This episode may be disturbing for some listeners.

The story contains child murder and assault, depictions of war, and domestic violence.

Listener discretion is advised.

Allied forces needed Okinawa and especially Kedena Air Base because of how close it was to Japan. Being that close

would make it vital to their war efforts. It would put U.S. troops physically closer, but also

give the enemy a feel for what an invasion of their country would feel like. But no one was

ready for how bloody and horrific this invasion would be.

Allied forces descended into Okinawa on March 26, 1945.

More than 184,000 soldiers and Marines landed on their beaches.

In northern Okinawa, the 10th Army swept across the island.

They captured Kedena and Yomitan air bases within hours

of arriving in Okina. Then they took over Kedena and built their own air base, while Marines headed north.

In southern Okinawa, the 6th Marine Division made their way through, while the 96th U.S. Army

Infantry Division encountered

heavy fighting in central Okinawa.

For a lot of young men, this was the first time they would encounter such horrors.

Japanese troops were known for stabbing themselves with samurai swords to avoid capture.

One often used tactic by the Japanese military was kamikaze attacks.

Pilots flew straight down onto navy ships to cause damage, but also killed themselves in the process.

The horrors of this battle never left the minds of those who lived through it.

But there was so much more than just that.

With this tragic past, it's no wonder that the islands of Okinawa and the Kedena Air Base

...