Big Guns, Brave Men: Mobile Artillery Observers and the Battle for Okinawa
Author:
Genre: History
Book Type: Hardcover
Author:
Genre: History
Book Type: Hardcover
A very interesting book about artillery and the men who risked their lives to call it in while supporting the infantry. The Battle of Okinawa was the largest amphibious invasion ever staged and may, if the battle lines were extended to southern Japan, be the largest battle the western Allies undertook.
Artillery was used here more than any battle in the Pacific, and in some places equaled the use of artillery by the Russians in their campaigns against the Germans.
Casualties among the forward observers were heavy. Even the most senior American commanding officer killed in WW II was killed due to artillery fire on Okinawa. The use of artillery by both sides made it extremely dangerous to move about, even at night.
And historians agree the Allies realized the fighting in Okinawa was to be used as a example of how to undertake the invasion of Japan. Even the enlisted men knew this and many were demoralized by the thought. When the men who fought on Okinawa heard the A-Bombs had been dropped on Japan, they immediately felt they had a much better chance of living to return home.
Artillery is the Queen of Battle and this book is a great introduction to how it is directed.
During the early 70s, I was stationed on Okinawa as a Marine officer for a total of ten months. I personally visited many of the places mentioned in the book. The fighting on Okinawa, and off its coast, was some of the most horrendous during the war.
Artillery was used here more than any battle in the Pacific, and in some places equaled the use of artillery by the Russians in their campaigns against the Germans.
Casualties among the forward observers were heavy. Even the most senior American commanding officer killed in WW II was killed due to artillery fire on Okinawa. The use of artillery by both sides made it extremely dangerous to move about, even at night.
And historians agree the Allies realized the fighting in Okinawa was to be used as a example of how to undertake the invasion of Japan. Even the enlisted men knew this and many were demoralized by the thought. When the men who fought on Okinawa heard the A-Bombs had been dropped on Japan, they immediately felt they had a much better chance of living to return home.
Artillery is the Queen of Battle and this book is a great introduction to how it is directed.
During the early 70s, I was stationed on Okinawa as a Marine officer for a total of ten months. I personally visited many of the places mentioned in the book. The fighting on Okinawa, and off its coast, was some of the most horrendous during the war.
