Excellent account of the final battle, with absolutely convincing argument in favor of dropping the bombs. ( )

2457 Tennozan: The Battle of Okinawa and the Atomic Bomb, by George Feifer (read 12 Aug 1992) This is a detailed look at that most vital and fearsome battle of the Pacific War, which began April 1, 1945, and ended July 2, 1945. It tells of the battle from the viewpoint of the people fighting--on both sides. I have never read a more real account of the emotions of the fighters. It tells of atrocities , on both sides, and its last chapter is the most convincing account I have ever read as to why the dropping of the two atomic bombs was absolutely necessary to save American and Japanese lives. I think one can be sure that if the bombs had not been dropped my brother Roman and a million others would have died in the invasion of Japan. This book is the best book I'll ever read on the battle for Okinawa--and while as I was reading it I thought it needed a better editor to shorten and chronologize it, its last chapters are stunning and frightfully moving and convincing. The author says the most impressive book he has read by a participant in the battle is E. B. Sledge's With the Old Breed at Pelelieu and Okinawa, published in 1983. Okinawa was returned to Japan by the U.S. in 192, but we still have lots of bases there, this book says. This is a very great book. ( )

This is an excellent volume on a little-known battle. It's essential for anyone interested in knowing the true story of the pacific theatre of WWII, as well as anyone who wants to understand one of the main reasons the US decided to drop the atomic bomb. ( )