As the war in the Pacific progressed, the United States and Allied troops fought the Japanese in places like New Guinea and the Marshall Islands, as they made their way closer to Japan's mainland. Okinawa was the intended base for the planned invasion of Japan. The Japanese, however, were entrenched, and the U.S. and Allied forces found themselves in one of the bloodiest battles of World War II. Over 100,000 Japanese soldiers, 50,000 U.S. and Allied troops, and more than 100,000 civilians lost their lives during this epic eighty-two-day battle.<br /><br />From Operation ICEBERG (the invasion of Okinawa) and the invasion of the Ryukyus to the fall of Shuri, <em>Okinawa: The Last Battle</em> offers eyewitness accounts by four U.S. Army combat historians. From their stories, faithfully reported here, learn how American soldiers softened up the Japanese targets before invading the Ryukyus. Read how supply operations, evacuations, and base developments were established. And, learn what it was like to be in battle. With over 200 black-and-white photos, charts, and maps, <em>Okinawa: The Last Battle</em> is the book for anyone who wants to know what the war in the Pacific was <em>really</em> like.