I knew there were terrible losses to naval personal and ships. Didn't realize they eclipsed the ground forces. A side note. This is an amazing channel. Your in depth knowledge is awesome. I'm a history buff myself and find each and every video better than the last
@@greenstar9491 And that's what he said, the Navy had more killed than the Marines OR the Army. Also in the Guadalcanal campaign, Navy KIA (4911) were almost 3 times that of Marines KIA (1768).
My first video I watched was a recommendation after watching The Wierd History channel. It was about dandelions. I subscribed after watching that. So I can guarantee you that no one else in the world could make you subscribe with dandelions. Now the History Guy is my go to channel.
My Uncle, Harold Mills was on the bridge of the Bunker Hill when the kamikazes attacked. Many years ago he said that the young Japanese kamikaze pilot looked him in the eye just prior to the explosion. What makes his story so compelling is the fact that he had just come off a 12 hour shift when he was ordered to report to the bridge and replace another young sailor who had become ill. My uncle said everyone in his sleeping quarters were killed as a result of that kamikaze attack. He said being exhausted and initially complaining about his order haunted him. His buddies all died and he lived to tell that story. He was a great guy and one of my favorite Uncles. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 My Uncle’s eldest son served in Vietnam 1967 -68 with the CB’s …..I offend wondered what was going on in his head with a son in combat and he did see action. Some sacrificed so much for our country and many don’t understand!
I knew of the individual tragedies of the Navy at Okinawa, but even Naval history classes never put it together for me like this. A truly outstanding episode, and a perspective that truly deserves to be remembered.
My grandfather was an aviation and flight engineer for the Imperial Japanese Army Air Corp. He was transferred from his base at the Tachikawa technical institute to help the grounds crew in preparing the kamikaze attacks during the battle of Okinawa. My grandfather knew that the war was coming to an end soon. He would tell the pilots not to sacrifice their lives and to return home. He was ordered to only fill up enough fuel for the one way trip to Okinawa. My grandfather would fill the tank up to full, so that the pilots could fly back to safety after the attack. He risked court marshall to save a few pilots, but none of them ever returned alive. They all died valiantly for Japan. My grandfather survived the war, and became an avid pacifist.
What your grandfather didn't tell you was that those pilots were told if they flew back and landed that airplane they would have faced huge dishonor and most likely the a death sentence. My uncle was a flight engineer but on b-29 bomber specifically The Great Artists B-29. It was on both atomic bombing missions.
Thank you for your perspective. My uncle was on a minesweeper serving on aircraft picket duty at Okinawa, and watched a boyhood friend get killed in front of him. He thought the only reason he lived was because an ammunition bandolier was strapped across his chest. A very brave university professor at Sasebo deeply influenced my uncle's life. He and some of his friends had just gotten off of the ship as part of the occupation forces, when they were approached by an English-speaking Japanese who offered them his umbrella, and proceeded to show them the town. His gesture deeply affected my uncle, who wrote to pen pals in Japan until he died in a veterans home last year.
This is my favorite episode yet from "The History Guy". My father was a US Navy pilot flying a TBM Avenger torpedo bomber off the USS San Jacinto (along with another young pilot who was in his Flight school class named George HW Bush). The San Jacinto a light carrier serving in Task Force 58, under Admiral Marc Mitscher off Okinawa in the Spring of 1945. My dad often said that only by chance was he NOT among the 4400 or so USN officers and men who died in that "miserable stretch of ocean." He died of cancer in 1979, and never really said much more than that about the experience-largely to avoid reliving the horrors, I suspect. I had tears in my eyes as I listened to this video, particularly the ending, and I still do as I write this. This truly was the finest hour for those tens of thousands of US Navy sailors and pilots. Americans of today desperately need to be reminded of the sacrifices those guys made. Perhaps more people would stop and think before getting so angry about the "issues" we currently face. The things we do today in order to make ourselves feel good pale in comparison to what Americans of that generation did. Thank you, Mr Geiger, for this channel.
My dad was there but on a PT Boat. My mom said for years when the testing of the Warning Sirens if he was asleep he would jump up and thought for a few seconds that he would think he needed to get to b Battle Stations. He spent also 2 years on a Destroyer in the Atlantic. The only thing he ever said that was something funny that happened. But he did talk a little about that Island. He talked about mass graves.
That flamethrower we see on the TV clips...? Brother Lou sat me down... and told me since he was the smallest person in the outfit he was selected to try a new weapon for the Pacific Theater WW2 and the Flamethrowers... and the stories of our USA 🇺🇸 Veterans and, Incredible History USA 🇺🇸 Dee Crumpie Ayers and Step Brother Horace Van Wood Pearl Harbor Dec 7, 1941 USS Arizona.... both died aboard the Arizona!
I have a relative who died in a kamikaze attack during the battle of Okinawa. I researched what happened to him and his story deserves to be remembered. Long story short, I was puzzled why 2 aviation mechanics were all alone on a LCM ship in the middle of the ocean when they died on the last day of the battle. It turns out the navy was looking for a way to counter kamikaze attacks. They raised a previously sunken destroyer and made it into a decoy ship. They gutted the destroyer and rigged it to have fake smoke and blinking lights to mimmick anti aircraft fire to lure the kamikaze planes. The two AM3s on the LCM had a remote control that controlled the lights and smoke. On the first day out to sea, the Japanese took the bait. As the destroyer was being pulled out to sea by the tugboat 2 planes came. One struck the destroyer with no one onboard, and unfortunately the other plane struck the LCM. I fortunately stumbled across a story from a member of that tugboat and solved the mystery of why were 2 aviation mechanics all alone on a landing ship in the middle of the ocean. They sacraficed their lives so other ships and lives could be saved. God Bless those heros and all the heros of WW2.
My father was in the Marines among the land invasion at Okinawa. He never talked about it, my mother said he was never really right when he came back. A good friend of his was with him on island and once told me my Dad saved his live, and killed untold enemy soldiers. Both men are dead now, but as an almost 70 senior citizen, I am more thankful everyday for what these men did so that I could have the great life me and my family have lived. Thanks Dad and Vince. RIP
What was your father's role? My Grandpa was also an Okinawa Marine. He was in rocketry: read that as "back the pickup truck with rockets on the back into position, RUN out of the cab, light the rockets off, RUN back into the cab, FLOOR IT OUT OF THERE, and watch the return fire in the rearview mirror."
As with most documentaries on the naval battle of Okinawa, you emphasized the Kamikaze attacks while completely overlooking one of the true heroic events: the sinking of the destroyer USS Longshaw and the actions of her rescue ship the USS Arikara. On 18 May, the Longshaw ran aground on a reef near Naha and the Japanese shore batteries literally pounded the ship through most of the day, while the Arikara valiantly assisted the crew of the Longshaw to escape the burning ship, to Arikara’s own peril. The skipper of the Longshaw and 86 members of the crew were lost in the battle. My father was a radioman on the Longshaw and was one of the lucky ones, having survived being blown through a bulkhead. When Japan surrendered he was still in the hospital. He went on to attend Longshaw ship reunions well into his 80’s, and the Longshaw survivors never forgot to invite their rescuers, the men of the USS Arikara as well. A story of true heroism, but often a smaller footnote in the Naval history books.
In 1995 I was stationed on Okinawa assigned to the III MEF headquarters. I was privileged to escort Marines returning for the 50th anniversary of the battle. The aged warriors pointed out exact locations where they fought for their lives. It became obvious as they told their stories that they were mostly frightened teenagers at the time but their fear became their determination to survive. The tales of individual self sacrifice during the Battle of Okinawa almost sound like myths from a bygone era. Make no mistake, they are true. These men were made of solid iron.
Kids now of the age of those on Okinawa in the battle...are somewhat softer than solid iron. They need spaces that are safe from harsh language and opinions they don't like. God help us if we had to defend our nation today! Bill (U.S. Army 1965-68, Vietnam 67-68)
@@cesarebeccaria7641 Actually I find it auspicious that most of these youth are such snowflakes, because the next time we have to defend our nation it will be against them. Hostilities have already broken out.
@@cesarebeccaria7641 Don't be misled by a couple of well-publicized snowflakes, Brother. Kids of today, put under the same pressure, will show the same steel their Grandfathers did. They are our blood, after all; and like us and our Fathers, some will fall and some will be heroic, no better and no worse. Have faith, Brother. Blood will tell.(Besides, you can't deny that most of them are a great deal smarter than WE were at that age. :-) (U.S. Army '65-'68) Stay safe Be well
@@cesarebeccaria7641 ~ your got that right. Most of the panty waists that age I work with can't do anything remotely resembling manual labor for more than 5 minutes without whining about it and sulking off to look at their phones.
I've binged a lot of history programs. You are, hands down, the King of hstory presemtations particularly wwii. Thank you for hours of great entertainment and real unbiased, non partisan, history. Make a million more. You should open a school to teach others how you do what you do.
"Damn the Torpedoes, Full speed ahead!" David Farragut "I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm's way." John Paul Jones The US Navy has had some bad asses!
@Karla Kirkpatrick He was quoting John Paul Jones, who when asked if he had struck (the colors having been shot away in the battle [Bon Homme Richard vs HMS Serapis]} replied "I have not yet begun to fight."
@@shadetreewelding Admiral Halsey to his chief of staff, returning to Pearl Harbor on December 8th "When this is over the Japanese language will only be spoken in Hell."
Put it on your bucket list to visit the USS Laffey. Until that day bring up the USS Laffey turret RU-vid video on your large screen and surround sound.
My Dad passed away a few years back. I knew he had served on a U.S. Navy Destroyer in WWII and a Rocket Landing Craft in Korea. He didn't talk much about his time at war, except one time when he missed the boat in Korea and spent a few days ashore tagging along with the Army. I dug up his discharge papers, and under Campaigns is listed Saipan and Okinawa. I can only imagine the things he must have seen and endured. It didn't take military service for him to be MY hero, but I wish I had asked him more about it while I still had the chance.
Hi Ryan. Thanks very much for your comments. I understand fully as my father served in the European theatre of operations during WWII. And, like your dad, my dad never spoke of his experiences. We knew he served but when pressed for details, he would politely - but firmly - change the subject. It wasn't until four or five months after his death in 1985 that my mom set her three sons down at the kitchen table and showed us his discharge papers and all the medals and letters of commendation that had been awarded to him. It absolutely blew us away as we had no clue. The more I learned from shows like THG and my own studies, convinced me that men like your dad, my dad, and thousands of other men came from a 'different cut of the cloth' and are worthy of our praise and gratitude. I am eternally grateful for their service. Again, thank you for your comments and be safe 🙏
My grandfather served in the pacific theater. I had asked my mother and uncle if he had ever spoke of the war and they said never. My uncle had told me before they moved away to California in 59 he left his uniforms and his medals in the attic on purpose. His last visit while we were out to eat my grandfather on his own desire started telling us about how they were island hopping, shelling , hand to hand combat and building runways for the airplanes . About 5 minutes and he stopped.. He waited until he was 87 yrs old to talk about it only once and died when he was 94 . These men were brave. I am proud.
My father was 2nd Infantry Div. In WW2. He rarely spoke about it except maybe to another WW2 veteran or a couple of times to a very persistent history obsessed son. Like you, my father was my hero. He's been gone many years now. I still miss him.
Ryan -- My Dad was in the Army Air Force and was also at Saipan and Okinawa along with other islands. He was in a B-25 outfit that spent a lot of time in support of ground troops and fighting submarines and surface ships. He spoke little of his experiences on the Pacific islands but he was very vocal about the Japanese. You see, Dad had already been in the Army Air Corps before it became the Army Air Force and had been discharged early in 1941. Then, in February 1942, he got a letter from his favorite uncle in Washington inviting him back into uniform. Dad lost his hearing in a B-25 and spent the remainder of the war in the same squadron as a supply sergeant. To Dad, the enemy was never the Japanese -- they were always Japs and it was blasphemy to own a Toyota or Sony.
A friend of mine, a US Marine, told me the one story his father, a retired Marine, told him about Okinawa: Every single morning you could go down to the beach and there would be dead US Navy Sailors everywhere. You could see columns of smoke from burning ships over the horizon and shattered, burning Navy Destroyers still providing gunfire support. You could sometimes look up and see clouds of Japanese Kamikazes heading for the ships. USN Hellcat Fighters and Marine Corp Corsair Fighters would tear into them, growling, slashing and spitting through their ranks. But enough would get through: you could see the Naval Gunfire Support Destroyers and Cruisers shuddering under Kamikaze hits, gouts of fire blossoming with each hit. At night you could see the red glow of ships on fire. But the ships would not leave, many sailors flatly refusing to be relieved, and continued to supply gunfire support. And in the morning the beach would covered with dead sailors again. But the ships still would not leave. And there was nothing the Marines could do to help them. Absolutely nothing. His father would break down and start crying at this point and could not go on.
My father was there but never talked about it. USS Indianapolis. "44 months in the Pacific" was all that he would say, and "duty." Mom said tho that he shot down an airplane and also got in trouble for tracking his gun across the ship. RIP 1980, Captain A. W. Venne Jr. Retired, USN. Thank you sir for the remembrance, Paul Louis Venne, Thailand
@@phillipstoltzfus3014 Indianapolis was damaged by a Kamikazi hit during the Marianas Turkey Shoot and returned to Mare Island for repair, if I remember right. At this point he disembarked his post in the engine room to attend the National War College. Indy was repaired and loaded the atomic bomb for Tinian and sailed off to history and destiny. Again if I remember the details correctly. Another detail from the war is that my Pop, his nick name with me, had hearing damage from all the bombardments of the 5" guns. Muzzle velocity for a 8" naval gun is 2800 fpm apparently. I wonder how many rounds Indy fired? She had 10 Bronze Stars at the end of the war, from as many bombardments?? That seems like a lot to me but Enterprize had 20 Bronze Stars. Any corrections on the above are welcome. Sincere regards and thanks and live 100 years, Paul Venne
@@caesarillion Combat deafness was a huge problem right up to and through the Vietnam war. It wasn't just the 5" guns that were used for shore bombardment and antiaircraft defense that caused deafness, it was the smaller guns like the quad 40 mm mounts and 20 mm cannon. These tertiary guns fired millions of round during the Kamikaze attacks, and even long term exposure to rifle fire without hearing protection could cause later loss of hearing. The same issues applied to artillerymen ashore. My brother was was assigned as a battery captain to a 105 mm battery in the Mekong Delta and has profound hearing loss on his right ear from all the firing his battery did during the ten months he spent in the Delta. It was only all the VA medical claims for deafness that finally convinced the military to provide hearing protection starting the late 80's.
That's a lot of good information! I can imagine you would get hearing damage on those ships. I just learned about the Indianapolis and her fate. Live more than a hundred years, Phillip Stoltzfus
Thank you for this video. I grew up in Okinawa from 1967-1972. My dad took me to see where Erny Pyle was killed. My grandfather(not by blood)was at the battle for Okinawa in the USN on the USS Texas. I loved Okinawa!! Yes, we still had a lot of unexploded ordinance at the time. My late wife's brother was stationed on Okinawa while in the USAF at the same time I was in Okinawa.
After the war there was an effort to downplay the role of Kamikaze aircraft. Back in the 60's, as schoolkids here in the UK, we were given the impression that it was just a few fanatics. Spot on as ever THG, thank you sir.
@grumpy old fart The kamikaze attacks killed people and damaged ships, but it was totally ineffective at stopping them. And in fact, made things worse for them since it lead to the use of nukes.
The US Navy made a concerted effort to keep reports of the damages caused by the kamikazes under wraps, we did not want the Japanese to learn just how effective they were.
@@lordgarion514 I wouldn't say it made it worse for them. In the end, the use of nukes almost certainly saved Japanese lives, since more Japanese would have died from the invasion of the home islands. It was better for them in the end, the country rebounded quickly and became an economic powerhouse.
@@lordgarion514 The only reason the Japanese did not die in job lots after the surrender was the incredible influx of food provided by the U. S. and Allied forces. Another six months of naval blockade and mining would have starved them out, a fact we only discovered after the surrender.
Great video, there has never been a battle like this, my Father was in the 1st Marine Division on Okinawa and he saw the attacks on those Naval Vessels and he said it was a miracle that so many survived.
My grandfather lost his Minesweeper the USS Spectical at Okinawa. He was always late and was an officer trained under the "90 day Wonder." He was late to be on-deck when a Kamikaze attacked and hit the officer deck. Being late can be a good thing.
My grandfather picked up the survivors from the Spectacal on board the LSM 135. Shortly afterward, while heading back to Ie Shima, the LSM 135 was hit by a kamikaze and my grandfather and ten crew and officers were killed. He was listed as MIA for ten days and was found in the crew quarters after the ship grounded off of Ie Shima.
Politicians were kissing babies in the 1800s. You'd love the 1880 op-ed rant in the times about politicians kissing babies. Good thing Trump doesn't kiss babies with that mouth.
My dad was wounded on board the USS Bunker Hill during a Kamikaze attack, Dad was a tail gunner in VB-84 with the future actor Paul Newman was a radioman/gunner in VT-84. Dad spent the remainder of the war in hospitals and Paul Newman would to to another squadron and ship. I wish I new about Paul Newman before my dad passed in 2004. They shadowed each other for year and a half and probably rubbed elbows in chow lines.
Hey, why not enjoy Paul's collection of grocery items known as Newman's Own at your local store? All proceeds from the sales of Newman's Own go to charities. Perhaps one charity is one that donates to Veterans' groups.
I found the book “ The Franklin Comes Home “ in my middle school library when I was in the 6th grade. I was the only person to check that book out for 3 years. I would check it out, return it and recheck it out. In 1992 I met a sailor in Baltimore who served aboard the Franklin at a church shrimp feast I played music for. The next year I found him again and presented him a plastic model of the Franklin I built for him. He cried, I cried and his brother cried. He then recalled the story of that day. He was a 40 mm loader aft of the island.
I was always proud to be a US Navy Sailor, I have always been aware that my predecessors had established a tradition that I had to try to live up to. Thank You for telling their story.
I served 6yrs active duty on 3 ships USS White Sands ARD-BS 12, USS Marvin Shields DE/FF 1066 and USS Turner Joy DD 951 from 72-78 I always look at the”greatest generation” as having earned that title many times over!
Likewise. Although I didn't make a career out of it, I don't regret my time in at all. I served my time on the USS Enterprise. Machinist Mate 2nd class.
My brother retired a CPO, I retired a SCPO. My youngest daughter is an FT-1 USNR and my oldest daughter is USAFA graduate (2003). I take great pride that my family also served.
Such an amazing lesson, I've been stationed at Kadena AB on Okinawa for 3 years and haven't seen such a well put together explanation before. Thank you.
My Dad was a 19 year's old Marine assigned to a shore party unloading supplies and witnessed the awesome display of a Kamikaze attack against the Navy ships at sea. He didn't get to watch long before his Sgt. told him and his fellow Marines to stop watching the show and get back to work. Imagine having that noisy death struggle going on in the background while you work.
“6 June, J. William Ditter was attacked by a large group of kamikazes. The ship's gun crews downed five of the planes; but a sixth glanced off her No. 2 stack; and another crashed into her on the port side near the main deck. The ship lost all power and suffered many casualties; but damage control kept her afloat until she could be towed by tug Ute to Kerama Retto the next day.” The Ditter was my fathers Ship. The Ditter was also the ship that the USS Laffey relieved from picket duty on the day the Laffey became “the ship that would not die”.
@@deewhitedove8290 I did an interview with the son of a Laffey Sailor, over on my channel. Had an item from ebay stolen off my porch, but luckily I saved the images and looked up the name, and then I realized what ship the sailor had served on. It's one video I'm glad and proud to have had the chance to make.
The USS Laffey is part of the "Patriots Point Naval Museum" in Charleston, SC. Along with the aircraft carrier Yorktown, and the submarine Clagamore. Absolutely excellent destination, for naval history enthousiasts.
I got to visit the Laffey & Yorktown & Clamagore last Summer. The Laffey has the best interactive museum experience of all the museums & ships I have toured. I try to seek these out during business trips & steal away for the afternoon. It's a shame about the Clagamore, it was in bad shape last Summer but it seems like they could have put in in dry dock in the park at least.
Very good episode, times I actually had tears in my eyes. Such a great and brave group of man bring that time. My grandfather, 97 years old serve in the Pacific from 42 to 45. He still around Mikal story is pretty awesome. Salute to all the brave soldiers and sailors!
Thank you for this History Guy....I had 2 uncles who survived Okinawa only to die of cancer in the 60s. My own father was a Pearl Harbor survivor who died in his sleep in 2003....Thanks again for educating those who would otherwise know little about WW 2.
As a young Marine, I was stationed in Okinawa. It was during the summer, while training up in the Northern Training Area (NTA), most of us were constantly complaining about the heat, humidity and the general discomfort. After a couple of days of this, our platoon sergeant remarked "Yeah. Its pretty bad up here. Imagine having to actually fight in these conditions." We all kind looked at each other. No one complained after that. It was humbling to be reminded that we were standing on the very ground that, many years ago, our brother Marines and soldiers had bled and died there.
I've trained up there too. Just walking around Okinawa to this day, I try to imagine making my way through this terrain with the crazy thick vegetation and having to fight in it. Add mud, disease, mosquitoes, snakes, etc. Hellish environment.
@Me Smith true. Yes I was in NAHA. I was surprised how big the city was. I was at the rotating restaurant tower there and I checked out a few seafood, fruit markets there. This was about 1989. Orion beer.
This might be your "finest hour". Thank you so much for another great video.....but much more than that, thank you for retaining our American history....the good, bad, and ugly. We aren't perfect..... we're human, with all our brilliance and faults. To erase history, or distort it, is perhaps the greatest error we can make.
To be fair, the Grunts tried to warn Gen.Buckner that he stood out like sore thumb on the front. Some Japanese forward observer took full advantage of that.
Gen. Buckner had no real combat experience. I believe he was in command of troops in Alaska when he was given command of the invasion of Okinawa. After Gen. Buckner was killed, the next highest ranked officer was a USMC General who became the first Marine to command US Army and USMC units in combat.
Thanks for remembering my Uncle's sacrifice in the battle for Okinawa. He was MIA March 1945 in the Kerama Retto area flying (VC-9) off the USS Natoma Bay. My uncle was the AOM1 on the plane.
Thk you for doing this one, especially, though I have enjoyed them all! My father, Frank Moroni, 77th Army division, was shot through the chest and out the back, on May 3, 1945, on Ie Shima, cleaning out Japanese soldiers entrenched and hiding in caves on the island. His buddy was blown to bits about 4 ft away. They flew him to Guam, critically ill. He stayed there for 3 months and eventually recovered and returned to his family, in Calif. weighing only 130lbs at 6 '1'' and very weak. It was a terrible battle which he never spoke about until he was in his eighties. Men of steel... Thank you!
The damage to the Indianapolis off Okinawa set in motion the events that eventually resulted in its loss after delivering the atomic bomb. The loss of the Indianapolis is one of the most awful in Naval history. Lynn Vincent and Sara Vladic's book covers the Indy tragedy in depth, but perhaps there's a story that hasn't been told?
Thank you again for another informative video. My oldest son Patrick is in the Air Force and is stationed on the Island of Okinawa, I sent him a message telling him about your video.
Off-topic: Today is my birthday, and I am so grateful to wake up to such a wonderful historical gift being uploaded this morning. Thank you for all that you do, History Guy!
My uncle Art Muffett served as a shell striker in a 5" twin mount on USS Alabama. He did not know at the time that he was firing support for his brother-law Tom Ryan who was a marine infantryman struggling in the land battle. They both survived. It is not a battle that either of them would speak of in later years.
My neighbor William Ritter was on the DM-34 Aaron Ward. He died in 2008. He would often describe the Battle. Even after his Alzheimer's set in. It was an honor to live next to such a distinguished warrior.
U.S. Naval Admiral William "Bull" Halsey, said, "The only weapon I ever feared was the Kamikaze." That pretty much sums it up. Great episode. Well done.
My Dad served on a Destroyer during WW2 and his ship was hit and sunk by a Kamikaze at Okinawa. He didn't talk much about the war to his kids or Mom only to other veterans and my Uncle Mark. He did tell me about the hospital ships being targeted by the Kamikaze and that they had to come in after dark, load the wounded and be beyond the range of the attackers by daylight. After his ship was sank he was attached to a Construction Battalion (CB) unit and as an Electricians mate 2nd class was assigned to em-place 9 Cat diesel generators which he mounted on RR Ties and synchronize and duty cycle them to operate the surgical and emergency hospital. Because of constant sniper and sapper attacks he slept under the generators with his carbine on his chest. I would guess he didn't sleep much. ( I guess that's why I became a Master Electrician). They had a sniper pick a guy off right at dusk and at dawn for several days before they figured out he had nested in a collapsed wooden water tower. They all opened fire and promptly killed the bastard. (from Dad). From the son of the Greatest Generation. I miss you Dad.
my father in law was part of a group that escaped through a porthole when his destroyer/ minesweeper went down...the first man out got stuck and the rest only got out when the chief behind him applied the proper motivation by stabbing him in the rear end!.....
My Grandfather and was 7th Battalion Seabees at Okinawa. He told me a few stories when I was on leave from the Navy and I believe a hospital ship being targeted was one of them. It’s been a long time and I miss him dearly.🇺🇸⚓️
I simply love the ending, referring to the countless acts of heroism and bravery as the United States Navy's FINEST HOUR! This, Sir, is an episode that deserves to be remembered!
Those LSTs also took part in D Day on June 6, 1944 if I may recall. Large Slow Target or otherwise, those vessels and the men who operated them were tough as nails in the face of enemy fire.
LST's would transport smaller LCT's over the Pacific. LCT's were only 118 feet and a LST would carry a LCD on its deck and launch one by making a hard turn and the LCT would slide off as the LSD gave birth at sea. I seen a Navy training film of the process online but sorry no link. I know because my Dad was a Coxwain of one at the battle of Okinawa. His rank was Petty Officer 1st class. His LCT BOAT was transported via a LST SHIP according to his service records. Landing Craft Tactical =LCT
floating parking garage...one big empty space inside...built a lot of them right here in my town and floated them down the river to the gulf...take a trip down to Evansville to see the 325...the only functioning one left...they take it on a cruise every summer....
Superb telling of a dreadful battle HG and FWIW, I concur with your analysis that the Battle of Okinawa led directly to the atomic attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki - and indirectly (not to mention paradoxically) saved countless Japanese and allied lives. What a shame that so many young men on both sides paid with their lives for a meaningless gesture to save face.
Met a USS Franklin Vet! I was visiting Sarasota Florida about 5 years ago and I saw an older looking gentleman wearing a service cap with the name USS Franklin on it. I always have made a point to ask veterans about their service, but I was very surprised to see a USS Franklin Vet in 2015. So I asked him if he had indeed served on the USS Franklin when it had been hit off of Okinawa. He said he had indeed been on the Franklin and was a tail gunner about to board his TBF, when that Judy came out of nowhere and dropped the bomb in the middle of the airgroup. He said what saved his life was that he was literally blown off the flight deck and into the sea. He broke his arm hitting the water( I can believe it looking down from the deck of sistership Intrepid in NYC the other day) , but was picked up by a trailing DD.
I use to live in Okinawa as a youth. I have so many great memories. They had respect for their elders which is sorely lacking in our country lives and homes. While living there my Nanny took me to her village. That visit made me the man I am now. She told me to never bring shame to the face of your family. Never bring shame on the name of your family. I saw a man commit Seppuku in the middle of her village. She said he brought shame to his family's name. That's something that I can still see it like it was happening now. I saw people who survived Nagasaki with one whole side scared the hair bald and eyes the color of milk. The Japanese are a proud people not boastful. But self assured. Thank you HI Guy for doing that thing you do !
This sounds a bit weird. The locals don't consider themselves Japanese, and they don't have the sentiment neither for the Americans nor for the Japanese.
Thank you.. My father was there for those battles.. Heard a lot of stories growing up.. Nice to hear history now fill the blanks in.. Enjoy your channel..
my Dad survived the Battle of Okinawa on the destroyer Escort USS Barber and over 3 months they picked up survivors of 3 destroyers whose group they were attached were lost to kamikazes, he never talked about it much saying that they were not heroic but doing their job, he was haunted by the face of a sailor that went under while my Dad was trying to get him out of the water, he said we had locked eyes and I can see him as clearly today as I did in May 1945. They also picked up all 11 crew from a B29 later and went into Nagasaki for shore leave in Sept 45.
My Dad was also an Okinawa battle survivor, USS Crescent City, EM3. He never talked about it until after I joined the Navy and made ET(R)3 in 1971. He told me the ship was 'grazed' by a kamikaze. At that time, the Navy used dedicated "damage control men" who were the only crew that received special training in firefighting and damage control. Nevertheless, the entire crew turned to in order to get the fires put out. After that, they also spent weeks recovering survivors. It wasn't until after the fire on the USS Forrestal (1967) that the Navy started sending everyone to fire fighting schools and conducting 'all-hands' fire drills at sea. Thanks for this great episode of History!
The Battle of Okinawa: The Blood and the Bomb by George Feifer is a superb account of the entire battle, with an extensive account of the kamikaze-Navy struggle.
Whilst not present at Okinawa, the talk of the Kamikaze attacks reminds me of HMAS Australia (II). She had the distinction of being one of the most "Kamikazied" allied ships to survive the war. She survived at least five kamikaze strikes. I remember reading about it in Mike Carlton's book Flagship, about HMAS Australia (II) and her sister ships.
21 October 1944 in Leyte Gulf is argued to be the first planned Kamikaze attack. These attack Corps were authorized only the day before to begin operations. Opposing arguments are that this was not a pre “organized” Kamikaze attack citing that there were other examples of such attacks since 1942 by individual Japanese pilots willing to sacrifice themselves. The first planned Kamikaze attack was on the escort carriers USS Suwannee and USS Santee on October 25. After repairs and return to service the next hit was on January 5 and again the next day. On the same day another attack was stopped before. Hitting. On January 7 two Japanese aircraft were crashed into the ship but did not stop bombardment operations. At the end of that day another hit forced the decision to withdraw for repairs. USS Laffy was hit by six Kamikaze but had to be towed. This appears to make HMAS Australia the most hit to steam away under her own power.
@@spasjt Actually, HMAS Australia(II) was a County Class heavy cruiser....built by the Poms. The RAN purchased their major warships from England at that time but yeah, they were tough ships
As a kid I would watch the show battle 360 when every new episode came out, one of the reasons I learned to love history. There was one battle that I always remember Leyte Gulf. It was the USS Johnston's actions in that battle that deserves to be remembered but, sadly, few people know. It is the only circumstance that I know of where a Japanese officer saluted an American(s).
Another wonderful 15 mins from THG, thank you. I am ex-RN and served in the Falklands. I do not know the exact stats but the naval losses there possibly exceeded the army's. Of course it is nothing like the enormous scale of the war in the Pacific but it reiterates the truism that warships built for offensive ops are not so good when they are defending an amphibious operation. But they still give of their their best. Keep up your most excellent work. I have been most enlightened by you about your rich, albeit more recent, history of the US.
Might I also add that during the Pacific campaign WWII my great-grandfather served in the Army Air Corps in occupied Okinawa Island as well loading ordinance that was dropped on mainland Japan.
"They will live a long time, these men of the South Pacific. They had an American quality. They, like their victories, will be remembered as long as our generation lives. After that, like the men of the Confederacy, they will become strangers. Longer and longer shadows will obscure them, until their Guadalcanal sounds distant on the ear, like Shiloh and Valley Forge." James Michener, Tales of the South Pacific
I don't believe those old WW2 vets ever became strangers and such. They were so friendly and easy to converse with. Definitely great men who were great friends and associates when I was young.
Being the grandson of a third Army tanker I herd the first hand story. I was also given a stern command. Never let it happen again. True Justice is not e respecter of persons. I miss him desperately.
@@ryandavis7593 If you don't want it to happen again, you'd better take a stand against what is taking place before our very eyes as many of our indoctrinated youth are hellbent to erase the very history we are talking about. We don't need another remake of the new Soviet Man, the Red Guard, the Master Race, or any other totalitarian ideal.
@@Paladin1873 Fortunately for us, the current would-be dictator lacks both the balls and the brains to pull it off, but you're right that he has the mentality. What makes it really scary is how many people are willing and anxious to help him. I'm hoping for a major readjustment in November.
Thank you for mentioning the USS Franklin, CV13!!! That ship alone would make a great history story. After all she had a 60 foot unlucky "13" painted on her deck. Only the USS Arizonian lost more men. My dad served aboard as a rear gunner on a bomber. He was in his plane, on the flight deck March 19, ready to take off when the ship was bombed. More than 800 men died in that attack. 1,100 Purple Hearts were earned from that attack but were not given out until the ship came to NY. There were not enough Purple Hearts in Pearl Harbor at the time. Air Group 13, assigned to the Franklin, has the largest number of loses and was in the hanger deck when the bombs went off. Only two survived from the hanger deck. The Franklin only saw action for nine months, from June 1944 until March 1945. Twice during that time she received the worst damage of any US carrier, Oct 30, 1944 and March 19, 1945. There is so much more, It goes all the way from the Captain charging a large number of the crew for Desertion Under Fire (which all were dismissed) to the only ship's crew to receive two CMHs, to the most decorated crew, to the US Naval ship that received the most damage, and lastly, to the first carrier to land a nuclear capable aircraft. Just absolutely incredible service record.
You do such a great job with this channel. I think all history needs to be remembered but your selections are truly outstanding. I only wish young people of today would recognize the value of history and appreciate the sacrifices made on their behalf.
I know that not many people in my generation are particularly fond of learning history, so I take pride in what I have learned. I am 23 years old and have always been fascinated in learning about history since I was a young child. I, too, wish more people my age and younger could see the tremendous value in learning the history of the generations that preceded us. My great grandfather was aboard the USS Morrison DD-560 during the Battle of Okinawa. The USS Morrison was a fletcher class destroyer, and like many of her kind, she was laid to rest by Japanese Kamakaze pilots whilst on radar picket duty during the attacks on 4 May. My Great Grandfather, John Ryan, was one of lucky few who survived. After the ship downed, he was struggling to swim without a life jacket and wearing heavy, leather boots. When asked of he was okay, he calmly said, "Yes, I am a good swimmer, but if I don't get these boots off, I might drown." He is now deceased but lived a full life with his wife and 3 kids. He never liked telling about his time serving in the war but always did so passionately. He felt that it was his duty to do so as to better preserve history and not to sugarcoat it. War is glorious for those who have never lived through it. War is hell for those who have seen a single minute of it. If any relatives or anybody you know has served, please thank them for their service on my behalf. If you yourself have served, then thank you for your service, and God bless!
My grandfather was shot by a machine gun there, he survived, but never talked about it until I joined the Marine Corps. The best generation for a reason!
I'm not certain, but I think this episode of THG has brought together more people with a connection of one kind or another, to the 'history worth remembering.' As good as the presentation was, I found the comments here quite inspiring. I would say this history is not just worth remembering but also IS remembered thanks to a large number of people with personal connections to the story. Fantastic!
My father was on the light cruiser USS Birmingham at Okinawa when it was hit by a kamikaze. He didn't talk much about it since he considered the kamikaze strike as not much compared to the explosion of the aircraft carrier USS Princeton at the Battle of Leyte Gulf. His ship was along side the Princeton fighting fires when it exploded and his ship lost more men from the explosion than from the kamikaze hit. According to him, his ship was closer to sinking from the explosion than from the kamikaze hit.
My grandpa enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He served on the USS _Vicksburg_ (CL-86), a light cruiser in the Asiatic Pacific. As a Seaman First Class, he fought in the Battle of Iwo Jima and the Battle of Okinawa. During Iwo Jima, he operated a coastal artillery gun, laying down both bombardment and coordinated suppressing fire on key Japanese positions. At Okinawa, he again assisted in shore bombardment, as well as manning an anti-aircraft gun against Japanese kamikaze attacks. That battle was truly a “Typhoon of Steel.”
My grandfather was in the Navy and stationed on the USS Okinagon. When I was a child, he told me about Okinawa and other places in the Pacific. Wish I'd known then to record everything he told me.
I think some people just dislike anything to do with war without even watching it. You shouldn't be allowed to like or dislike without watching at least 75% of it
@wargent99 Huh, interesting. I am also often confused by people who dislike quality/positive content. Yours is the first semi-rational explantion for this I have seen. Thanks for that. However I wonder why they click on the video in the first place if they are so disinterested.
@wargent99 Honestly I took it as more as a negative/positive signal. Meaning that people found this either good content or bad content as a whole. I have noticed that almost no video is universally liked and there are always a handful of people who dislike it. My assumtion was that they were trolling otherwise "postive" (meaning nice), content. But I have to admit your explanation makes sense and makes me feel slightly better about humanity notwithstandig your DUH and stupid additions. Anyhoo, thanks for the explanation.
So much for a harmless tongue-in-cheek comment gents. I’m not the one getting my panties in a knot. I think it’s great content; to be frank, I don’t care about the whole rationale about the RU-vid algorithm. I found it interesting that the video had been up for only a few minutes and some hero decided to shoot it down for no good reason. FYI I’m not American so I’m not predisposed to take offense to absolutely everything.
I loved this episode. I was stationed on Okinawa in 1977-78 and again from 1986-90. My son was born there. I used to go out metal detecting almost every Saturday and read everything I could find on the battle. You should do a story about Col. Yahara. He was the highest ranking Japanese officer to survive. He was ordered by Gen. Ushajima to get back to Japan with news of the battle. His story is very interesting. Thanks and God bless.
Thank you! I love this episode! My father served on the USS LCS(L) 86 which was pictured helping the USS W. D. Porter. "The Kamikazes were as thick as mosquitoes." was what he used to say.
Thank you for including the Royal navy, Australian and New Zealand navies in this program. They are often left out of this campaign so there lives are not remembered.
I read George Feifer's Tennozan: The Battle of Okinawa and the Atomic Bomb, when I first arrived on Oki in '93. THG taught me even more today, and I doggone live here!!
When I was a kid, I had read “The FRANKLIN COMES HOME”. I still have that book somewhere. Saddens me to see these great vessels turning in scrap after their service.
One of the first WWII non-fiction books I read was "I was Chaplain on the Franklin". I read it for an 8th grade book report. That was the start of my love for military history.
That was really interesting. As an aside, one of our local sportscasters (ret'd) was a gunner on Bunker Hill. One of the Kamikazes blew him over the side when it hit the ship. And one more thing: your new logos (?) at the beginning are fantastic! Keep up the good work!!
When I was posted to the US Naval Hospital in Okinawa in 1979, it was still quite common to find unexploded ordnance on the island and in the sea, remnants of those terrible battles.
My father was on LST 181, damaged by a Kamikaze and the she was hauling aviation gas in barrels below decks. The crew managed to ground the ship though many in the crew were lost. A few years ago, my father toured the last remaining self-powered WWII ship, LST 325 in Evansville, Indiana. He was explaining to us from the bridge... "The plane hit right over there, and Wilson jumped overboard his clothes on fire right there.... " then he grew silent and said nothing more. Obviously though an old, old video tape of sorts was playing in his memory. I'll never forget that day. It was hot and humid and we were in the area between the inner and outer hull, where hammocks were "stacked." Dad started counting as we passed them, "one, two, three, four", then counted from the lower hammock to the top, "one, two, three. This was me!" It was hot, humid miserable, but the thought hit me, in the south Pacific, every day would have been hot, humid miserable and Dad spent his 19th, 20th, and 21st birthdays in that hammock. The Greatest Generation for sure. Thanks H.G. This time you made it personal.
I also toured the LST-325, when it was docked in Decatur, Alabama, last summer. The dedication of the volunteers who keep her afloat and touring the country each summer deserves mention. If you ever get the chance, go take the tour. It is well worth the small admittance fee to see a part of our history.
@@squiresam I live in Evansville and LST 325 has become quite an attraction here. The day that Dad toured the ship, my mother went along too. She was also in the Navy during WWII, though ironically, had never seen an LST until that day. Had their grandchildren along too, glad they got to experience it with their grandparents who are now in the National Military Cemetery in Georgia.....
Yes they fought for FDR and Stalin to win us the world wide 2020 bolshevik Utopia we have now..and my dad fought the only ones fighting communism back then..the GERMANS.
@@allenschmitz9644 Yeah. Well its a good thing most the veterans cant see what has become of those efforts. We made a deal with a devil to beat a devil. The lesson to learn is not to make deals with devil's. They usually backfire.
My dad was a Navy fighter Pilot Aboard the USS Fanshaw Bay CVE 70 PART OF VOC 2 Composite Spotting Squadron During the battle of Okinawa.. He Was And Still is my Hero......
My Dad fought across the Pacific. He said the hardest part was leaving My Mom and me to go to war. He was exempt until 1943 because he was an engineer building a war plant for steel mill. But then he got his draft notice and he went ot Navy and joined. When I had my kids, I thought of my Dad and how terrible to be 25 years old and have to go 12,000 miles and maybe never come back. But he came home to us-I was 3 years old and didn't know who he was. But he loved us and was so glad to be home, he got in on the peacetime boom for US Vets and built schools and was successful. Also, My neighbor was on the USS Ben Franklin (CV-13) when hit by a 500# bomb in March 1945. Good verbal history of his survival: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-0M_QUAOrodo.html
History Guy: My Dad was in the Pacific War, in the Navy where he got a Japanese rifle when Wake was retaken. It still has the Mum intact, they won't let me shoot it at the range in NJ because, they say, it'll go thru the wall to PA. I always wondered why some US military genius didn't come up with my idea, which follows, back in early 1945: The Kamikaze started their suicidal endeavors right around VE day. We could've taken all the ships Germany had (including stolen French and Norwegian ones) manned them with skeleton crews, sent them to Okinawa and put them the closest to the island (because, as you pointed out, the inexperienced kids in the planes usually pounced on the first ship they saw). This action would have saved many Allied lives and the lost ships would not have been a great loss as they were bound to be mothballed in Europe. I can't believe not one person thought of this after Germany surrendered.
an uncle of mine was from California and on the USS California during the Pearl Harbor attack. It was extensively damaged there so he was transferred ultimately to a large 'combat' tugboat serving at Okinawa in order help damaged/distressed ships and landing craft. My uncle received a Purple Heart when a Kamikaze aircraft showed up unexpectedly and the ship instantly went into evasive moves pitching my uncle from the deck into an open cargo hatch, falling the equivalent of several stories breaking his back. He walked again but that was the end of the war for him.
Another superb piece of work. The only thing that annoys me about your videos, is that they aren't made compulsory viewing for the politicians who still send countless young people to their deaths for purely selfish reasons!
I lived on Okinawa for sometime flying for the US Navy and ironically the Okinawa people don’t consider themselves to be Japanese. Their reply was always, we are not Japanese we are Okinawan people and dont forget it!
John Paul Lafferty ; I was stationed at Kadena,Air Base Okinawa in the mid 80's. I actually got married in Naha,Okinawa. The people there were quite friendly and didn't view us as the "conquering hoarde".
On April 8, DD-802, USS Gregory was attacked by three Zeros, the gunners managed to knock down two, but one got through and hit port side amid ship above the waterline, the impact took out the forward stack, damaged the radio shack and several gun pits, water started flooding the forward engine room, where my father was stationed, the sailors took action and saved the ship, she limped back to San Diego but repairs were not finished in time for the ship to return, she served through out the Korean and Vietnam War, before being sunk by US Navy Seal Teams training off the coast of California. My dad would takes us to the harbor to watch The Greg come into port whenever he had the chance. RIP Dad, RIP USS Gregory
The History Guy: History Deserves to Be Remembered As you yourself noted earlier the Allied Naval Forces took the brunt of the losses not only in this last amphibious assault of the PTO, but also in the first...
Also on 16 April 1945, the same day the Laffy was hit, the USS Pringle, DD-477, a Fletcher Class Destroyer Was Sunk. Assigned to radar picket duty on 15 April, she shot down two kamikazes on the 16th of April 1945 before a third crashed into her bridge. It plowed through the superstructure deck, just aft of the base of the number one stack. A single 1,000-pound bomb, or possibly two 500-pound bombs, penetrated the main and superstructure decks and exploded with a violent eruption, buckling the keel and splitting the vessel in two at the forward fire room. Six minutes later, 258 survivors watched the Pringle slide beneath the surface. Sixty nine men were killed. A friend who passed away many years ago was one of those 258 survivors. Gene Benjamin was his name and he told me the story.
I was a Corpsman stationed at Okinawa in 1990, Bravo Co 3rd Medical Battalion. I have stood on both Hacksaw Ridge, and later on the decks of the USS Laffey at Patriot's Point Naval Museum in Charleston SC. One thing I remember, was being instructed in land navigation on Okinawa, you must adjust your compass by nearly 10°, in part due to natural ore deposits, but more due to the shear amount of ordinance dropped on the island. This was later verified by the discovery of unexploded ordinance left over from the war, (this was multiple times ). The island is simply beautiful but that beauty belies the rugged conditions that faced by troops on both sides.
