April-June 1945, the U.S. planned that Okinawa, ounce captured, would serve as a staging area for an invasion of the main islands.

Okinawa saw 82 days of brutal warfare in horrific conditions. The U.S. fought a bloody battle of attrition against an enemy concealed in intricate under defense systems.

When the island was finally secured more than 12,000 U.S. soldiers were dead or missing, 36,000 wounded and 70,000 Japanese soldiers died on Okinawa, joined by as many as 100,000 to 150,000 civilians were trapped in the crossfire.