THE WAR IN THE PACIFIC WORLD WAR II

Why did the Allies experience a slow start in the Pacific? Due to losses suffered during the attack on Pearl Harbor The decision to concentrate major efforts on the war in Europe

Japan’s Advances Wake Island – late 1941 Guam Hong Kong Singapore – taken from British in 2 weeks Dutch East Indies British Borneo Battle of Java Sea Burma – gained control of rich oil reserves, vital to military plans Philippines

Bataan Death March 70,000 American & Filipino POW’s were force-marched 63 miles 7,000-10,000 died on the march in tropical heat

Bataan Death March The Bataan Death March continues with Americans improvising litters to carry comrades who have collapsed along the road from a total lack of food and water. Over 5,000 Americans died on the march which began April 10 and lasted six days for some and up to twelve days for others. Reading from “The Great Raid” page 36

Turning Points Doolittle’s Raids over Tokyo – 1st attack on Japanese mainland during war; psychological blow to Japanese Coral Sea – May 1942; 1st time the Japanese advance had been halted Midway – Japanese navy suffered major blow; they no longer had an advantage at sea

U.S. Advances Guadalcanal Gilbert, Marshall and Mariana Islands Philippines Iwo Jima Okinawa Navajo Code Talkers

Guadalcanal Japanese presence threatened Australia Guadalcanal – Aug 1942-Feb 1943 “Before that we weren’t looking for the Japanese, they were looking for us . . . But from there on out, they Japanese were on the run.”

Guadalcanal Stats U.S. 60,000 ground troops 1,768 ground dead 4,911 naval dead 420 aircrew dead 4 captured 29 ships sunk Japan 36,200 ground troops 24,600-25,600 ground dead 3,543 naval dead 1,200 aircrew dead 1,000 captured 38 ships sunk

Marines coming ashore on August 7, 1942.

Marines struggle up a jungle trail. Images of Guadalcanal Only a few supplies for the Americans could be brought ashore before the transports were ordered out of the area. The lack of supplies made it very hard on the Marines in the coming months. Marines struggle up a jungle trail.

Japanese Dead on Guadalcanal Marines survey the bodies of Japanese soldiers covering the battleground of Edson's Ridge.

Iwo Jima Iwo Jima – 750 miles from Tokyo; better base to launch raids of the Japanese capital Feb – March 1945 7,000 Americans killed 20,000 Japanese on Iwo Jima when U.S. troops landed; all but 1,000 fought to the death Navajo Code Talkers were important in the taking of Mount Suribachi

The Beaches of Iwo Jima Marines of the 5th Division inch their way up a slope on Red Beach No. 1 toward Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima, defended by seven Japanese Battalions. By nightfall, 566 Marines were killed and 1,854 wounded. February 19, 1945.

Soft Black Sand Beaches Smashed by Japanese mortar and shellfire and trapped by Iwo Jima's soft black sands, amtracs and other vehicles lay wrecked on the beach. February 1945.

Okinawa 350 miles from Japan To be the launching pad for the final invasion of Japan Okinawa – 12,000 Americans died; Japanese losses = 110,000

Death Valley On Okinawa, just 350 miles from Japan, a Marine dashes through Japanese machine gun fire while crossing a draw, called 'Death Valley' by the men fighting there. Marines sustained more than 125 casualties in eight hours crossing this valley. May 1945.