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AUGUST 6th

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

HIROSHIMA

(first & foremost)

65 years ago today

Hiroshima

The great loss of lives during the battle of Iwo Jima and other Pacific islands gave US leaders a clear picture of the casualties that would happen with an invasion of Metropolitan Japan. Of the 22,060 Japanese soldiers entrenched on Iwo Jima, 21,844 died either from fighting or by ritual suicide. Only 216 were captured during the battle. According to the official Navy Department Library website, "The 36-day (Iwo Jima) assault resulted in more than 26,000 American casualties, (from 3- Marine Corps Divisions) including 6,800 dead." 19,217 wounded.

To put this into context, the 82-day Battle of Okinawa lasted from early April until mid-June 1945 and U.S. casualties (10th Army, out of 5 Army and 2+ Marine Corps Divisions) were over 62,000, of which over 12,000 were killed or missing. The Imperial Japanese 32d Army, defending Okinawa, had 3 divisions, & 4 separate brigades, with 67,000+ troops, augmented by 30-40,000 local militia & patriotic organizations.

Appleman, Roy E.; James M. Burns; Russell A. Gugeler; John Stevens (2000).

Okinawa: the last battle

Washington, D.C.: United States Army Center of Military History

p. 36.

EVERY PURPLE HEART ISSUED SINCE THE END OF WW2 HAS COME FROM THE STOCK ORDERED FOR AWARDING DUE TO WOUNDS & DEATHS THAT WOULD HAVE OCCURRED IN THE INVASION OF JAPAN.

The U.S. military had nearly 500,000 Purple Heart medals manufactured in anticipation of potential casualties from the planned invasion of Japan. To the present date, all the American military casualties of the 65 years following the end of World War II-including the Korean, Vietnam Wars, and Gulf Wars Senior & Junior -have not exceeded that number. In 2003, there were still 120,000 of these Purple Heart medals in stock. Because of the number available, combat units in Iraq and Afghanistan were able to keep Purple Hearts on-hand for immediate award to wounded soldiers on the field.

Giangreco, Dennis M. & Moore, Kathryn

"Are New Purple Hearts Being Manufactured to Meet the Demand?"

http://hnn.us/articles/1801.html

History News Network (December 1, 2003), Retrieved December 4, 2006

Keep in mind that the Pacific Island campaigns never involved the vast numbers of civilians they would have with an invasion of heavily populated metropolitan Japan. Where there were a civilian populace, Saipan & Okinawa, they committed mass suicides, jumping from cliffs........My 2 ¢

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debate_over_the_atomic_bombings_of_Hiroshima_and_Nagasaki

Wargame it out, 'Operation Olympic' its a solitaire game, with the emphasis on keeping casualties low. It came with S&T 45.

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/3576/operation-olympic

~~~

Watergate

41 years ago today

The democrats in the House of Representatives vote to impeach President Richard Nixon.

Which leads to Nixon’s resignation on the 8th.

Article 2 of the impeachment proceedings—

accused Nixon of “….accessing private tax records from the IRS and directing the IRS to audit, investigate and otherwise harass political opponents.”

also accused Nixon of “…. using the electronic surveillance and the resources of the FBI to spy on Americans without national security or law enforcement justification.”

Article 3 of the impeachment proceedings—

“In refusing to produce these papers and things Richard M. Nixon, substituting his judgment as to what materials were necessary for the inquiry, interposed the powers of the Presidency against the lawful subpoenas of the House of Representatives, thereby assuming to himself functions and judgments necessary to the exercise of the sole power of impeachment vested by the Constitution in the House of Representatives.”

Benghazi, Fast & Furious. IRS targeting anyone?

The next time you think the media is reporting fairly, keep this in mind.

~~~

General Nicholas Herkimer falls at the Battle of Oriskany, 1777

Peugeot leaves the US car market, 1991

First execution by the electric chair, Auburn Prison, NY, 1890

Gertrude Ederle becomes the 1st woman to successfully swim the English Channel, 1926

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