Background
In 1937,Japan initiated the Second Sino-Japanese War with the invasion of China.This conflict was a major drain on Japan’s resources.Faced with this “never ending war,”Japan needed to develop a strategy that would ensure access to the vital natural resources located in Southeast Asia (such as oil, rubber and tin) while enabling progress in China and Manchuria.Renowned historian Dennis Showalter,in his article titled “Storm over the Pacific:Japan’s Road to Empire and War,” provides a very cogent summary of Japan’s ultimate war strategy.His research indicates Japanese planners never envisaged a total defeat of western powers.Their intention was to strike a series of coordinated blows securing the critical resources of South Asia and establishing a defensive perimeter around them.This perimeter,extending well into the western Pacific Ocean,would be developed into a barrier of bases and fortifications impregnable to amphibious assault.Behind the shield,the Imperial Navy would wait to launch thrusts at enemy counterattacks from any direction,making up for inferior numbers by interior lines (supply, communications, etc.) and superior ships.
Japanese War Strategy
(Image:US Military Academy Map Collection)
Late 1941 and early 1942 saw a series of Japanese victories.By mid-1942,however,the tables were starting to turn.Allied victories at the Battle of Coral Sea (tactical win for Japan; strategic victory for US), the Battle of Midway,the Battle of Milne Bay (New Guinea) and the Battle of Guadalcanal halted Japanese expansion and were instrumental in shifting the strategic initiative to the Allies.US Navy submarine combat patrols also started to take what would become a devastating toll on Japanese merchant shipping operations in Asia.As forces under the command of Admiral Nimitz (led by Admiral William F. “Bull” Halsey) moved north bypassing and isolating Japanese strongholds (“island hoping”),General Douglas MacArthur’s troops pushed west along the northern coast of Papua New Guinea,grinding out a hard-fought victory by March of 1943.As MacArthur’s troops leaped from island to island in the southwest Pacific, a central Pacific campaign began with the invasion of Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands in November of 1943.By the end of the year, a two-pronged assault on Japan was well underway.
Allied Pacific Theater War Strategy
(Image:National WWII Museum)
As 1944 began,the southwest Pacific was largely under Allied control.By February,the Allies were also making progress in the central Pacific.The Marianas (Guam, Saipan, Tinian) were particularly important since they were close enough to Japan for the new, advanced US B-29 “Superfortresses” bombers to reach the mainland.Even before ground operations to secure the Marianas ended,Navy construction battalions (“Seabees”) were already clearing land for B-29 use.The first bombing runs began in October of 1944. Unfortunately,Japanese fighters taking off from Iwo Jima were intercepting B29s,as well as attacking the Mariana airfields.The US determined that the island had to be captured.
The Battle of Iwo Jima
“Among the men who fought on Iwo Jima, uncommon valor was a common virtue.”
Admiral Chester Nimitz, 16 March 1945
The US Navy and Marine team invaded Iwo Jima (Operation Detachment) on 19 February 1945,after months of pre-invasion bombardment.The Japanese defenders were dug into bunkers deep within the volcanic rocks.They had built hundreds of pillboxes, blockhouses,and gun sites, many of were so well constructed that only a direct hit from a battleship could cause serious damage.
Approximately 70,000 Marines and over 18,000 Japanese soldiers took part in the 36 days of fighting.The Japanese death toll approached 18,500 soldiers, and some 6,800 Marines were killed and 19,200 were wounded.The island was finally declared secured on 26 March 1945.The fact that Marines on Iwo Jima were forced to kill the Japanese essentially to the last man was a harbinger of things to come.Securing Iwo Jima prepared the way for the last and largest battle in the Pacific--the invasion of Okinawa.
Mount Suribachi,Iwo Jima (Image: Public Domain)
Marines Raise the Flag, Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima 23 February 1945 (Image: Public Domain)
The Battle of Okinawa
“Combat was violent and usually at close quarters. The Americans and Japanese engaged each other on numerous hillsides, and came face to face in caves, trenches, bunkers and pillboxes.
National WWII Museum
The Battle of Okinawa, or “Operation Iceberg,” started on 01 April 1945 and lasted until 21 June 1945 (82 days).Okinawa is located just 350 miles south of Kyushu,Japan. Its capture was considered necessary for a ground invasion of the Japanese home islands.Iceberg was the largest American amphibious landing of the Pacific War.The Japanese again made extensive use of caves and tunnel systems.The battle claimed the lives of more than 12,000 Americans and 100,000 Japanese.As the Japanese neither took prisoners nor surrendered, close-in fighting was savage and waged to the death.The US also suffered 36,000 soldiers and Marines wounded in action.
Japanese Kamikaze (suicide) aircraft made their peak effort against US warships and transports at/off Okinawa.In fact,kamikazes (translates to "divine wind") were brutally effective—of the 34 ships sunk in the battle, 26 were the result of suicide attacks.Casualties among naval personnel were also extremely heavy.Of the 12,281 Americans reported killed in the campaign, 4,907 were Navy personnel.This figure surpasses the battle deaths suffered by both the Army (4,582) and Marines (2,792) who participated in the ground offensive.In addition,as many as 100,000 civilians were either killed during combat operations or were ordered to commit suicide by the Japanese military.With the savage experiences of Okinawa, Iwo Jima and the Philipines in mind,American military planners estimated that the Allies would suffer up to 1,000,000 casualties during an invasion of the Japanese home islands.This does not include the significant number of Japanese military and civilians who would also perish should the US select this course of action.
Japanese Kamikaze Attack on US LST-447, April 6, 1945 (Image: US Navy)
Marines Fighting on Okinawa
American flamethrower tank attacking a Japanese-held cave, Okinawa, Japan
(Images: Public Domain)
Framingham Men and Iwo Jima
First Lieutenant Herbert S. Worrey, USMC
Image: Framingham High
Image: Northeastern University
Image: Northeastern University
Herbert S. Worrey (known as Stanley) was born in Bath,Maine in 1921.He grew up on Brewster Road in Framingham.After attending Framingham High School (Class of 1939), Stanley entered the Business Administration Program at Northeastern University.At Northeastern,he was a member of both the Student Union and the campus newspaper staff.He graduated in 1943.He was commissioned as a Marine Corps Second Lieutenant after completing Officers Candidate School in October of 1943.Stanley remained at Quantico,VA through 1943 while attending advanced infantry training schools.In January of 1944, he headed to Camp Pendelton in California where he was assigned to the 2nd Battalion (D Company,3rd Platoon),28th Marine Infantry Regiment,5th Marine Division.On 19 February, Stanley participated in the Invasion of Iwo Jima.On the 23rd of February,he and his platoon climbed and fought up the infamous Mount Suribachi. Suribachi,a dormant volcano (at the southwest tip of the island),provided a commanding view of most of the island thus giving it significant tactical importance. On 01 March, Herbert was killed in action by enemy machine gun fire while bravely leading his men in a charge out of an indefensible position.He was buried on Iwo Jima with other Marines who made the ultimate sacrifice.His body was returned to the US in 1948.His final resting place is Edgell Grove Cemetary in Framingham.
Private First Class (PFC) Charles Osgood Flagg, USMC
Image: Framingham High
Charles (Charley) Osgood Flagg was born on 04 August 1925.He spent his formative years on Hillcrest Drive.Charley was a member of the Framingham High School class of 1943.He joined the Marines after graduation.Following boot camp and training he was assigned to the 1st Battalion,Headquarters Company,23 Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division.Charley was killed in action on Iwo Jima on 19 February 1945 – the day of the invasion.He was temporarily interred in the US National Cemetary of the Pacific (Honolulu, HI).His final resting place is Edgell Grove Cemetary.Flagg Drive in Framingham is named after Charley.
PFC Flagg’s father,Osgood R. Flagg,was serving as a Lieutenant in the Navy Reserve at the time of Charley’s death.He was with a Naval Repair unit (a forward positioned,shiprepair facility). Osgood, who also served in World War I,re-enlisted in 1942 at the age of 46.In civilian life,he was an electrical engineer for Boston Edison.The two reportedly met in the Pacific while PFC Flagg’s unit was enroute Iwo Jima. Osgood Flagg passed away in 1973.
Framingham Men at Okinawa
Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) Robert Wallace Graham,US Navy
Image:US Naval Academy Silver Star Medal
Robert Wallace Graham was born in Framingham on 19 September 1911.His family home was on Salem End Road.The Grahams owned a well-known men’s wear business headquartered in New York City. Robert attended Jonathan Maynard School, and Lincoln Junior High School.He graduated from Framingham High School in 1930 followed by the US Naval Academy in 1934.He performed well in his initial junior officer assignments.During WWII,he served on two Destroyer Escorts (DE) in the Pacific Theater.He was the Commanding Officer of both the USS Burrows (DE 105) and the USS Richard W. Suesens (DE 342).
Destroyer Escorts (DE’s) protected supply convoys,conducted anti-submarine warfare, provided shore bombardment in support of amphibious landings and defended fleet operations when serving as radar “picket” ships. In WWII, a “picket” was normally,but not always, a radar-equipped vessel used to increase the enemy detection range around a maritime force to protect it from surprise attack, typically from the air.During this war,some radar picket ships were also equipped to direct friendly fighters to intercept the enemy. Often several such ships would encircle a force to provide enhanced protection in all directions.In early to mid 1945,this included fending off waves of Japanese suicide planes (kamikazes),such as during the Okinawa Invasion.
LCDR Graham was awarded his Silver Star Medal for operations off Okinawa on 22 April 1945.His citation reads:
“...for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Commanding Officer of a United States Destroyer Escort during operations against the enemy in the vicinity of Okinawa, on 22 April 1945.When his ship was attacked simultaneously by four Japanese suicide planes, he coolly and capably directed gunfire and evasive maneuvers so that three enemy aircraft were destroyed and the fourth believed damaged, without any material or personnel casualties to his own ship.”
The ship and its crew were also awarded a Navy Unit Commendation for the same action.It further indicates:
“As a result of the efficiency,excellent gunnery and expert ship-handling of her officers and men,the RICHARD W SUESENS sustained no damage during this and subsequent engagements with the enemy off Okinawa.”
Following WWII,Robert remained in the Navy Reserve where he reached the rank of Admiral.He moved his family to New York City then ultimately the Jacksonville, Florida area.His civilian resume included jobs in men’s retail and real estate development.
Sources
The following sources were used in the creation of this article:
The US Marine Corps University Research Library
The National WWII Museum
The Imperial War Museum
The US Army Center of Military History
The Library of Congress
The National Archives
US Military Academy Map Collection
The Framingham History Center
Additional Sources/Suggested Reading
Retribution: The Battle for Japan 1944-1945, Max Hastings
Implacable Foes: War in the Pacific 1944-1945, Waldo Heinrichs and Marc Gallicchio
The Fleet at Flood Tide; America at Total War in the Pacific 1944-1945, James Hornfischer
With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa, E.B. Sledge
History of United States Naval Operations in World War II; Victory in the Pacific 1945, Volume XIV, Samuel Eliot Morison
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