1. The War in the Pacific FIGHTING WORLD WAR II

2.  Under the command of General MacArthur, Americans & Filipinos battled a fierce Japanese onslaught.  Many defenders died from disease & malnutrition.  Roosevelt ordered MacArthur to leave the Philippines, but he vowed to return.  The Japanese then rounded up about 70,000 American & Filipino prisoners & marched them up the Bataan Peninsula to a prison camp.  During the Bataan Death March, more than 7000 American & Filipino prisoners died. PHILIPPINES

3.  On April 18, 1942, Doolittle’s Raid bombed Tokyo & other Japanese cities.  The bombs did little damage to Japan, but the surprise attacks thrilled Americans & shocked the Japanese.  The Japanese responded by putting more resources into defending their homeland. TOKYO

4.  After America code breakers learned that Japan was moving to isolate Australia, the Americans sent a small naval force to the Coral Sea.  The Battle of the Coral Sea was fought entirely by carrier-based aircraft.  This was the first naval battle in history during which the enemies’ warships never came within sight of one another.  Americans gained a strategic victory despite fairly even losses. CORAL SEA

5.  The Americans intercepted a coded Japanese message telling of plans for a major offensive, most likely at the US base at Midway.  American planes demolished the enemy force.  Japan never recovered from the loss of naval carriers & so many of its experienced pilots.  The Battle of Midway was Japan’s last offensive action in the war. MIDWAY

6.  Knowing that Okinawa would give the Americans a prime staging area for the invasion of Japan, Japanese military leaders moved their best army units from Japan & China to defend the island.  The Allies launched a large amphibious invasion in April 1945.  By mid-September, Axis troops had trapped a large Soviet force inside of Stalingrad.  The Japanese strongly resisted the American invaders.  Combat in Okinawa continued for 2 months & claimed the lives of more than 100,000 American & Japanese soldiers. OKINAWA

8.  On August 6, 1945, an American bomber dropped an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima – instantly killing as many as 80,000 Japanese.  Thousands of structures toppled & hundreds of fires consumed the city as a result of the bombing.  Three days later, the US dropped a second atomic bomb on the city of Nagasaki – instantly killing some 40,000 people.  The destruction of Hiroshima & Nagasaki led the Japanese to surrender. HIROSHIMA & NAGASAKI