Author: Seth Davis
"Yesterday, December 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - The United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan...As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense...With confidence in our armed forces - with the unbounded determination of our people - we will gain the inevitable triumph - so help us God."
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U.S. Involvement In the Pacific Theater
On December 7th 1941, the Japanese carried out an air and naval strike on the United States of America. Nearly twenty naval bases were badly damaged and millions of dollars worth of equipment was destroyed. Immediately after the attack, the U.S. declared war on Japan.
The Japanese had been making steady progress in the pacific and the U.S. made it clear that they were going to put a stop to it. As said by U.S. Admiral Halsey, "Before we're through with them, the Japanese language will be spoken only in hell.!" The U.S. attacks started in the Solomon Islands, a small group of islands just East of New Guinea. There were approximately twenty battles fought, but none that were crucial to claiming victory over Japan. The U.S. continued making steady progress, but found it hard to take control without taking bigger areas. In February of 1945 the U.S. stormed the beaches of Iwo Jima in hopes of establishing an air base to bomb Japan. After a month of combat, the U.S. finally claimed victory. Almost directly after Iwo Jima, the U.S. took Okinawa, the largest battle in the Pacific. Following these two major battles, and the two atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan made a formal surrender and the war was officially over.
The Japanese had been making steady progress in the pacific and the U.S. made it clear that they were going to put a stop to it. As said by U.S. Admiral Halsey, "Before we're through with them, the Japanese language will be spoken only in hell.!" The U.S. attacks started in the Solomon Islands, a small group of islands just East of New Guinea. There were approximately twenty battles fought, but none that were crucial to claiming victory over Japan. The U.S. continued making steady progress, but found it hard to take control without taking bigger areas. In February of 1945 the U.S. stormed the beaches of Iwo Jima in hopes of establishing an air base to bomb Japan. After a month of combat, the U.S. finally claimed victory. Almost directly after Iwo Jima, the U.S. took Okinawa, the largest battle in the Pacific. Following these two major battles, and the two atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan made a formal surrender and the war was officially over.
Solomon Islands
A small group of islands East of New Guinea where the U.S. and Japanese fought for control.
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Iwo Jima
An island defended by over 23,000 Japanese soldiers that resulted in one of the largest battles of World War II.
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Okinawa
The final battle of the Pacific Islands was Okinawa. Involving approximately 268,000 U.S. troops, and 130,000 Japanese. Making this one of the largest battles the U.S. was involved in.
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Solomon Islands
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japan achieved a long series of military victories. In December 1941, Guam and Wake Island fell to Japanese forces. In 1942 the Japanese invaded the Philippines, the Dutch East Indies, Hong Kong, Malaya, Singapore, and Burma. After this string of victories, the Japanese moved toward the Solomon Islands and took control.
The turning point in the Pacific war came with the American naval victory in the Battle of Midway in June 1942. The Japanese fleet sustained heavy losses and was turned back. In August 1942, American forces attacked the Japanese in the Solomon Islands, forcing a costly withdrawal of Japanese forces from the island of Guadalcanal in February 1943. Allied forces slowly gained naval and air supremacy in the Pacific, and moved methodically from island to island, conquering them and often sustaining significant casualties.
The turning point in the Pacific war came with the American naval victory in the Battle of Midway in June 1942. The Japanese fleet sustained heavy losses and was turned back. In August 1942, American forces attacked the Japanese in the Solomon Islands, forcing a costly withdrawal of Japanese forces from the island of Guadalcanal in February 1943. Allied forces slowly gained naval and air supremacy in the Pacific, and moved methodically from island to island, conquering them and often sustaining significant casualties.
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Iwo Jima
In 1945, the United States grew tired of meaningless battles on insignificant islands in the pacific. They decided to take the fight straight to Japan, but in order to do this, they first needed an airfield near the coast of Japan. Iwo Jima happened to be in the prime location for this, just 575 miles off the coast of Japan. The U.S. knew that if they could take this victory, the war's end would be within sight. Unfortunately, the island was inhabited by 23,000 Army and Navy Japanese soldiers. On February 19th of 1945, the U.S. landed three Marine divisions, a total of about 60,000 soldiers.
Even though the U.S. outnumbered the Japanese 3 to 1, it took over a month to declare a victory. The U.S. soldiers landed without any resistance. The Japanese had been expecting the U.S. invasion and in preparation, dug a system of tunnels all throughout the island. Even though there were over 80,000 troops on the island, there were not many “battles”. Most fighting on the island consisted of ambushes, or tunnel clearings.
In 1945, the United States grew tired of meaningless battles on insignificant islands in the pacific. They decided to take the fight straight to Japan, but in order to do this, they first needed an airfield near the coast of Japan. Iwo Jima happened to be in the prime location for this, just 575 miles off the coast of Japan. The U.S. knew that if they could take this victory, the war's end would be within sight. Unfortunately, the island was inhabited by 23,000 Army and Navy Japanese soldiers. On February 19th of 1945, the U.S. landed three Marine divisions, a total of about 60,000 soldiers.
Even though the U.S. outnumbered the Japanese 3 to 1, it took over a month to declare a victory. The U.S. soldiers landed without any resistance. The Japanese had been expecting the U.S. invasion and in preparation, dug a system of tunnels all throughout the island. Even though there were over 80,000 troops on the island, there were not many “battles”. Most fighting on the island consisted of ambushes, or tunnel clearings.
The U.S. declared victory on March 26th of 1945, but it wasn’t without great sacrifice. In all, the U.S. lost 5,900 men, and 17,400 were injured. The Japanese suffered significantly more. Almost 22,000 Japanese soldiers were killed, and 1,100 were taken prisoner.
By taking Iwo Jima, the U.S. was able to construct an airfield and speed the process of the war. Within five and a half months, Japan made a formal surrender, and the war was over.
By taking Iwo Jima, the U.S. was able to construct an airfield and speed the process of the war. Within five and a half months, Japan made a formal surrender, and the war was over.
U.S. Marines landing on the beaches of Iwo Jima U.S. Marines storming the beaches of Iwo Jima
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Okinawa
The battle of Okinawa started in April of 1945 and lasted until July. It was the last, and largest battle in the Pacific theater. Roughly 270,000 U.S. soldiers landed on an island defended by 130,000 Japanese soldiers.
The Japanese forces routinely fought on the beaches of the island as their enemy stormed out of their boats, but in this particular battle they changed their tactics of resisting at the water’s edge to defend within the jungles of the island. This created a very strong defense for the Japanese on the island, making it very difficult for the U.S. forces to infiltrate the island headquarters. This battle plan was designed to gain time. The Japanese navy and army also mounted massive air attacks by planes on U.S. forces at sea by using "kamikaze pilots." U.S. forces lost devastating amounts of precious equipment and soldiers due to these attacks. The net result made Okinawa a mass blood battle both on land and at sea.
A series of defense lines across the island, both north and south of the American landing points, enabled the Japanese to conduct a fierce defense of Okinawa over many weeks. Using strong points, caves, and even some ancient castles, the Japanese defense positions supported one another and often resisted even the most determined artillery fire or air strikes. The Japanese made few attacks themselves, due to the fact that they conserved their strength for this "impenetrable" defense. U.S. forces often had to destroy caves individually with dynamite charges.
Because this battle took place in an environment much more heavily populated than most Pacific islands, the civilian casualties amounted to nearly 100,000. On top of the 100,000 civilian deaths, the U.S. lost almost 10,000 soldiers and the Japanese lost nearly 100,000.
The commanding generals on both sides died during the duration of this battle: American general Simon B. Buckner Jr. was killed by artillery fire, and Japanese general Ushijima Mitsuru died by suicide.
The Japanese forces routinely fought on the beaches of the island as their enemy stormed out of their boats, but in this particular battle they changed their tactics of resisting at the water’s edge to defend within the jungles of the island. This created a very strong defense for the Japanese on the island, making it very difficult for the U.S. forces to infiltrate the island headquarters. This battle plan was designed to gain time. The Japanese navy and army also mounted massive air attacks by planes on U.S. forces at sea by using "kamikaze pilots." U.S. forces lost devastating amounts of precious equipment and soldiers due to these attacks. The net result made Okinawa a mass blood battle both on land and at sea.
A series of defense lines across the island, both north and south of the American landing points, enabled the Japanese to conduct a fierce defense of Okinawa over many weeks. Using strong points, caves, and even some ancient castles, the Japanese defense positions supported one another and often resisted even the most determined artillery fire or air strikes. The Japanese made few attacks themselves, due to the fact that they conserved their strength for this "impenetrable" defense. U.S. forces often had to destroy caves individually with dynamite charges.
Because this battle took place in an environment much more heavily populated than most Pacific islands, the civilian casualties amounted to nearly 100,000. On top of the 100,000 civilian deaths, the U.S. lost almost 10,000 soldiers and the Japanese lost nearly 100,000.
The commanding generals on both sides died during the duration of this battle: American general Simon B. Buckner Jr. was killed by artillery fire, and Japanese general Ushijima Mitsuru died by suicide.
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For a more in depth explanation of the U.S. involvement in the Pacific theater view the following slideshow.