Chojun: A Novel by Powell Goran

Author:Powell, Goran [Powell, Goran]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook, book
Publisher: YMAA Publication Center
Published: 2012-12-01T00:00:00+00:00

D-day Okinawa

We had been expecting the invasion fleet and knew of its size. Nevertheless, it was a sobering sight to see it arrive in our waters, a fleet so vast that it stretched for several miles across the ocean, and its rearguard fell away beyond the horizon. I drove Yahara to a vantage point where he could examine it through his binoculars. The exact figures were later confirmed: 40 aircraft carriers, 18 battleships, 32 cruisers, and over 200 destroyers. The total number of ships was 1,600—the largest Pacific fleet ever assembled, and second only to the Normandy landings.

After a feint attack on the southeastern coast, the Americans landed on the west coast near Kadena, exactly as Yahara had predicted. The landing had been preceded by six days of artillery barrages and bombing raids, each one more powerful than the last. American firepower was both awesome and terrible to behold. Giant arcs of fire stretched from the behemoths at sea to the coast. The enemy had the power to light up the sky with thunder and lightning, bending nature itself to its will. On the night before their planned troop landing, they unleashed a sustained three hours of fury that was more terrifying than anything previously. When the maelstrom of shells and bombs finally abated, an eight-mile strip of sandy beach and leafy forest had been annihilated—but nothing else. Our coastal defenses had been withdrawn long ago and the entire show had been a gigantic waste of ammunition.

As soon as the sun peeked over the horizon, streams of enemy landing craft and amphibious tanks began racing for the beach. When they hit the shore, the troops scurried like angry ants, crawling through the sand and digging frantically to create a safe beachhead.

We watched it all from ten miles away on the ramparts of Shuri Castle. Cho bristled with anticipation of the battle, and smirked as he passed his binoculars to Yahara, “The Americans are pissing in their pants on an empty beach.” His bravado was infectious and the other officers laughed. Even Yahara couldn’t resist a grin of his own, and the corners of General Ushijima’s moustache twitched as he watched through his own binoculars. The other officers joined in with jokes of their own, offering cigarettes around and enjoying the spectacle of the American landing.

I noticed Yahara shift the binoculars from the beach to the sky. He was hoping to see the air-attack he’d requested from Tokyo High Command. With so many troops in the open, it was the perfect time to deal the enemy a devastating blow, but there was no sign of the air force. He handed the binoculars back to Cho without comment, but from his expression I could see he shared some of the buoyant mood despite Tokyo’s lack of support. This was his chance to put his tactical genius to the test, to lock horns with a truly formidable foe. I knew he relished the prospect of the hated Americans coming up against his iron-clad defenses.

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