Desmond Doss, the only conscientious objector to win the Medal of Honor during World War II spoke of his time fighting in the Pacific, “You can imagine being pinned down and can't move and receiving orders like that. Uncle Sam has to sacrifice lives for a very important objective and this was a very important objective. So with the help of the Lord we did move forward and we began to [unclear]. We had demolition squad, we had flame throwers, bazookas, [unclear], machine guns, we had the works” (“Private”). Doss describes perfectly how strong the American culture was as it pushed these brave even through the hardest moments and using the most violent methods. The victories that these soldiers died for changed the course of World War II forever and their …show more content…
bravery will never be forgotten. Luck and determination saved many lives from the treachery of Japan during the horrendous battles of the Pacific.
The battle of the Guadalcanal was an American victory yet it did not come without many lost lives and sacrifices. The battle of Midway was a clever and strategic fight of which United States attempted to use other tactics and capture the element of surprise. The Battle of Okinawa is perhaps the bloodiest and most gruesome of these three with thousands of casualties, but it was necessary for the demise of the Japanese Imperial Force. By analyzing the three largest battles in World War II, it will be determined which battle was the most significant to the victory of the Pacific. The Battle of Guadalcanal was the first major offensive victory of the Allied Powers in the Pacific Theater yet the Japanese gained just as much glory. The American forces were finally able to fully test their strength on land yet still the Japanese were fully capable of reciprocating the same energy and strength. A massive amount of American reinforcements came ready to attack the Japanese as 19,000 soldiers were set on foot and backed up by three fleet carriers (Dear 512). The victory for the Americans eventually came down to numbers. The Japanese simply lost
more men because they invested 24,600 men into this battle, including land, air and sea troops. They were only able to save less than half of the malnourished men at a total of 10,630 soldiers (Tucker). However, the U.S. severely underestimated Guadalcanal’s terrain. They knew very little about the island and the maps that were provided were inaccurate, making the American force very vulnerable (Dear 512). Both sides had the common struggle of maintaining supplies during this fight. The National World War II Museum of New Orleans proves this point further by saying, “The Campaign for the Guadalcanal became one of the longest in the Pacific and turn into a battle of attrition, as both American and Japanese forces struggled to stay in a fight that stretched the limits of their supplies” (“Focus”). An example of this was when the General of the American forces was frightened by the possible attacks that loomed over the men. To try and soften the possible blow his men might have encountered, he chose to remove his fleet which left the marines to themselves for a considerable period of time. When he returned to the island with 50,000 new recruits in December of 1942, 5,000 sailors had died and the rest were extremely desperate for assistance (Burbeck). While the Americans struggled, they never forgot their main objective; to limit the Japanese resources so that they could not continue to conquer other areas. Probably one of the most pointless attacks took place during this battle. Between Savo island and Cape Esperance the two enemies collided in the night. It was totally dark and both sides could not correctly calculate the location of the enemy. As a result they started to fire into the black of night, often hitting their own ships leaving both sides heavily damaged and at a draw. All except one destroyer was damaged (Dupuy 79 vol. 11). Dupuy, the writer of the book The Naval War in the Pacific: Rising Sun of Nippon explains, “ Though they had made more mistakes, and had finally failed, they had gained as much glory as Americans” (Dupuy 86 vol. 11). He describes perfectly that although Americans did not lose, it was more of a draw. This battle was an important stepping stone to the future success of the Allied Powers yet all these events added up to a battle that was won by the Americans yet at a great cost, making the Battle of Guadalcanal less monumental as a turning point in the war. The Battle of Midway was by far the most significant battle between the Japanese imperial navy and the United States Pacific fleet. A big contribution to American success in this battle was the strong and wise leadership in addition to the detrimental mistakes that Japanese Leaders made. Yamamoto, the general of the Japanese, had solid plans yet his execution left these plans with holes and led to crucial mistakes. For example, he set up submarines around Midway which were armed with torpedoes. They had the chance to really harm the Americans as they passed them yet somehow the Japanese were unable to detect the enemy as it passed them (Dupuy 57-59 vol. 11). Another example of bad tactics, which the Japanese were well known for, was the fighting tactic infamously called the Kamikaze piolets. These men were suicide bombers who would purposely sacrifice themselves and their planes to try and destroy the allied powers. The flaws in this tactic are very clear. The aim of the pilots was not always correct and they lost a lot of soldiers, planes, and submarines by doing this (Dupuy 60-61 vol. 11). Conversely, American leaders such as Captain Richard Fleming after realizing that is plane was hit, bravely crashed it into a Japanese cruiser which caused significant damage. He was later awarded the Metal of Honor for what he did for the United States (Dupuy 64-66 vol. 11). With good leadership also came smart planning. The Americans were always ready and well equipped to take on the enemy. For example, they were able to intercept orders from Yamamoto himself via radio communications. The men who worked on capturing this information were called code breakers which helped target crucial battle orders and schedules. For example, Yamamoto sent out a decoy attack on Alaskan bases but America knew that Midway was the true target. By being always one step ahead of Japan, the U.S. was able to force a triumphant victory. The Japanese did not have the right mindset because this was just six months after Pearl Harbor and they were over confident. It never once crossed their minds that they might lose this battle (“Coral”). America however, knew how important this battle would be because the attack on Pearl Harbor was still fresh in their minds and it motivated every soldier to try and help in any way they could. They knew that the Japanese Imperial Force had the capability to cut communications with Australia which would have possibly resulted in Japan winning the war (Dear 511). After a long and hard battle it was clear that Japan could not win. They had put all their might into this battle and all of their carriers had been destroyed. Japans destroyers were tactically spread too far apart for any of them to come in as back up so as a result many fleets were left stranded (Dupuy 56-57 vol. 11). This victory was essential to the defeat of the Japanese. Its importance is shown throughout history as Japan was never able to recover from this loss and henceforth condemned to fighting defensively for the remainder of the war. American forces showed such immense strength and courage that the enemy did not stand a chance making this win extremely substantial to the overall conquering the Imperial Force which is why the Battle of Midway is the turning point in the war in the Pacific. Okinawa was the final battle in which many men died making this the most gruesome and bloodiest encounters during the Pacific Theater. Americans fought very hard during this battle to try and gain more land, sea, and territory but the Japanese were always there and were ready to make the Americans as miserable as possible. The Japanese army tried to used the element of surprise by strategically placing its’ soldiers in every ditch which made the death toll rise even higher. For both parties this battle was vital to the success of the war because Okinawa was a vital air base which the Americans needed to conquer if they ever wanted to attack the mainland of Japan in the future (Dupuy 96 vol. 9). The problem with this battle was that there were a significant number of civilian deaths because many of the battles took place in highly populated areas. Over 100,000 civilians died and the Americans took a tough blow with 13,000 deaths and 36,000 wounded (Dupuy 107 vol. 9). All of this adds up to one of the bloodiest battles in the Pacific. This made it clear that the Allied Forces would win but at a great cost in terms of how much this battle cost and how many lives it took. More specifically, the Japanese lost approximately 120,000 troops in this battle because they gave it everything they had (“Battle of Okinawa Ends”). The devastating blows to both sides made this battle unforgettable yet not always in a good way. Many U.S. carries and vessels were destroyed while all of the Japanese vessels were destroyed including all four carriers that were used in this battle. The men such as Desmond Doss fought courageously in this war but at a very large cost. The price for victory was too large for the Battle of Okinawa to be considered the turning point in the war. It is looked at more as the solidifying battle to guarantee success for the United States whereas after the Battle of Midway changed Japan’s entire war strategy. Even though it is clear that the Battle of Midway is the significant turning point for the Allied powers, one aspect that is always a constant is the continuous bravery that American soldiers showed throughout World War II. Men like Desmond Doss put his country and God before himself and for that the Allied powers succeeded to destroy the immense evil during the war. Without the full support of the American people behind them, the Pacific Theater would not have ended the way it did. All three of these battles were fought well and were thoroughly strategic but Midway cannot help from standing out as the true turning point of the war. Guadalcanal was at a draw in the end which all though crushed the Japanese confidence; it was not nearly as significant. As for the Battle of Okinawa, it deserves much praise for prevailing through such a tragic event yet the death toll was too high and the Japanese could see that the Allied Powers would succeed in the end. By specifically analyzing three important battles in the Pacific it is apparent that the Battle of Midway was the most influential and the turning point of the Pacific Theater.
In May of 1942, Japanese Admiral Isorosku Yamamoto devised a plan to draw the US Pacific fleet into battle where he could completely destroy it. To accomplish this master plan of his, he sought out the invasion of Midway Island which would provide a base for the Japan troops to attack Hawaii. Unfortunately for Yamamoto, America decrypted Japanese radio transmissions and Admiral Chester Nimitz was able to establish a counter attack against this offensive. Nimitz sent three aircraft carriers, The USS Enterprise, The USS Hornet and The USS Yorktown to destroy the Japanese. This is just a short overview of The Battle of Midway, or as commonly referred to as, the battle that changed the war. People argue that it had no affect on the war, but those critics couldn’t be farther from the truth. The Battle of Midway was the turning point of the war because it fully enters America into the war, it kicked off the Pacific Campaign, and it had Japan on the defensive, thus preventing them from helping The Axis Forces.
In 1960, at the age of twenty-four, Philip Caputo enlists in the United Sates Marine Corps in hopes of escaping his relaxed lifestyle in the quaint town of Westchester, Illinois. Caputo is interested in proving himself a man and earning respect in response to President John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address to the nation. “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country” are the famous words that pushed many young men into the patriotic world of enlistment, in order to defend American ideals. Caputo’s expectations of the war in Vietnam are to achieve heroic acts, finish his missions quickly and efficiently, get out in one piece, and return home to a supportive country interested in his heroic adventures.
World War II, along with its numerous battles, brought great tension between two of the strongest countries during the 1940s: the United States and Japan. Conflict between these two countries started with Japan’s push past Chinese borders into Manchuria in search of the natural resources Japan lacks. At first, the United States avoided military action with Japan by waging economic warfare on them. This economic pressure included the passing of the Neutrality Act, which prohibited the sale of weapons to nations at war (Nash 513). Additionally, the United States placed oil embargoes on Japan hoping it would force Japan to shut down military operations in China. Japan, at a critical decision point, decided to bomb the American naval base at Pearl Harbor. On December 7th, 1941 at 6 a.m., Japan pilots bombed the naval base at Pearl Harbor, taking out the United States’ strongest battleships, killing thousands of people, and destroying hundreds of planes (Sherman). The day after Pearl Harbor, the United States declared war on Japan. Over the next few years, the United States and Japan fought fierce battles for dominance in the Pacific Ocean. One of the most important battles during the United States and Japanese war was the Battle of Midway. Japan was destroying the United States at sea, until the Battle of Midway gave the United States Pacific Fleet an edge on Japanese forces. The Battle of Midway was the most important naval engagement of World War II: it was a decisive battle that allowed the United States to be the dominant naval power in the Pacific and it marked a turning point in World War II for the United States.
Initially, Japanese strategists assumed that the tiny island would be overwhelmed in a matter of hours. However, they underestimated the fighting spirit of the military personnel and civilians stationed on the island. For sixteen days these brave men fought against overwhelming odds, but demonstrated both to the Japanese and to their fellow Americans back at home that the Americans could and would put up a courageous fight.
Morison, Samuel, E. (1960). Victory in the pacific, 1945 – history of the united states naval operations in world war ii. (Vol. 14, p. 389). Boston: Little Brown.
Of the 22,000 Japanese soldiers on the island, only 212 were taken prisoners. “Iwo Jima was the only battle by the U.S. Marine Corps in which the overall American casualties (killed and wounded) exceeded those of the Japanese, although Japanese combat deaths were thrice those of the Americans throughout the battle (O'Brien, 1987).”
Exemplary performance has always attracted accolades and numerous prices; this gives morale and vigor for everyone to achieve their best. In the disciplined forces, particularly the marine, the service members always receive a major reward that elevates them in rank; this is the medal. This rewards them for their bravery and contribution in the missions they are involved in. Indeed, they contribute a lot to the peace and security of the world at large and they truly deserve these medals for recognition (Tucker, 2011). This has been a practice for the U.S. Marine to issue Corps medals since the Civil War to present day. Among the Corps Medal categories include American Defense Medal-WWII, Armed Forces Civilian Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, and Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal among others. Since the Civil War there have been over 120 U.S. Marine Corps Medals. This paper identifies Lieutenant General Lewis Burwell “Chesty” Puller and describes why he has been one of the most decorated marines in the history of the U.S.
This battle was the start of America taking control of the war over the Pacific. This battle took place six months after Japan first struck Pearl Harbor. Many historians say this was the greatest air battle of all time. America not only proved that numbers didn’t matter, but showed that only leaders with clear eyes and soldiers with heart can win a battle of any size. Even before the battle started, America saw his attack coming.
Lanning, M. L. (2005). The History Place - Top Ten Battles of All Time. Retrieved from http://www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/topten/
The purpose of this paper is to discuss the Battle of Iwo Jima or Operation Detachment, the events that caused the battle and the after effects it had on the United States. The Battle of Iwo Jima was one of the most major battles of WWII of 1945. Although, during WWII many battles were fought this was one of the most important because, American invasion had the goal of capturing the entire island including its three airfields, to provide a staging area for attacks on the Japanese main islands. It was the fiercest and bloodiest fighting of War World II. The battles itself was immortalized by Joe Rosenthal's photograph of the raising of the U.S. flag on top of the Mount Suribachi by five U.S. Marines and one U.S. Navy battlefield Hospital Corpsman.
Last and biggest of the Pacific island battles of World War II, the Okinawa campaign (April 1—June 22, 1945) involved the 287,000 troops of the U.S. Tenth Army against 130,000 soldiers of the Japanese Thirty-second Army. At stake were air bases vital to the projected invasion of Japan ("Battle of Okinawa," 1996). The Battle of Okinawa remembered more for its iconic photograph of US Marines raising the US flag on Okinawa more so than any other war or battle ever fought. Okinawa the largest of the Ryukus islands played a major role in the American forces overall strategic efforts to advance to the mainland’s of Japan. Because it was the last major battle of WWII, the battle of Okinawa used lessons learned and TTP’s from all previous battles with the Japanese to successfully employ combined striking power of the services and techniques of amphibious operations.
Desmond T. Doss, war hero of War World II. The amazing unarmed medic, who saved the lives of seventy-five men on Okinawa in 1945.And became the first conscientious objector to receive the medal of honor. Frances Doss, author of Desmond Doss: The Conscientious Objector, which is Desmond Doss wife, who wrote the book in his honor. In this essay, I will include the summary, authors purpose, audience, and narrative quality to provide a rhetorical analysis of Doss's book.
The U.S. carried through all of the vital actions necessary with much intelligence. They practiced the tactics in The Art of War by Sun Tzu, furthering the probability of their success. With the Japanese's lack of executing their plans with efficiency and their failure to follow those guidelines that Sun Tzu had set, there was much disappointment from the unsuccessful attempts to defeat the U.S. Navy. The Battle of Midway was a very decisive battle in World War II, as it stopped the Japanese advances in the Pacific and prevented further expansion. American forces had conquered the invincible Japanese Navy.
World War II consisted of many devastating battles in both the European and the Pacific Theater. The Battle of Okinawa was fought in the Pacific theater. In the beginning of the battle there was little opposition from the Japanese soldiers but as the American troops traveled more inland the more resistance they met. Eventually, the 10th Army came against the fierce challenge of the intricate defense lines the Japanese held up. Many caves and pillboxes in the hills created a formidable challenge for American troops. Slowly though the Allies gained ground and continued to push back the defensive lines of General Ushijima and his troops. The Japanese tried to use kamikaze air and land attacks as successful offensive measures, these continued to produce little effect and failed each time. Finally, the Allies started to gain ground quite quickly. The Japanese had to move their defensive lines several time because the Americans were boxing them in. At las,t General Ushijima ordered everyman to fight till the death and the fighting became very disorganized. On June 21, all the loss ends were tied up. America had won Okinawa.
...Battle of Coral Sea was seen by the Japanese as a win by sheer numbers for the loss of the U.S.S. Lexington, but the Americans would see it as a victory for stopping the Japanese from attacking and controlling Port Moresby and the failure of the Japanese in cutting off the Australians and controlling the south pacific.