Former Marine and Pacific War veteran Robert Leckie tells the story of the invasion of Okinawa, the closing battle of World War II. Leckie is a skilled military historian, mixing battle strategy and analysis with portraits of the men who fought on both sides to give the reader a complete account of the invasion. Lasting 83 days and surpassing D-Day in both troops and material used, the Battle of Okinawa was a decisive victory for the Allies, and a huge blow to Japan. In this stirring and readable account, Leckie provides a complete picture of the battle and its context in the larger war.
Chapter 4. The Japanese Samurai
Chapter 5. First Blood for America
Chapter 6. Kamikaze Strike / Franklin’s Ordeal
Chapter 9. The Marines Overrun the North
Chapter 10. “Floating Chrysanthemums”
Chapter 11. Fiery Failure at Kakazu Ridge
Chapter 13. Kikusui 2: Kamikaze Crucible
Chapter 14. Uncle Sam: Logistics Magician
Chapter 15. Hodge’s Hurricane Attack Hurled Back
Chapter 16. Outer Line Cracked / ushijima Retreats
Chapter 17. Kamikaze Bases Scourged / Kikusui 4
Chapter 18. Last Gasp of the Samurai Cho
Chapter 19. Minatoga: A Missed Opportunity
Chapter 20. May: Rain, Mud, Blood - and Breakthrough!
Chapter 21. Ushijima Retreats Again
Chapter 22. Chrysanthemums Die in Sea and Sky
Chapter 23. Ushijima’s Last Stand
Chapter 24. A Samurai Farewell
Epilogue: The Value of Okinawa