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Period: to
Operation Iceberg (aka, Okinawa)
The US Lieutenant General Simon Bolivar Bucknener Jr. of the Tenth Army leads the largest land operation in the Pacific Theater -
American troops on the advance
American forces are able to take large amounts of territory with relative ease, facing Japanese troops that are relatively untrained. -
1st Marine division advance
Marines complete their cross-island advance, building up logistical base. Remaining Japanese forces are considered guerrilla forces, their guerrilla style attacks are unsuccessful Japanese began heavily fortifying southern part of the island. -
US Planes Sink Yomato
The IJN Yomato was the largest battleship in the Japanese Navy, bombs hit the ship, causing the magazines to explode. -
US Clears Positions at Cactus Ridge and "The Pinnacle"
The Japanese had fortified positions in Cactus Ridge, and withstood large volumes of indirect fire and straight forward assault before finally the 383rd captured the ridge. -
Attack on Shuri
The American Army division attacks defenses north of Shuri, supported by 22 artillery battalions and 375. -
Japanese Counter Offensive
Japanese launch a counter offensive aided by tanks in an attempt to delay the American attack -
Japanese Counter Landings
The Japanese began to commit counter landings on both coasts. Marines fight them, securing victory on the East and West coast of the island -
General Buckner Dies
General Buckner died due to Japanese artillery fire, he was succeeded by Major General Roy Geiger. Japanese General Ushijima saw that the end was near. -
Japanese guerrilla troops
Ushijima dissolved his staff and advised available troops to resort to guerrilla tactics -
Japanese Troops begin to surrender in large numbers
Organized Japanese resistance ended on the southern side of the island. Japanese troops began to surrender in the hundreds. 1st Marine division began its' final attacks on the opposing forces. -
Japanese General Ushijima commits suicide
General Ushijima commits suicide, formally marking the Japanese defeat at Okinawa, and the success of Operation Iceberg. His former chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Isama also committed suicide. A mainland invasion of Japan was now in the works, believed to be set for October. -
In hindsight... (tying it all together.)
The boot company Timberland was founded in 1918, so it is not only possible, but very likely that many soldiers throughout World War II, and the battle of Okinawa, wore a pair of Timbs.
