Thesis
The Battle of Okinawa was important because it gave Americans a taste of how the invasion of Japan would be like, was the bloodiest sea-land-air battle in American military history, and led to the use of the atomic bomb in Japan.
A group of American soldiers sitting and relaxing until they have to go back to battle.
Background Information
- Okinawa was a Japanese held island, south of the Japanese mainland
- The battle lasted from April 1, 1945 - June 21, 1945
- Lt. Gen. Simon Bolivar Buckner in charge of American side
- Lt. Gen. Mitsuru Ushijima in charge of Japanese side
- Battle was the next step after Iwo Jima
- Invasion of Japan was scheduled for November 1945
"It was a monstrous sight, a moonscape ... There was nothing green left; artillery had denuded and scarred every inch of ground."
- William Mancheste (Young Marinesquad leader)