Okinawa: Command, Combat, and Kamikazes | NMPW Webinar

Join the National Museum of the Pacific War, the United States Army Heritage and Education Center, the US Army Heritage and Education Center, along with Author/Historian Jon Parshall for a special panel discussion on the Battle of Okinawa. Marking the 80th anniversary of the War in the Pacific, this program will examine the last major battle of World War II and one of the bloodiest—fought from April to June 1945, the Battle of Okinawa. The event features three distinguished speakers: • Christopher Kolakowski, Director of the Wisconsin Veterans Museum, will explore the ground campaign through the leadership and legacy of General Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr. • Jonathan Parshall, acclaimed author of Shattered Sword, will examine the naval dimension of the battle, focusing on the devastating kamikaze attacks. • Steven Semmel, Technical Information Specialist at USAHEC, will share rare archival insights from Army combat historian Paul Leach and author Gerald Astor. Don’t miss this deep dive into Operation Iceberg, the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific Theater, with 150,000+ casualties and profound strategic consequences.