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BOOKS REVIEWED
[continued from page 53]
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“The Ultimate Battle,” estimates that the
“Floating Chrysanthemum” tactic cost the
Japanese air force approximately 1,900
kamikazes destroyed at Okinawa.
With the collapse of Sugar Loaf Hill,
supported by two ridges the Marines named
Half Moon and Horseshoe, the Shuri Line
was finally breached. But, yet again, the
remaining Japanese retreated south.
Sloan stated that he hoped that “The
Ultimate Battle” would be the ultimate
book on the Okinawa campaign. His painstaking research combined with his relaxed writing style will aid readers to better
understand the horrific scope and scale
of this mighty conflict. The book can be
appreciated by historians as well as the
casual reader of military history. Sloan
blends copious historical research with
the compelling eyewitness reports of airman, sailors, soldiers and Marines.
Sloan has done an extraordinary job of
adding to the historical record while merging it with personal narratives of a diverse
group of surviving participants. His work
is a well-received addition to the history
of the Okinawa campaign and the war in
the Pacific. However, it should be noted
that the true “ultimate battle” of World
War II—being the invasion of the Japanese homeland—was planned but, thankfully, never executed.
Marine William Manchester, author
and Okinawa participant who wrote the
following, is quoted in Sloan’s book:
“The capture of Iwo Jima, less than eight
square miles of volcanic ash, had cost
25,849 Marines. … Okinawa’s price had
been 49,151. …
“If the Japanese could draw that much
blood in the outer islands of their defense
perimeter, how formidable would they be
on the 14,151 square miles of their five
home islands, where they would be joined
… by every member of the civilian population old enough to carry a hand grenade? Partly due to the horrendous and
costly campaign on the island of Okinawa,
President [Harry] Truman courageously
resolved to utilize newly evolving atomic
power to prevent what would, surely, have
been the war’s ‘ultimate battle.’”
Robert B. Loring
Editor’s note: With this review, Marine
veteran “Red Bob” Loring completes 50
book reviews for Leatherneck readers.
When not reading, Bob works ceaselessly
in support of East Pasco County, Fla.’s
community efforts, including Tots for Tots.
