Okinawa April 12 1945
Create Post
Results 1 to 8 of 8
  1. #1

    Okinawa April 12 1945

    April 12, 1945 Franklin Delano Roosevelt died, just 83 days after he had taken office as President for the fourth time. Within four hours, Harry S. Truman became the 33rd President of the United States.

    I was on Okinawa, having been in the Invasion Easter Sunday April 1st. I was with Weapons Co., 4th Marines, 6th Marine Division. We were there until July 6th, then back to Guam for more training! Invasion of Japan was to be next.

    It was 1200 miles back to Guam and took ten days. We had lived on rations for three months.

    Gung Ho,

    Ray


  2. #2
    Marine Friend Free Member USNAviator's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Glen Allen, Virginia
    Posts
    3,113
    Credits
    8,023
    Savings
    0
    Ray

    Operation Downfall, invasion of Japan, would have been extremely costly in terms of casualties


    Can you recall how you and your buddies felt about the possibilities of conducting operations on the Japanese homeland?

    I read something a day or two ago, there was a proposal on the table in D.C. to make MacArthur a General of the Armies, a six star General. He would have had operational authority over any five stars including Admirals. Then Roosevelt passed away and the idea was dropped, thank God!!



  3. #3
    Mongoose
    Guest Free Member
    Quote Originally Posted by USNAviator View Post
    Ray

    Operation Downfall, invasion of Japan, would have been extremely costly in terms of casualties


    Can you recall how you and your buddies felt about the possibilities of conducting operations on the Japanese homeland?

    I read something a day or two ago, there was a proposal on the table in D.C. to make MacArthur a General of the Armies, a six star General. He would have had operational authority over any five stars including Admirals. Then Roosevelt passed away and the idea was dropped, thank God!!
    Mac Arthur was awarded the MOH just for returning to the fight, after it was over. Also awarded himself two DFC for riding in a plane to look at a small part of North Korea. Those flying the plane and the crew got nothing.


  4. #4
    For some reason I keep getting logged out before I get my answer posted. Have to go now, will post later.


  5. #5
    Marine Friend Free Member USNAviator's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Glen Allen, Virginia
    Posts
    3,113
    Credits
    8,023
    Savings
    0
    Quote Originally Posted by Mongoose View Post
    Mac Arthur was awarded the MOH just for returning to the fight, after it was over. Also awarded himself two DFC for riding in a plane to look at a small part of North Korea. Those flying the plane and the crew got nothing.
    Billy

    Johnson (LBJ) was awarded the Silver Star by MacArthur in 1942 for being an observer in a bomber allegedly attacked by several Japanese planes.

    No one else in the plane got a thing. Johnson wore the lapel pin his entire life. I would have been too ashamed to even acknowledge it.



  6. #6
    Mongoose, We didn't think too much about it, it would have just been more of the same. We were training but I was sure hoping for a ship to come home when the war ended, then we were sent to Japan. Okinawa was a preview of what Invasion of Japan would have been like.


  7. #7
    Mongoose
    Guest Free Member
    I realize there are pros and cons about the atomic bombs used in Japan. But in the long haul it saved uncountable lives. They would have fought to the death.


  8. #8
    WW II book for sale:

    "My Three Years in the Marine Corps" by Ray Merrell

    My personal memories from enlistment through returning home
    three years later from the South Pacific. Written from diary entries
    memories and letters home.

    $15.00 each or 2 for $25.00 Autographed (includes postage)

    Order from:

    Ray Merrell
    827 Dixie
    Liberty, Mo. 64068


Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not Create Posts
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts