The Battle of Okinawa

the battle of Okinawa

This book reeks of anti-American sentiment; it offensively discounts the bravery and sacrifice of US soldiers, making it seem like we were the bad guys in many respects. The author’s highly skilled descriptions of the horrors of combat were second to none; but were laced with commentaries that were way off base. WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN IN THAT BATTLE IT IT WAS NOT FOR JAPAN ATTACKING AMERICA: Japan STARTED THIS TERRIBLE WAR IN THE PACIFIC AND THE AMERICANS FINISHED IT plain and simple! It was terrible for the inhabitants for sure.BUT WE WOULD NOT HAVE FOUGHT THAT BATTLE IF NOT FOR THE JAPANESE ARMY THAT HAD TO BE DEFEATED. WE DID NOT WANT THAT WAR OR START THAT WAR. Our soldiers were not less brave than the Japanese. How could you possibly say that even once! Our soldiers did not live by the cult of suicide, but WANTED TO LIVE, AND YET THEY STILL FOUGHT ON AGAINST INSANELY DIFFICULT DEFENSES with huge front line casualties: like a daily Fredricksburg or Pickett’s charge.I have no problem with praise of the Japanese soldier or his field commanders for their martial skills, but I can’t believe the author insinuates that the American soldiers were essentially equal in their wanton acts of brutality. I kept waiting to get a more fairminded view of the American side, the came the end of the book which absolutely demonizes the US for it’s presence and actions on Okinawa.