Memorial service honors American casualties during Battle of Okinawa

Courtesy Photo | Lt. Gen. Richard C. Zilmer, commanding general of III Marine Expeditionary Force, speaks at Peace Memorial Park, June 23, during the Battle of Okinawa memorial ceremony. (Photo by Lance Cpl. Tyler A. Hlavac)  

06.29.2007

Courtesy Story

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

By Lance Cpl. Tyler A. Hlavac

The United Service Organization sponsored a memorial ceremony at Peace Memorial Park, Saturday, remembering those who gave their lives during the battle of Okinawa.

Veterans of the battle, active duty service members and surviving family members gathered at the ceremony, which featured several guest speakers including Lt. Gen. Richard C. Zilmer, the commanding general of the III Marine Expeditionary Force, and Carmela A. Conroy, the deputy principal officer for the American consulate general in Naha.

Zilmer gave praise to the service members who served in the battle.

"As we remember these brave warriors and their comrades in arms today, we must look to the future as well as the past," Zilmer said.

"In today's world, freedom comes cloaked in uncertainty. America still relies on her sons and daughters to defend her liberty."

The battle of Okinawa was one of the last major battles of World War II and was the last ground combat offensive during the pacific campaign. During the battle, over 12,000 American service members lost their lives, along with more than 90,000 Japanese service members and civilians.

One of the veterans on hand at the ceremony was Terry Tsubota who served in the Marine Corps as a translator during the battle.

"It's important that we gather here and remember those who lost their lives in the Battle of Okinawa," said Tsubota.

"The only reason our country is where it is today is because of them," he said. Michael Oshiro, an Army veteran and current member of the USO, spoke about the importance of having an American memorial ceremony that coincides with the Okinawan ceremony.

"Okinawans have always had a ceremony to recognize their war dead at the Okinawan memorial, but we never had a strong American presence at the American memorial up until 2000," said Oshiro, who helps to publicize the ceremony. "It's important to honor the sacrifices and the willingness to fight for freedom that our veterans showed."

Lance Cpl. Joe Jordan, a supply clerk with the Electronics Maintenance Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 35 on Camp Kinser, had similar feelings about the memorial.

"We can't forget our past and what helped shape the Marine Corps and make it the way it is today," he said.

• Date Taken: 06.29.2007
• Date Posted: 06.28.2007 23:51
• Story ID: 11021