanese part in the war, but are slanted. Also, the post war history of American occupation on the island, and tensions with local population. Regardless, it is the definitive museum on the battle of Okinawa.
Cornerstone For Peace
Black marble cornerstones with the names of all who died in the battle, from all nationalities.
War Memorial to Koreas
Shaped like a turtle shell, it is dedicated to the conscripted Koreans who died in the battle.
Okinawa Peace Hall
Houses a 40' tall Buddha, peace bell, monument and meditation forest
Cemetery & National War Dead Peace Mausoleum (Mabuni no Oka)
The memorial path, almost a mile long is covered by stone monuments from Japan's prefectures, where thousands of Japanese died during the battle and provides views over the island and ocean.
Sobe (Subi, Suhi)
Lat 26° 22' 60N Long 127° 43' 60E Village on the western coast of Okinawa toward the center of the island.
Yontan
(Yomitan, Yonzan, Okinawa Airport)
Japanese built airfield, captured by the Army and Marine Corps on April 1, 1945 and developed into a major base.
