Presence In Okinawa

Last and biggest of the Pacific island battles of World War II, the Okinawa campaign (April 1—June 22, 1945) involved the 287,000 troops of the U.S. Tenth Army against 130,000 soldiers of the Japanese Thirty-second Army. At stake were air bases vital to the projected invasion of Japan ("Battle of Okinawa," 1996). The Battle of Okinawa remembered more for its iconic photograph of US Marines raising the US flag on Okinawa more so than any other war or battle ever fought. Okinawa the largest of the Ryukus islands played a major role in the American forces overall strategic efforts to advance to the mainland’s of Japan. Because it was the last major battle of WWII, the battle of Okinawa used lessons learned and TTP’s from all previous

With recent tensions rising between North Korea and the world, it is no surprise that the Japanese citizens are aligning themselves with a nationalist government. Japanese Prime Minister Abe has started to consider revoking the disarmament treaty. Revoking it would let Japan increase spending on the military, which would ultimately result in a much larger and advanced military. Although rearming the Japanese military would improve security in the country, it would only increase the tension, doing damage to not only myself, but future generations of Japanese citizens.

They moved the Japanese-Americans for a reason. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, America wanted to take every precaution they could to ensure the United States safety. In doing so, the army and government took the precaution to create the internment of Japanese-Americans. They moved them to camps that they would keep them in and provide decent living conditions. The United States was justified in moving the Japanese Americans because some lived near vital naval bases that they could have infiltrated, there was no problem in doing so, and it would protect all citizens of America.

Despite the fact that an attack on the US mainland would have been extremely difficult with being so far away and not very technologically advanced, “public opinion in 1942 thought otherwise” (Document 14). This is even confirmed by Attorney General Biddle, who in 1942 stated that “The present military situation does not at this time require the removal of American citizens of the Japanese race” (Document 6), and shows the deep rooted racism in the reasoning for removal. Despite the facts, the public panic caused by the media caused Japanese internment to become “military necessity”, causing a lack in their loyalty to the United States (Takaki). The assumption of disloyalty played a large role in the Japanese internment, even though the Japanese that were in Hawaii, closest to the attack, were actually extremely helpful and essential to the rebuilding of Hawaii after the attack (Fraser). The claim for “military necessity” is undermined with the fact that the Attorney General Biddle opposed the relocation for the very fact that it wasn’t actually necessary (Takaki). Since “there (was) no evidence of planned sabotage”, then the relocation of Japanese during the 1940s was unnecessary and unjust, without any facts to back it up with besides racism, the main root of the

First of all, when the war in Europe ended on May, the Allied force have already leapfrogged all the way to Iwo Jima. Then, the island of Okinawa also fell the next month despite desperate resistance. Not only Japan has lost two of their vital military strategic bases, but they lost

Although Japan changed in many ways from 1853 to 1941, there were also many factors that remained the same throughout the history of Japan. One such continuity was the maintained existence of a figurehead ruler controlled by other political authorities. The feudalistic emperor of Japan was the supposed “highest, most powerful authority” in the land, but was actually controlled by the military leaders- the shogun. Similarly, the militaristic emperor of Japan decades later continued to remain a figurehead ruler controlled by military and government officials. In addition, Japan continued to remain reliant on exports in order to maintain its economy. As a result of Japan’s small geographical size, the island nation had few natural resources and was forced to rely on exports to survive economically. The nation also grew increasingly reliant on other nations to provide materials and supplies that it could not provide for itself. This complete reliance on other nations was seen illustrated when the Japanese military was provoked to attacking another superpower- the United States, in response to the 1940 United States embargo

The Japanese American National Museum is located in the heart of Little Tokyo, surrounded by many ramen diners, mini malls, and japanese boutiques. The museum opens up chronologically, starting off by displaying the migration of the Japanese with their aspirations to start a new life in America. After many displays of progress and struggles, the bombing of Pearl Harbor resulted in Japanese evacuation and eventually the internment of the Japanese as the United States entered World War Two. After many emotional and disheartening displays of life in the internment camps came the reparations and apologies from the American Government. In the last gallery there was pictures and displays of the modern era Japanese arts and culture.

February 21, 1942, Executive Order 9066 was put in order. It clearly states that the military “as deemed necessary or desirable” to remove or relocate any or all persons in the entire West Coast. The majority of the Japanese-Americans live on the West Coast. The United States need all the protection she can have, to prevent “espionage and sabotage”. Instead of not

Okinawa was known as the “longest and largest battle” (157). This time, causing more casualties than previously. As mentioned previously, Okinawa was Japanese territory and they knew the terrain perfectly. This time, not only was there constant rain, but constant shelling. Constant shelling made it very difficult for Americans. It was very difficult for them to get those men who were wounded and needed help. Taking such risk, would sometimes cause the casualties and stretcher-bearers to get hit. As a result, they would have to leave behind the marines who died on Okinawa unlike Peleliu. “From my experience, of all the hardships and hazards the troops had suffer, prolonged shell fire was more apt to break a man psychologically than anything else” (265). The Americans had to be vigilant at all times. “Most nights on Peleliu, we had to keep a sharp lookout in front, rear, right and left. But that night on Okinawa, we had to scan even the dark sky for parachutes” (220). The Japanase wanted to ensure by any means necessary that there was bloodshed, even if they had to literally put their own life on the line. To ensure that, the Japanese had kamikaze and suicide

Once the Okinawa Reversion Treaty was signed by Japan and the Untie States, the return of the Ryukyu Islands were in full control to Japan. With the return of the islands to Japan seemed to set a better security alliance between the Untied States and Japan. As part of Okinawa the Unites States government set of boundaries for the Senkaku/ Diaoyu Islands. With Nixon as President during the time he wanted peace in the pacific. But a neutral stance by the Nixon administration was taken on their sovereignty. Nixon’s with hopes of ending the Vietnam War but his priorities with retaining bases in Okinawa and normalizing relations with the Peoples Republic of China

The United States has heard word of Japan installing a large force inside of eastern China but has yet to hear anything along the lines of Japan officially attacking the Chinese. The United States is hoping that the japanese will stay neutral and will not attack the Chinese causing unneeded civilian deaths. Because of the fear of this occurring the United states military had started to build up its navy and air force and moving it into the pacific region and mostly into Pearl Harbor. His is being done just incase the unthinkable happens and Japan starts a war with the United States.

Before America, Japan was the main power in the Pacific. This was apparent until the United States defeated them with the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Up until the late 1960’s, America was the most prominent and dominating manufacturer of the world. However in today's world, America is still an extremely powerful trading country, it has become more of a rentier country. China became the United States’ main outsource for manufacturing because it was exponentially easier and much more inexpensive. Before, America made most of everything in-country such as steel. However, with the United States recovering from the war, it was forced to outsource some of its manufacturing workload to other countries, mainly China. During the 1920’s and the 1930’s, the world was going through the Great Depression. America had struggled through this period of economic downfall. However, Japan emerged earlier than other countries because its economic success came from government deficits used to expand Japan’s heavy industry and military. Many other smaller Pacific nations saw Japan as an invincible power that no Western nation could overcome. Yet, after their war campaign against America, Japan was left crippled. Japan’s main supplier of oil, the United States, regulated trade with Japan do to their recent military actions. Left with no option, Japan

Okinawa island was subtropical , hot , muggy weather year round causing it difficult to maintain the weapons and gears under such conditions. Physical effects on the soldiers was it increased disease while decreasing operational efficiency by increasing the prevalence of mud preventing any sort of mechanized support.

Japan’s unemployment rate of about 4% opposed to the U.S. unemployment rate of close to 10%. Even the financial debt to GDP ration is an advantage, and debt in the private sector has not increased unlike the U.S. and European countries, (Time, 2009). In addition, since Japan is a huge exporter and with the U.S. demand going downward, the international balances and growth declined especially as the dollar value dropped and the yen surged. •

Both of the American groups continue making ground at a slow pace. The only way to gain any ground is to slowly take it yard by yard. When they are fighting in the hills air support becomes virtually useless because of all the caves and pillboxes. This means everything they do must only rely on ground support. Finally Northern Okinawa (Motobu peninsula) falls to the Americans on April 20th. This marks the end of the largest battle of Okinawa in the North.