An official website of the United States government

Here's how you know

Official websites use .mil

A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.

Secure .mil websites use HTTPS

A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Marines

PHOTOS

Forward Deployed. Forward Engaged.

Filter

Type 99 Arisaka

Type 99 Arisaka

Photo by Cpl. Alex Fairchild

Type 99 Arisaka

Type 99 Arisaka

Photo by Cpl. Alex Fairchild

Bloodstained helmet from Jack Jackson, dated April 1, 1945. Was worn through 2 Marine invasions.

Bloodstained helmet from Jack Jackson, dated April 1, 1945. Was worn through 2 Marine invasions.

Photo by Cpl. Alex Fairchild

Anti Vehicular and Anti Personnel LandMine

Anti Vehicular and Anti Personnel LandMine

Photo by Cpl. Alex Fairchild

Ceramic hand grenades (half moon hill)

Ceramic hand grenades (half moon hill)

Photo by Cpl. Alex Fairchild

Seninbari / 1000 stitch belt
When a Japanese soldier was called to war, the women in his family would make him a 1000 stitch belt. The stitches were collected from passersby in busy areas. The women asked people to add a stitch for their loved one. The blet was most often worn over the belly when a Japanese serviceman was fighting so as to protect his spirit from harm.

Seninbari / 1000 stitch belt When a Japanese soldier was called to war, the women in his family would make him a 1000 stitch belt. The stitches were collected from passersby in busy areas. The women asked people to add a stitch for their loved one. The blet was most often worn over the belly when a Japanese serviceman was fighting so as to protect his spirit from harm.

Photo by Cpl. Alex Fairchild

“The reality of war”
This canteen, with over 30 bullet holes, was worn by a Marine during the Battle of Sugar Loaf Hill.

“The reality of war” This canteen, with over 30 bullet holes, was worn by a Marine during the Battle of Sugar Loaf Hill.

Photo by Cpl. Alex Fairchild

American Air Forces of World War 2

American Air Forces of World War 2

Photo by Cpl. Alex Fairchild

The Kamikaze
The Kamikaze, or special attack corps were groups of Army and Naval aviators tasked with the destruction of allied Naval ships. Some of these pilots would be specifically tasked with ramming their aircraft into ships or other designated targets. While other members of the unit would act as a screening force for those designated. One popular and lasting myth that exists is that these pilots were given little training beyond the rudimentary operation of the aircraft. While this may be true in some cases, it was not for the overall number of pilots. These pilots saw themselves as engaging viable military targets and did so out of military necessity.

The Kamikaze The Kamikaze, or special attack corps were groups of Army and Naval aviators tasked with the destruction of allied Naval ships. Some of these pilots would be specifically tasked with ramming their aircraft into ships or other designated targets. While other members of the unit would act as a screening force for those designated. One popular and lasting myth that exists is that these pilots were given little training beyond the rudimentary operation of the aircraft. While this may be true in some cases, it was not for the overall number of pilots. These pilots saw themselves as engaging viable military targets and did so out of military necessity.

Photo by Cpl. Alex Fairchild

After the battle: Following the end of active combat on Okinawa in September 1945, the entire island fell into an odd never-land experience. The majority of the inhabited portions of the island had been devastated. In Shuri heights of the 2,500 individual residences the highest remaining wall would have reached your ankle. Large portions of the southern portion of the island was off limits to the Okinawans, because they had been turned into active military camps. The Military Island Government was hard pressed to support the numerous and dispersed civilian internment camps. As the reality finally became apparent that the war was over. Life began to be rebuilt in Okinawa. Because of the devastation that covered the entire island, raw materials were hard pressed to come by. Large numbers of supplies had been shipped to Okinawa for the invasion of mainland Japan. But in the chaos of a quick end of the war no orders were received in regards with what to do with the materials. The Okinawans took to raiding the American dumps for scrap material and goods. This helped to bring about the rise of the black market on Okinawa which would see its peak reached during the Korean war until it would begin its decline.

After the battle: Following the end of active combat on Okinawa in September 1945, the entire island fell into an odd never-land experience. The majority of the inhabited portions of the island had been devastated. In Shuri heights of the 2,500 individual residences the highest remaining wall would have reached your ankle. Large portions of the southern portion of the island was off limits to the Okinawans, because they had been turned into active military camps. The Military Island Government was hard pressed to support the numerous and dispersed civilian internment camps. As the reality finally became apparent that the war was over. Life began to be rebuilt in Okinawa. Because of the devastation that covered the entire island, raw materials were hard pressed to come by. Large numbers of supplies had been shipped to Okinawa for the invasion of mainland Japan. But in the chaos of a quick end of the war no orders were received in regards with what to do with the materials. The Okinawans took to raiding the American dumps for scrap material and goods. This helped to bring about the rise of the black market on Okinawa which would see its peak reached during the Korean war until it would begin its decline.

Photo by Cpl. Alex Fairchild

The withdraw south: Starting with the collapse of the 2nd Shuri line on the 22nd of may, LtGen Ushijima began issuing orders for the remainder of 32nd Army to begin their withdrawal to their final positions in the south. Large numbers of civilians that had crowded around Shuri castle and the headquarters of the 32nd Army were caught up in the withdrawal. Originally missing the withdrawal, LtGen Buckner ordered the shelling of the roads and paths that led south. Civilians and soldiers inner mixed pushed south where shelled almost constantly along their long march south. The mixing of civilians and the military made it almost impossible to distinguish between the two. Adding to the confusion was the fact that some of the Japanese troops tried to disguise themselves as civilians but kept their military equipment. It quickly became apparent that it was impossible to separate the two groups in their withdrawal south. The civilians were told to go to the Chinen peninsula while the military withdrew to the final two pieces of defensible terrain available to them.

The withdraw south: Starting with the collapse of the 2nd Shuri line on the 22nd of may, LtGen Ushijima began issuing orders for the remainder of 32nd Army to begin their withdrawal to their final positions in the south. Large numbers of civilians that had crowded around Shuri castle and the headquarters of the 32nd Army were caught up in the withdrawal. Originally missing the withdrawal, LtGen Buckner ordered the shelling of the roads and paths that led south. Civilians and soldiers inner mixed pushed south where shelled almost constantly along their long march south. The mixing of civilians and the military made it almost impossible to distinguish between the two. Adding to the confusion was the fact that some of the Japanese troops tried to disguise themselves as civilians but kept their military equipment. It quickly became apparent that it was impossible to separate the two groups in their withdrawal south. The civilians were told to go to the Chinen peninsula while the military withdrew to the final two pieces of defensible terrain available to them.

Photo by Cpl. Alex Fairchild

Artillery

Artillery

Photo by Cpl. Alex Fairchild

“Chikara” flag. This type of flag is a Chikara flag due to the repeated kanji which reads “Chikara” meaning power. The Kanji in the upper right hand corner reads Okamoto Saburo which is the owner’s name. The second line from the right reads Bunchokyu which translates to good luck in battle. This flag was picked up during the Battle of Okinawa by a 6th Marine Division veteran.

“Chikara” flag. This type of flag is a Chikara flag due to the repeated kanji which reads “Chikara” meaning power. The Kanji in the upper right hand corner reads Okamoto Saburo which is the owner’s name. The second line from the right reads Bunchokyu which translates to good luck in battle. This flag was picked up during the Battle of Okinawa by a 6th Marine Division veteran.

Photo by Cpl. Alex Fairchild

Artillery fragmentation

Artillery fragmentation

Photo by Cpl. Alex Fairchild

Airborne radio equipment

Airborne radio equipment

Photo by Cpl. Alex Fairchild

Airborne radio equipment

Airborne radio equipment

Photo by Cpl. Alex Fairchild

The figures in this case were created by Mr. Matsuichi Ashimine from the Shuri district of Naha. Mr. Ashimine passed away in 2004.

The figures in this case were created by Mr. Matsuichi Ashimine from the Shuri district of Naha. Mr. Ashimine passed away in 2004.

Photo by Cpl. Alex Fairchild

Machine gun

Machine gun

Photo by Cpl. Alex Fairchild

M-1 Rifle Upper receiver found near half-moon hill in 2012. The receiver was found near pieces of a destroyed AMTRAC.

M-1 Rifle Upper receiver found near half-moon hill in 2012. The receiver was found near pieces of a destroyed AMTRAC.

Photo by Cpl. Alex Fairchild

Browning Automatic Rifle

Browning Automatic Rifle

Photo by Cpl. Alex Fairchild

Marine Corps Base Camp Butler