Operation ICEBERG-The Invasion of Okinawa Part 1 with Jon Parshall - Episode 418 

My uncle was in the 96th. He saw some horrible, unspeakable things of Okinawa. He volunteered to carry a message back to the rear as their comms were down. His best friend and fox hole buddy stayed behind. When he returned to his lines he asked about his friend. "A mortar round landed in his foxhole. He's dead." Said his sergeant. At one point, they were is a cave. They were in danger of being overrun. He lost it. Eventually they sent him back to the rear. He survived the war, but was never totally right. We didn't know about PTSD. He spent sometime in a mental institution, but was finally able to make a go of it. But there were still challenging times. I remember one July, about 1976. Our families were all out at a local lake. Of course everyone was shooting fireworks. There was almost no wind. It was hot and humid. My uncle came out of his camper. He looked around at the smoke hanging in the air over the water and the explosions all around. It was a happy time for us youngsters. But not for my uncle. Uncle said to no one in particular, "This looks just like Okinawa." He turned, went back into his camper and stayed there the whole weekend. The last forty to fifty years of his life he was dying of cancer. Or heart trouble. or several other aliments. The reality of it the situation was, nothing was wrong with him. But every ache, every pain was death on a dark horse. He had seen so much of death that he could not understand why he was still alive. He was convinced death was still coming for him. he lived into his nineties. One night, he got out of bead, went to the bathroom and was on his way back to bed. He tripped and fell, striking his head. He as gone in a few hours. My uncle and I shared the same birthday month. He was one of my heroes. He didn't think himself a hero, but he was to me. He always will be.

I realized I've been listening to this podcast for almost 2 years now (and re-listened to most episodes 3-4x). As always, thank you for the amazing history & content

My Father was on a destroyer in the Pacific in WWII, and was part of the invasion of Okinawa.. he didn't volunteer much converstion about the war, but he WOULD talk about it if you brought up the subject first. He passed away many years ago, but I still have the memory of his stories about the Kamakazi attacks, and I could tell there were horrors and things he saw that he didn't include in those stories. He came back home, started his life up again, and went on with a peaceful existance... but I'm sure he brought those images home with him, and they stayed with him. He was of a generation when you did what needed to be done, and then went on with life. He was 18 years old, on a ship half a world away from home, and shooting at airplanes that were trying to fly into his ship and kill all on board if they could.... as I tell my friends "that's when men were men" Proud of my Dad, and all the people who served then, and all those that have served since. Shout out to Seth, Bill Toti, and Jon Parshall for keeping those stories alive... they do us all a great service. Thanks Captain Toti for your service. You make us all proud.

Big fan of the John Parshallouflage!

Im at the point now i believe this series of conversations are national treasures. I know these guys are modest but these conversations are like spoon feeding children, it just sticks in my head. I soak it all up like a sponge and im grateful for you guys.

Gentlemen, what an education and a pleasure it has been listening and learning for all these episodes. My uncle died on the POW transport ship Lisbon Maru, torpedoed by USS Grouper 1st Oct 1942 He is commemorated on the Royal Navy Memorial, Chatham Docks on the Medway River in England

Oh- we got the band back together 👍🫡🤣

- I, personally, think we (the US) should have stopped at Kazaku ridge; built a fortified line across the island and starved the Japanese out. We knew they were dug in to the south. Why fight their fight? They couldnt be resupplied, so eventually they were going to die, surrender, or banzi charge a fortified line. In the meantime we have the airfields and ports. Yes they could lob artillery but those casualties would be small compared to digging them out, and eventually they would run out of shells to shoot. - The Okinawa story that sticks with me the most was about the guy (sergeant?) that was helping carry some food when the pin on one of his grenades fell out. Apparently, instinctively, he twisted to shield his comrades form the blast. - Thank you for talking about Yahara and Cho. I have a lot of respect for Yahara and nothing but contempt for Cho. - I think, and this is my opinion, the reason King wanted to go to Formosa was because he never really bought into the idea of invading Japan. I think he fundamentally wanted to go with the plan of block aiding Japan. To take that further I think he was thinking post war Formosa would be a better jumping off point to influence events in China. - My favorite documentary on Okinawa remains "battlefield: destination Okinawa." It has some errors but gives a good high level overview. - Ultimately I believe the available information shows, call me crazy, 2 things had to happen to end the war. 2 because there were 2 sides, each had to be convinced. On the Japanese side Hirohito (who was the only one that could end it on Japan's side) had to be convinced he personally could walk away from this, to Hell with everyone else. I think what really convinced him was operation starvation and operation barney and the general block aid of Japan. This threatened to completely over turn the social order. I think Hirohito was more afraid of revolution than invasion and how that would end for him. You can argue about his concern for himself personally versus his concern about the continuity of "the thrown" but thats semantic as he sat on that thrown. I think if the US had said after meeting house (or there abouts) "ok, give us the generals and admirals, get out of China and Korea (remember the failure of Ichi-go to build a land bridge from Korea to Malaya), let us establish a constitutional monarchy and Hirohito walks" Hirohito would have taken that deal. But of course that is contingent on the US making that offer. On the US side I think Okinawa was important because it gave the US (especially Truman) a real cold shower on what the invasion of Japan would look like. I'm in the 8 million US casualties camp with most of it coming in the Japanese Alps. Was that something really worth getting one guy? So Yeah Okinawa was important. But surely the Japanese werent crazy enough to force us to resort to that right? Right? We could still get real unconditional surrender right? Then we nuked them and they still didnt surrender. Yup, theyre that crazy. Okinawa showed us what we were in for if we stuck to our demands, and the bombs showed us we were going to have to pull that trigger or change our demands. Thats my story and I'm sticking to it.

I’m sure there’s some unspoken rule about how long podcasts “should” last but I always appreciate how deep you guys go! The absolute best Second World War podcast. Appreciate you all, especially captain Toti’s shirt!

Thank you Bill Seth and Jon!

New episode with John Parshall!!!

Outstanding presentation as always. These guys are the best history communicators in the business. Long may they wave.

Four divisions abreast. Repeat. Four divisions abreast. I’m a marine. I served on Okinawa. I walked those beaches, including Ie shima- I still cannot wrap my head around it

Thank you Gentlemen. We appreciate all of your efforts. I'm often reminded of how strategically important Okinawa is in the current geo-political environment. God bless our troops on land, in the air, and at sea.

I can't tell you guys how much I appreciate the extensive context you bring to every episode. Explaining what happened, who is where, what they were thinking is normal for a history channel. You guys go above and beyond by discussing what the other options were, why they didn't happen and who was sidelined and why.

I love the energy and enjoyment you have when all three of you are together.

Thanks! My last assignment in the Air Force was on Okinawa in 1987 - 1991. During that time the JSDAF F-15 pilots based at Naha Airport were there on remote tours much like our Marines. The reason being the hostile relationship between the native Okinawans and the "real" Japanese. My wife an I were at a dinner party where a young woman appeared in a Kimono and my wife addressed her as Japanese. This young woman left no doubt that she was Okinawan.

Another great episode. Thank you so much gentlemen. Some fine shirts on display and the legendary Parshall wallpaper

Sitting in the pub . Just turned 8pm.. Time to go home after losing at chess . I thought the ole mates got a new video? looked and yes . Pleasant walk. What do I do when this ends . Sad times indeed..

Currently at the mid point of my daily walk around the abandoned American WW2 airfiled at Rivenhall Essex England and listening to my favourite WW2 podcast guys . Thankyou Bill Jon and Seth for your hard work in putting these videos together .

Awesome show as always guys👍

COL Yahara survives the war and writes a very good chronology of his experience on Okinawa.

Carleton College! Class of '04 here. You are seen, Mr. Parshall. I used to walk Bardwell Smith's golden retriever when he was out of town. Great guy!

I was at first impressed that Jon attended Carlton, because I couldn't get into Carlton... but then I realized I also wouldn't have been able to get into the Naval Academy or wherever Seth went to big school either. Anyway another great show, fellas. Thank you.

Thank you to Seth, Bill, and Jon, after discovering you guys from Woody at WWII TV last year I have been greatly enjoying learning about the Pacific Theater. I spent much of my younger years studying European Theater topics, and really not paying much attention to the Pacific, you guys changed that, you make learning fun!

Great salad before the meal men. Looking forward to next week. Thanks Bill, Jon and Seth.

Cap'n Bill has added the "dudes per minute" progress parameter to the operations lexicon! 😎

I want to see everyone rockin FLANNEL shirts. Seth started the series with Flannel. Gunther could rock a flannel shirt. Flannel looks great on my shepherds. Gittin cold up north in bfe Minnesota, so Jon could blend in with the natives.😂 Capt Bill might be in Florida, but, us old guys get cold easy anyways, besides, my wife says white hair & flannel is handsome,, soooo. 😂 You guys Rock no matter what you all wear. Best WW2 series EVER. EVER. This PTO series will become the go to for PTO historians of the future. I hope you do the ETO. The truth needs told. History has been rewritten with lies, rumors, and just plain bias. You guys, and guest, absolutely nailed it. Just the truth. The good, the bad & the ugly. But it needs told. After 80 years, it's about time. THANK YOU ALL. 😊 🇺🇸SALUTE 🇺🇸

Okinawa episode with Jon!! Yay!

Good Tuesday!!! I love Tuesdays now!

Just awesome. ...thanks guys...

Parshall is so wise. I love his descriptions of Japan’s weather.

My dad was assigned to a fleet tug during the battle of Okinawa. He said the best things about being on the tug were, the Kamikaze’s were not interested in his ship and during the typhoon they could sail to the lee of the island which was protected from the storm.

Class is out on Chapter 1. Test to follow😳. Can’t wait for Chapter 2. Thanks again gentlemen. Great insight into another terrible battle.

Great show gentlemen.

Love the show gents, looking forward to next week

Superb work as always and to add a bit to the discussion about the Japanese command staff...particularly that of Isamu Cho, he had also fought in China and was the aide de camp to one Prince Asaka who we all know was the key instigator for the horror of Nanking. Which goes to potentially show how perhaps insane and bloody minded he was. And for a movie about Okinawa from the Japanese side, watch the Japanese movie Battle of Okinawa which starred Akira Kurosawa veteran Tatsuya Nakadai as Colonel Hiromichi Yahara and Tetsuro Tamba (we might know him from the James Bond movie You only live twice) as Isamu Cho.

Good chemistry between the guys, love it.

A very informative and well presented video, as always.

Thank you very much Gentlemen.

Great episode. Just want to add to your comments about the 6th Marine Division (as my father served as a forward observer with L Battery, 4th Battalion, 15 Marines, 6th Marine Division on Okinawa). You rightly noted that the division was similar to the 5th Marine Division in that both divisions were stocked with an impressive cadre of veterans; true, but it sells short the actual experience of many of the 6th Marine Division's subunits. Before it was formed the division was pretty already a battle tested formation. Not only was the 4th Marines the re-designated 1st Marine Raider Regiment (which you noted) which saw extensive combat in the Solomon Island campaigns, but the 4th Marines saw combat as part of the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade, along with the 22nd Marines, on Guam. Prior to Guam, the 22nd Marines saw combat on Eniwetok during the Marshall Islands campaign. Furthermore, much of the staff of the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade served in the same staff positions in the 6th Marine Division. Additionally, the 1st Battalion, 29th Marines saw combat on Saipan where it was attached to the 2nd Marine Division. Also, about 2/3's off the division's field artillery, tank, engineer, pioneer, other support units saw combat as part of the 4th and 22nd Marine's regimental combat teams during their earlier campaigns. On another matter, you mentioned that the 10th Army had two Marine Divisions, but I believe that it was three -- the 2nd Marine Division conducted a diversionary operation during the initial D-Day and later on in the campaign one of its regiments, the 8th Marines, saw fairly significant combat during the final days of the Okinawa campaign.

Thank you gentlemen.

Well done once again, gentlemen. Great preparation for what happened next at Okinawa. Kelly Turner's message to Nimitz about the Japanese giving up the fight is simply an unfathomable thing to say since he does not have his scouts and skimishers out and just does not know yet what he is facing.. Premature to say the least.

Good morning, it is great to see the start of Operation Iceberg but I have a feeling before this series is over, fans will see a coordinated shirt day!

Hey Jon just watched you on Battle 360. You looked good dude.

Thank you for all that you do with these amazing videos!

Great stuff! Thank you very much.

The “dudes per minute” for the first 24 hours would have been 41.67 dudes coming ashore each minute. Sam Adams would have been proud.

Very well done thanks mate

Jon loves his dazzle-camo shirt!

There are many things I would like to hear this program cover - Marine aviation in the Pacific The roll of the Liberty Ship in the Pacific CB’s and their work in providing facilities necessary for the fighting forces Fighter pilots stationed on land and their essential function The heroic work of isolated scouts monitoring ship and troop movements

I love you guys. The invasion and battle of Okinawa the last major operation of WW2 was a fucking bloodbath. It was what would have taken place to both sides if we had to deal with the invasion of mainland Japan. Thank All mighty God that never happened. What takes place is bad enough.

It’s stories like the treatment of the Okinawans that make me think the Japanese got off easy…

I did not think I was going to have time to watch today. Then my wife asked for something on her "honey do" list this morning. I was like, "no problem, but I have to run to that speciality store to get the materials. It is about an hour and half round-trip". 😆

I also see that the 96th Division trained at Camp Adair in Oregon (I used to deliver pizza to the landfill across Hwy 99W from the camp location) and participated in the 1943 Oregon Maneuver, which kicked off essentially in my parents back yard (which became that 30 years later). 14:40 "probably three all the way from Guadalcanal", I remember reading that 3rd Infantry Division only had two men remaining at the end of the war who had gone ashore at Casablanca in 1943. One was some cook, and the other was Audie Murphy.

Bill and Seth have had some very tough episodes to get through like Meetinghouse, but for me, this was as difficult as any of those because there are a large number of Americans still alive and well who won't be when this battle isn't even half over, and on the other side, at least half of those are innocents but for their fanatic leaders brain pollution, a human tragedy of the first order, A Stephen King horror story for real. I don't read those books. The buildup to the bloodletting is just as blood curdling. As the various lines of defense are detailed I see the admixture of blood in the mortar building the walls, laying the bricks.

Thank you guys and Captain Bill, that shirt is as becoming on you as it is on Jon. My father’s ship was one of the command ships involved, USS Estes, it was his 2nd major invasion before his 18th birthday as he had also been on Iwo.

Thanks guys for your Insightful video and comments.

Yaaaaaaas. It’s Tuesday. Thanks guys.

Sorry if I missed it, did you talk about the Japanese regiment troop ship that was sunk by an American submarine? That helped to keep the beaches clear. Great show as always.

Up at 2:30 on the west coast.i was like #70. Thank you seth,bill and jon.you make my tues.something i look forward to all week.thanks again from keizer,oregon

50° 27' 0.0036'' N and 30° 31' 23.9988'' E Gentlemen, Nice work. Another terrific episode. Entertaining and informative. Thank you. V/r - IB PS "Love the wallpaper!"

Another banger guys!

My father was stationed on a little island off of Okinawa- Miyakojima. They were still finding skeletons in the caves back in the early 1970s.

Seth, We know we can't all get pen pal responses. Thanks for trying. And Bill, we know what has been happening in your neighborhood, even if most of the FEMA budget has disappeared into the hole that is our non border on our south.

Listening to John describe the American advance through ridge after ridge, each one a little higher than the prior, it raises the question, in retrospect, would it not have been less costly, over all, to go after the highest ground first?

Joh Parshall camo!

I hear less than 5 notes of the theme and already click 'like.' Just good history and exposition.

Parshall Shirt #3 is not all that on/off the wall. I recall such patterns on my fraternity brothers in the sixties. And Seth, You were not a bit melodramatic in your introduction to Operation Iceberg.

As Seth says, the defecation is about to hit the ventilation. Thanks for the lead up, men. Brilliant explanations as usual. Greetings from Texas.

During my Caterpillar working career, my direct connection in Japan, Shige-san, was an Okinawan native born in Naha. He explained to me using an English language term of people in Okinawa to this day are considered the "bastard children" of Japan.

The man, the myth, the wallpaper!!!

Looking forward!

Thanks Gentlemen, when is Jon going to slap some blues on his Fender Bass? On a serious note an absolutely great book to read on this battle (and others) "In With The Old Breed", Eugene Sledge. Great book I've read several times (and will again). Thanks Captain Toti, Seth, Jon you're appreciated.

Tuesday is becoming my favorite day when a new video comes out! Great episode as I always enjoy the ones with Jon coming along. Do you think we suspected all the tunnels and caves after Iwo? Thanks Seth, Bill, and Jon! Looking forward to the next installment. Yes, I think a shirt reunion would be in order.

A suggestion some of the allied campaigns in the Pacific should also be covered. Fincharven lae Milian Bay . The story of private Billy Cook whose story set the brutality meter for the campaign. The retreat from Rabaul. Sargent Tom Derrek VC who served with the 9 division from Africa to the pacific

I love the way you guys give a balanced coverage of the whole battle, including the poor locals who were conscripted by the enemy. Thank you for your work!

My dad took part in the invasion of Okinawa. After the landing he had enough points to go home. He was sent back to the Philippines and put on a ship home. Once back in the Continental U.S. he got to go home. Later he was sent to Miami Beach. The Army ran a hotel there. To make a long story short. He was on a troop train in Indiana heading West when the war ended. He might have been killed if he had decided to stay there. So my sister and I wouldn't have been born.

Tuesday's are still the best days of the week!!😅

Kelly Turner, Jon's favorite admiral BAH HA HA HA! Now that is funny. I hope that is a little Easter Egg hint of possibly turning Jon loose on Turner in a future episode.

Getting to the end of this war. Are you going to continue? 38K and growing show up here like clockwork every Tues AM and 38K is a pretty big crowd every week.

Dang I'm up at 0300 and still not first

Despite having read some in the past (mainly Sledge, Manchester, the book Tennozan) about Okinawa, I confess I hadn't fully appreciated how thickly settled Okinawa island (at least the southern half) is/was. 80-ish yrs later is obviously different than 1945, but even just having a quick look on google earth is eye-opening, and 300,000+ civilians at the time was huge. In addition to the prepared defense-in-depth lines, the fighting must've had a distinctly semi-urban character in many locations, compared to most Pacific battlefields (Manila of course being another exception).

Can I get to be a fly on the wall for the next couple of episodes? I don't want to wait for another 6 days! Please bring on the picket ships as an example of how my older Navy brothers did their duty as Americans.

My father in law was on a LSM During the battle of Okinawan

"Dudes per minute"....classic Bill Toti!

Good show 👍

Been watching since the beginning of s1e1. I thought i had a solid grasp of WWII and the Pacific theater.(watched all the Victory at Sea and World at War series). It is only by faithfully watching this series that I understand I know very little.

My Dad had a kamikaze slam into his AA battery as he was blasting away at it off Okinawa. Said it was the most scared he'd ever been in his life and screaming only helped to intensify the effect.

The episode ends and I must wait an entire week for the next one. *sigh* Like a lil' kid awaiting part two of an episode of Star Trek...

Correction, John, it was the ADC BG Claudius M Easley who was the Army version of Willis Ching Lee.

1:24:55 I can't help but imagine some poor chicken flattened across the front of a 14 inch shell like Wile E. Coyote

Buckner's last words "what artillery?"

Merrill, Lynch, Pierce, Fenner, Smith & Bean. As we knew it. LOL

Once again the word 'polyglot' was used to describe mixed forces. 'Polyglot' means 'many tongues' (from Greek) as does 'multi-lingual' (from Latin). The outfits to which this series has regularly applied the term have been almost always 'monoglot', that language being English. As well as 'mixed' as a better term, there's also the original sense of 'promiscuous' that would serve.

Just a quick note...always like your vids...but CPT Bill drops some funny lines sometimes. I appreicate your hard effort, work and research in these vids. Always your fan, SGT DOUG, RECON, 1/502, 101 ABN, RVN 68-69 LZ Sally

My dad was stationed on Okinawa in 1953-54. I remember him saying the the Okinawins did not consider themselves Japanese but Ryukyuians.

沖縄戦は住民の４分の１が亡くなられた戦闘だったので、今でもその実像を語ろうとするひとは少ないですね。戦後八十年なってもいまだに沖縄戦によって本土の捨て石にされたところで、本土と沖縄の人たちとの壁があるのかなと感じます。

Thought John was talking about Pittsburgh weather for a moment when he was describing the 8 weeks of rain that arrives in April, but then realized Pittsburgh actually has 12 weeks of rainfall that time of year 🤦‍♂️

The ship was the Tsushima Maru and it was unfortunately sank by the Bowfin.