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82 Days on Okinawa: One American's Unforgettable Firsthand Account of the Pacific War's Greatest Battle
"A gritty, first-person account. ... One can hear Shaw’s voice as if he were sitting beside you." — Wall Street Journal An unforgettable soldier’s-eye view of the Pacific War’s bloodiest battle, by the first American officer ashore Okinawa. On Easter Sunday, April 1, 1945, 1.5 million men gathered aboard 1,500 Allied ships off the coast of the Japanese island of Okinawa. The men were there to launch the largest amphibious assault on the Pacific Theater. War planners expected an 80 percent casualty rate. The first American officer ashore was then-Major Art Shaw (1920-2020), a unit commander in the U.S. Army’s 361st Field Artillery Battalion of the 96th Infantry Division, nicknamed the Deadeyes. For the next three months, Shaw and his men served near the front lines of the Pacific’s costliest battle, their artillery proving decisive against a phantom enemy who had entrenched itself in the rugged, craggy island. Over eighty-two days, the Allies fought the Japanese army in a campaign that would claim more than 150,000 human lives. When the final calculations were made, the Deadeyes were estimated to have killed 37,763 of the enemy. The 361st Field Artillery Battalion had played a crucial role in the victory. The campaign would be the last major battle of World War II and a key pivot point leading to the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and to the Japanese surrender in August, two months after the siege’s end. Filled with extraordinary details, Shaw’s gripping account gives lasting testimony to the courage and bravery displayed by so many on the hills of Okinawa.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published March 3, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
February 14, 2020
Outstanding! Unputdownable! An excellent ARC and many thanks for GoodreadsGiveaways for the opportunity to read and review this book.
The book recounts the author's (Art Shaw) position as Major in the army at the battle on Okinawa -- the bloodiest battle of WWII. Although there are numerous facts presented in the book, it was a candid easy first person read and it flowed so quickly.
A must read.
The book recounts the author's (Art Shaw) position as Major in the army at the battle on Okinawa -- the bloodiest battle of WWII. Although there are numerous facts presented in the book, it was a candid easy first person read and it flowed so quickly.
A must read.
June 18, 2021
I was a bit disappointed in this offering. While the author tells one of the under told stories of the “Last Campaign of WW II”, there were some major problems for me that dropped this to a three star.
First the good parts, I as I mentioned the author tells a very under reported part of the Battle for Okinawa – the role the US Army played. It seems the Marines get all of the ink and credit for the campaign. There were actually more Army Divisions on the Island than Marine ones. This is the story of one Army Division, the 96th ID and it's part in the campaign. The principle author was a Major in one of the 96th's Artillery Battalions, the 361st FA Battalion and later retired from the Army as a Full Col. The story is mainly told from his point of view.
In telling the 96th's story the heroism of the Infantry soldiers who made up the sharp end of the 96th's spear is very well told. A couple of MOH earning actions are recounted, as well as many actions that earned the participants DSC's, the Army's second highest award for valor, are recounted. This may sound almost sacrilegious, but at one point in the narrative it seemed that DSCs were being awarded almost as frequently as prizes are found in a box of Cracker Jacks. In addition to the combat, the story of the weather is also vividly described. In the later part of April and into May 1945, there was so much rain that vehicle traffic almost came to a complete halt. Even tracked vehicles could not negotiate the muddy roads. The author tells of not only 6x6 trucks being mired to their axles, tracked gun carriages that tried to pull them out were also getting stuck.
In telling the story of the 96ths assaults on the various ridge lines, Maj Shaw also tells how even one of the assistant Division commanders got involved. He was visiting the front when his party came under sniper fire. He borrowed a rifle and killed the sniper who was appox 500 yrds away. When he returned the rifle his comment to the soldiers around him was, “That’s the way you do it!” The General was later killed in a different sniper incident.
In addition to the Infantry actions, Maj/Col Shaw does tell the Artillery story. They fired off prodigious amounts of shells - probably rivaling the amounts fired during WW I. At point the barrels of the guns got so hot, the crews worried that rounds would "cook off" in the guns chambers.
Now to some of the problems I have with the narrative. On the blurb the book is purported to be Col Shaw's eye witness memories. However, as an Arty Officer there is no way in Hell that he saw all of what is recounted in the text. The various infantry assaults on the Japanese defenses are presented as if he was there and observed them. He couldn't have and still did his job. This is another problem I had with the narrative - just what was Maj Shaw's job. When I first started reading the book I got the impression that he was the commander of the 361st FA Bn. when discussing his movements and duties - they weren't what a Bn Co would be doing. Eventually the text mentions the Bn Commanders name, so he wasn't that. Towards the end of the narrative, it is mentioned that he was the bn operations officer, S-3.
Another other major problem I had is when the narrative is talking about military organization. The 361st is variously mentioned in the text as a Battalion, a battery, a company, or a generic "unit" ie the 361st unit - drove me nuts :) This problem carries over to the infantry Regts of the Division.
One other stylistic problem I had was the authors habit of stating the full rank and name of EVERY person mentioned in the narrative.
In summary, the story is a solid 4 , 4+ stars, organization is 2 at best, over all a 3+ star read.
First the good parts, I as I mentioned the author tells a very under reported part of the Battle for Okinawa – the role the US Army played. It seems the Marines get all of the ink and credit for the campaign. There were actually more Army Divisions on the Island than Marine ones. This is the story of one Army Division, the 96th ID and it's part in the campaign. The principle author was a Major in one of the 96th's Artillery Battalions, the 361st FA Battalion and later retired from the Army as a Full Col. The story is mainly told from his point of view.
In telling the 96th's story the heroism of the Infantry soldiers who made up the sharp end of the 96th's spear is very well told. A couple of MOH earning actions are recounted, as well as many actions that earned the participants DSC's, the Army's second highest award for valor, are recounted. This may sound almost sacrilegious, but at one point in the narrative it seemed that DSCs were being awarded almost as frequently as prizes are found in a box of Cracker Jacks. In addition to the combat, the story of the weather is also vividly described. In the later part of April and into May 1945, there was so much rain that vehicle traffic almost came to a complete halt. Even tracked vehicles could not negotiate the muddy roads. The author tells of not only 6x6 trucks being mired to their axles, tracked gun carriages that tried to pull them out were also getting stuck.
In telling the story of the 96ths assaults on the various ridge lines, Maj Shaw also tells how even one of the assistant Division commanders got involved. He was visiting the front when his party came under sniper fire. He borrowed a rifle and killed the sniper who was appox 500 yrds away. When he returned the rifle his comment to the soldiers around him was, “That’s the way you do it!” The General was later killed in a different sniper incident.
In addition to the Infantry actions, Maj/Col Shaw does tell the Artillery story. They fired off prodigious amounts of shells - probably rivaling the amounts fired during WW I. At point the barrels of the guns got so hot, the crews worried that rounds would "cook off" in the guns chambers.
Now to some of the problems I have with the narrative. On the blurb the book is purported to be Col Shaw's eye witness memories. However, as an Arty Officer there is no way in Hell that he saw all of what is recounted in the text. The various infantry assaults on the Japanese defenses are presented as if he was there and observed them. He couldn't have and still did his job. This is another problem I had with the narrative - just what was Maj Shaw's job. When I first started reading the book I got the impression that he was the commander of the 361st FA Bn. when discussing his movements and duties - they weren't what a Bn Co would be doing. Eventually the text mentions the Bn Commanders name, so he wasn't that. Towards the end of the narrative, it is mentioned that he was the bn operations officer, S-3.
Another other major problem I had is when the narrative is talking about military organization. The 361st is variously mentioned in the text as a Battalion, a battery, a company, or a generic "unit" ie the 361st unit - drove me nuts :) This problem carries over to the infantry Regts of the Division.
One other stylistic problem I had was the authors habit of stating the full rank and name of EVERY person mentioned in the narrative.
In summary, the story is a solid 4 , 4+ stars, organization is 2 at best, over all a 3+ star read.
August 15, 2023
An amazing memoir — I have so much respect for all of these men. R.I.P. Art Shaw:(
May 1, 2024
I was intrigued to read this book as it predominately covers the U.S. Army's role in the battle for Okinawa. Previously my reading was in regard to the U.S. Marines' involvement. Overall, I liked the story and the individual battle and skirmish accounts that are told within the book. The writing style became tedious to me, however. In various accounts of individual's action, the author would often (but not always) use the person's full name and rank throughout that portion of the book. Most likely the author wanted to give credit to those who went into harm's way for our great nation. I appreciate and understand that. Yet, while reading the book, forcing the reader to plow through a person's full name and rank EACH time gets very tiresome. I mean no offense, but the writing style reminded me of the biographies that I read in grammar school. But, all in all, the book tells a GREAT story of the valor and courage of the Greatest Generation in this sector of that horrid war. I encourage you to pick up a copy and read this book!
March 18, 2020
This memoir felt like sitting on your grandfather's knee while he tells you the story of his war adventures. It contains all of the horrors the military experienced after they landed on the beaches of Okinawa. Mr. Shaw recounts the battles, the losses of his comrades, and the horrors of fighting a war. It gives some perspective as to why Truman decided to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima when you read what the United States Armed Forces was up against in Japan. The language was mostly clean, which surprised me as well.
February 12, 2020
I ended up giving this book to my dad to read... he finished it in a day. He enjoyed it immensely and asked me to give it a 5-star rating on Goodreads. I don't have much to say about this book since I didn't read it, however, coming from my dad, a military retiree, going on and on about this book for days after finishing it, should say something positive about it.
Thanks Goodreads for my free giveaway copy.
Thanks Goodreads for my free giveaway copy.
May 19, 2020
I would like to thank Goodreads, the author and publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read this book.
For those of you who have read my reviews you are already aware that I look for books written about the Pacific Theater during World War II. It is the means by which I am coming to understand my father twenty-two years after his death.
It took me a while to read this book; not because it was boring or a slow read; but, due to the fact that I would read something in a chapter that would spark a memory and I would re-read the chapter until everything has sunk in (so to speak).
There were phrases such as not being able to talk about it for 50 years and kill or be killed. My Dad never got to the point where he could discuss things from the war; but the kill or be killed mantra would over escape his lips. What I did notice about this memoir was that the author reported, more than lived the 82-day battle for Okinawa. If my dad would ever have been able to tell stories from t he war, I feel that he also would have stepped back from the action, reporting rather than telling.
I guess what I am saying is that the author helped me to understand that not talking about the war was a means of coping with what had occurred and I appreciate that more than I can ever express.
Major Art Shaw would be 98-years-old before he was able to discuss this battle; a critical point in the Pacific Theater. The battle for Okinawa would begin on Easter Sunday, April 1, 1945. There would be 1,500 ships carrying 1.5 millions American soldiers, and Major Art Shaw would be the first American officer ashore. Casualties were expected to be 80% (1.2 million soldiers). The Japanese soldiers on the island were embedded deeply into a cave system which ran through the mountains of the island, making them an invisible force.
In the end, the Americans spent 82 days on the island and 150,000 soldiers died (37,763 Japanese) . Shortly after the surrender of Okinawa; the Americans would drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki; the war would finally be over; but the battle of the soldiers to return to the life they once knew would just begin.
For those of you who have read my reviews you are already aware that I look for books written about the Pacific Theater during World War II. It is the means by which I am coming to understand my father twenty-two years after his death.
It took me a while to read this book; not because it was boring or a slow read; but, due to the fact that I would read something in a chapter that would spark a memory and I would re-read the chapter until everything has sunk in (so to speak).
There were phrases such as not being able to talk about it for 50 years and kill or be killed. My Dad never got to the point where he could discuss things from the war; but the kill or be killed mantra would over escape his lips. What I did notice about this memoir was that the author reported, more than lived the 82-day battle for Okinawa. If my dad would ever have been able to tell stories from t he war, I feel that he also would have stepped back from the action, reporting rather than telling.
I guess what I am saying is that the author helped me to understand that not talking about the war was a means of coping with what had occurred and I appreciate that more than I can ever express.
Major Art Shaw would be 98-years-old before he was able to discuss this battle; a critical point in the Pacific Theater. The battle for Okinawa would begin on Easter Sunday, April 1, 1945. There would be 1,500 ships carrying 1.5 millions American soldiers, and Major Art Shaw would be the first American officer ashore. Casualties were expected to be 80% (1.2 million soldiers). The Japanese soldiers on the island were embedded deeply into a cave system which ran through the mountains of the island, making them an invisible force.
In the end, the Americans spent 82 days on the island and 150,000 soldiers died (37,763 Japanese) . Shortly after the surrender of Okinawa; the Americans would drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki; the war would finally be over; but the battle of the soldiers to return to the life they once knew would just begin.
March 14, 2020
The author, Colonel Art Shaw, is 99 years old. That intrigued me as well as the fact that I had heard much about the island of Okinawa in World War Two, but basically knew no specifics. This book provides plenty of details, and was written with the assistance of Robert L. Wise, a well-known author in his own right, and the author of five books on WW11. Between the two, the book is a relatively easy read despite the subject matter and the reality.
The book has many specifics which probably only Shaw, who was present there, would know. He provides a lot of additional facts that he may have investigated long afterwards. He writes with a style so that the gruesome number and types of deaths on the small island of Okinawa, and they are definitely gruesome, are able to be understood and absorbed. My belief was that this is because he tempered the outrageous Allied deaths with the staggering numbers of Japanese deaths, much greater in number because the Japanese would never surrender. The Japanese also were crawling all over the island in underground tunnels of bunkers of which the Allied soldiers were unaware for quite some time. The Japanese kept replenishing their unending supply of soldiers from these tunnels of bunkers. When the Allied soldiers thought they had wiped out a Japanese group, they were then stunned when hundreds more Japanese came pouring out of the bunker from the tunnels.
I admit that my knowledge of artillery and battle strategy in any war much less this one, is not extensive. Yet, I was able to understand the gist of what they were trying to say. The capture of the island was so close to the very end of the war that I only wish that many of those lives had not been necessary to lose.
I won this unforgettable hardback book in a Goodreads giveaway.
The book has many specifics which probably only Shaw, who was present there, would know. He provides a lot of additional facts that he may have investigated long afterwards. He writes with a style so that the gruesome number and types of deaths on the small island of Okinawa, and they are definitely gruesome, are able to be understood and absorbed. My belief was that this is because he tempered the outrageous Allied deaths with the staggering numbers of Japanese deaths, much greater in number because the Japanese would never surrender. The Japanese also were crawling all over the island in underground tunnels of bunkers of which the Allied soldiers were unaware for quite some time. The Japanese kept replenishing their unending supply of soldiers from these tunnels of bunkers. When the Allied soldiers thought they had wiped out a Japanese group, they were then stunned when hundreds more Japanese came pouring out of the bunker from the tunnels.
I admit that my knowledge of artillery and battle strategy in any war much less this one, is not extensive. Yet, I was able to understand the gist of what they were trying to say. The capture of the island was so close to the very end of the war that I only wish that many of those lives had not been necessary to lose.
I won this unforgettable hardback book in a Goodreads giveaway.
September 30, 2022
Fascinating account of Major Art Shaw’s commanding an artillery unit during the Battle of Okinawa in WWII. He was probably the first fighting man to land on the island and among the last to leave. Also includes stories of other soldiers experiences during the battle.
Towards the end of the book he makes the statement “Who were the heroes? Anyone who puts on a military uniform and marches off to battle is a hero. Makes no difference if bullets whiz by your head or you never step on the battlefield. Putting on the uniform and making yourself available makes you a hero in my book. “
As true today as it was back then.
Towards the end of the book he makes the statement “Who were the heroes? Anyone who puts on a military uniform and marches off to battle is a hero. Makes no difference if bullets whiz by your head or you never step on the battlefield. Putting on the uniform and making yourself available makes you a hero in my book. “
As true today as it was back then.
May 20, 2024
Good book. Very much similar to the Band of Brothers book by Major Dick Winters, just the other side of the world. They should have made a movie out of this book.
March 7, 2021
More than 50 years after the Battle of Okinawa, Arthur Shaw relives his experiences. Told from the first-hand perspective of a mid-ranking officer, this book describes the heroism of many US soldiers during that struggle. What it does not do is give a holistic approach to the battle. The writing style helps move the reader along at a quick pace even though it is often difficult for the reader to understand the situations.
Art Shaw was a major in charge of an artillery group serving on Leyte and Okinawa. Although the book opens on Leyte, there is almost no discussion of that battle, so there is virtually no comparison to Okinawa. There was little discussion of the overall forces involved or the basic strategy on the island. Having read this book, I still lack a basic understanding of the battle. I do not even know who commanded the Americans. Shaw refers to General James Bradley (who is not even listed as a US commander on the wikipedia page). Only once does he mention Buckner, who may have been the commander of land forces, answering to an Admiral. Perhaps the most famous action of Okinawa, the sinking of the super battleship Yamato, is not mentioned at all.
Instead, the book details acts of heroism by approximately 75-100 individual soldiers. It is not a bad story. Acts of valor and heroism deserve to be recognized; but this book is supposed to be the first-person eye witness of an artillery commander. Readers get very little artillery and more soldiers. It did bother me that Shaw only picked out 3-4 people in his artillery group to focus on. Shaw himself, frequently left his command to view the front lines or join the command staff. Of the four members of his crew that he describes, they seem to fit into stereotypes: the sullen, obedient soldier; the jack ass, the fighter; and the leader. This may have been intentional to highlight Shaw as the leader. The reader can guess. The interactions of these four "main" characters - the only really repeated throughout the book - is often used as a means of interjecting philosophy into the narrative. What do the soldiers think about God? What do they think about the locals? Why are they fighting on this island? What motivates the enemy? Is is not particularly insightful; and offers no further revelation on the fighting in Okinawa.
Most frustrating for this reader is the lack of illustrations. The few maps at the beginning are way to small to see what was happening. The impassable escarpment, the caves, the tombs, the sheer cliffs, the commanding view. None of these are clear. It appears that the battle focused on a series of hills and ridges that bisect the island north of the main civilian settlements. The north half of the island was largely uninhabited and worthless, strategically. Shaw's narrative makes it clear that the Americans caught the Japanese by surprise by landing north of the hills at a largely undefended area. The Americans had almost a week to settle in before they encountered resistance in the hills. I suspect the Japanese focused on defensive works rather than counterattacks. They could certainly see where the Americans landed. And that is it - that is all I can deduce of the overall course of the battle.
The writing helped the book. Robert Wise writes in short crisp chapters. There must have been additional research to pinpoint the names, dates, and locations of action specified in the book. With so many individuals, there is no way, Shaw could remember each person, date, and location with the detail presented in the book. His loyalty and dedication to the soldiers is clear. This book is more of a eulogy to the dead than it is a personal narrative. At the same time, one or both of the authors try to balance the heroism with horror of the war. While there are more examples of heroism than horror, the later examples are more likely to remain with the reader - because it is difficult for the reader to visualize the heroism.
Overall, it is an interesting read. Were it not for Wise's writing, I would have ranked it lower than I did. I have a better understanding of the battle, but not much. Additional background and an overall picture of the strengths and strategies are necessary. This book supports other books. I recommend it more for historians and Pacific War enthusiasts with more general knowledge of the war, than casual readers.
Art Shaw was a major in charge of an artillery group serving on Leyte and Okinawa. Although the book opens on Leyte, there is almost no discussion of that battle, so there is virtually no comparison to Okinawa. There was little discussion of the overall forces involved or the basic strategy on the island. Having read this book, I still lack a basic understanding of the battle. I do not even know who commanded the Americans. Shaw refers to General James Bradley (who is not even listed as a US commander on the wikipedia page). Only once does he mention Buckner, who may have been the commander of land forces, answering to an Admiral. Perhaps the most famous action of Okinawa, the sinking of the super battleship Yamato, is not mentioned at all.
Instead, the book details acts of heroism by approximately 75-100 individual soldiers. It is not a bad story. Acts of valor and heroism deserve to be recognized; but this book is supposed to be the first-person eye witness of an artillery commander. Readers get very little artillery and more soldiers. It did bother me that Shaw only picked out 3-4 people in his artillery group to focus on. Shaw himself, frequently left his command to view the front lines or join the command staff. Of the four members of his crew that he describes, they seem to fit into stereotypes: the sullen, obedient soldier; the jack ass, the fighter; and the leader. This may have been intentional to highlight Shaw as the leader. The reader can guess. The interactions of these four "main" characters - the only really repeated throughout the book - is often used as a means of interjecting philosophy into the narrative. What do the soldiers think about God? What do they think about the locals? Why are they fighting on this island? What motivates the enemy? Is is not particularly insightful; and offers no further revelation on the fighting in Okinawa.
Most frustrating for this reader is the lack of illustrations. The few maps at the beginning are way to small to see what was happening. The impassable escarpment, the caves, the tombs, the sheer cliffs, the commanding view. None of these are clear. It appears that the battle focused on a series of hills and ridges that bisect the island north of the main civilian settlements. The north half of the island was largely uninhabited and worthless, strategically. Shaw's narrative makes it clear that the Americans caught the Japanese by surprise by landing north of the hills at a largely undefended area. The Americans had almost a week to settle in before they encountered resistance in the hills. I suspect the Japanese focused on defensive works rather than counterattacks. They could certainly see where the Americans landed. And that is it - that is all I can deduce of the overall course of the battle.
The writing helped the book. Robert Wise writes in short crisp chapters. There must have been additional research to pinpoint the names, dates, and locations of action specified in the book. With so many individuals, there is no way, Shaw could remember each person, date, and location with the detail presented in the book. His loyalty and dedication to the soldiers is clear. This book is more of a eulogy to the dead than it is a personal narrative. At the same time, one or both of the authors try to balance the heroism with horror of the war. While there are more examples of heroism than horror, the later examples are more likely to remain with the reader - because it is difficult for the reader to visualize the heroism.
Overall, it is an interesting read. Were it not for Wise's writing, I would have ranked it lower than I did. I have a better understanding of the battle, but not much. Additional background and an overall picture of the strengths and strategies are necessary. This book supports other books. I recommend it more for historians and Pacific War enthusiasts with more general knowledge of the war, than casual readers.
March 31, 2023
If you like books that read like a bad 1940’s movie script, this is for you.
April 1, 2020
The list of great World War II histories boggles the mind and continues to grow . . . which is pretty amazing considering the extent of analysis the War has already received over the past 75 years. The World War II memoir is an esteemed sub-genre of those histories, and Art Shaw's "82 Days on Okinawa" is a worthy addition to those works.
Told in collaboration with author Robert Wise, Shaw (age 97 at the time of their collaboration!!!) tells his story of the Battle of Okinawa, the bloodiest battle America fought in the Pacific. Among the first Americans ashore and among the last to leave, then-Major Shaw led an Army artillery battalion (the "Deadeyes") that is credited with killing over 37,000 Japanese soldiers. Over 150,000 soldiers died in the battle, so the Deadeyes did more than their fair share in the battle.
You might think that an artillery battalion commander would not really see a lot of action . . . after all, don't they just stand behind the lines firing huge cannons? Well, Major Shaw believed in personal reconnaissance, so he often journeyed to the front lines to see for himself what was going on. The American Army's style of fighting required close artillery support of the infantry, and the Japanese Army's fanatical dedication to the fight, combined with their brilliant preparation, demanded the artillery's performance on the highest level.
Okinawa, not to put too fine a point on it, was a nightmare for the American invading force. A long, thin island, Okinawa is dominated by jagged hills of rock that the Japanese forces had brilliantly fortified with pillboxes, machine gun nests, and even tunnels. Enemy soldiers could literally travel under the feet of the Americans, and the Americans would never know it. Combine this with the heat and rain of monsoon season, and Okinawa was a hell for the invading Americans.
Shaw tells his story with the bluntness you might expect from an Oklahoman in his nineties. But there is poetry in his direct prose. Shaw may not use the rhetoric of Churchill, but his tale reveals a sensitive, spiritual mind guiding a man trying to do an impossible job to the best of his ability. It's clear that Shaw had few qualms about killing Japanese soldiers, but it's also clear that it's a job he's doing only because he has to - this is not a bloodthirsty soldier living out his childhood fantasies. And Shaw tells several moving stories of individual American soldiers performing acts of heroism, and all too many of which result in the Army awarding these soldiers the highest of honors . . . posthumously.
In a short code to the Okinawa battle, Shaw talks about his return to "civilian" life and his loving wife, Jean and his daughter, who was born after Shaw had shipped out.
"82 Days on Okinawa" is a very human story from one of the Greatest Generation, and as time marches on, is one of the last WWII memoirs we'll get straight from the horse's mouth, so to speak. Highly recommended.
Told in collaboration with author Robert Wise, Shaw (age 97 at the time of their collaboration!!!) tells his story of the Battle of Okinawa, the bloodiest battle America fought in the Pacific. Among the first Americans ashore and among the last to leave, then-Major Shaw led an Army artillery battalion (the "Deadeyes") that is credited with killing over 37,000 Japanese soldiers. Over 150,000 soldiers died in the battle, so the Deadeyes did more than their fair share in the battle.
You might think that an artillery battalion commander would not really see a lot of action . . . after all, don't they just stand behind the lines firing huge cannons? Well, Major Shaw believed in personal reconnaissance, so he often journeyed to the front lines to see for himself what was going on. The American Army's style of fighting required close artillery support of the infantry, and the Japanese Army's fanatical dedication to the fight, combined with their brilliant preparation, demanded the artillery's performance on the highest level.
Okinawa, not to put too fine a point on it, was a nightmare for the American invading force. A long, thin island, Okinawa is dominated by jagged hills of rock that the Japanese forces had brilliantly fortified with pillboxes, machine gun nests, and even tunnels. Enemy soldiers could literally travel under the feet of the Americans, and the Americans would never know it. Combine this with the heat and rain of monsoon season, and Okinawa was a hell for the invading Americans.
Shaw tells his story with the bluntness you might expect from an Oklahoman in his nineties. But there is poetry in his direct prose. Shaw may not use the rhetoric of Churchill, but his tale reveals a sensitive, spiritual mind guiding a man trying to do an impossible job to the best of his ability. It's clear that Shaw had few qualms about killing Japanese soldiers, but it's also clear that it's a job he's doing only because he has to - this is not a bloodthirsty soldier living out his childhood fantasies. And Shaw tells several moving stories of individual American soldiers performing acts of heroism, and all too many of which result in the Army awarding these soldiers the highest of honors . . . posthumously.
In a short code to the Okinawa battle, Shaw talks about his return to "civilian" life and his loving wife, Jean and his daughter, who was born after Shaw had shipped out.
"82 Days on Okinawa" is a very human story from one of the Greatest Generation, and as time marches on, is one of the last WWII memoirs we'll get straight from the horse's mouth, so to speak. Highly recommended.
October 18, 2022
April 1, 1945, 1,500 Allied ships and 1.5 million men gathered off the coast of the Japanese island of Okinawa to try to seize the island as it would be the decider on who would win the battle. The first american officer to reach the island was a dude named Major shaw. he was a unit commander of the unit 361st arterially battalion of the 96th division. The japanese had deeply fortifited part of the island so when the americans tried to move inland but the troops encountered resentence after a few days being on the island. after 3 months of brutally fighting each other the americans killed more than 100,000 japanese solders and the Japanese killed more than 10,000 americans. They also killed a lot of the okinawa civilians. Most of the time shaw would scout ahead of his battery and also observing the frontline infantry in action. In the end the americans won with a lot of deaths.
I would recommended this book to anybody who likes to see the struggles and hardships we americans had to endure to survive and win that war. I would recommend this book for my friends because it is educational, plus you can get into the book more easily than most books. In my opinion, this book has something for everyone so it is a lot easier to read than stuff like autobiographies and things like that. I also would not recommend this book to people who have a short attention span, because it is a pretty difficult book to pay attention to, but it's a pretty good book overall. I learned a lot about how Okinawa and the soldiers in the book changed over time and overall just enjoyed the story it was telling, so I think most people could read this pretty easily. I also think this book was more easy to read because it also included the action in the story, which made an educational book like this a lot easier to read. This book had more plot than most books too, since it was based off of a true event. This book can teach you a lot and overall it's a good read, so in summary I would recommend this book to my friends. Reading about Okinwa really opens up more about what happened during WWII, so definitely give it a read.
Why was taking okinawa so important?
What tactaics were used to win over the island?
How long did the invasion last.
I would recommended this book to anybody who likes to see the struggles and hardships we americans had to endure to survive and win that war. I would recommend this book for my friends because it is educational, plus you can get into the book more easily than most books. In my opinion, this book has something for everyone so it is a lot easier to read than stuff like autobiographies and things like that. I also would not recommend this book to people who have a short attention span, because it is a pretty difficult book to pay attention to, but it's a pretty good book overall. I learned a lot about how Okinawa and the soldiers in the book changed over time and overall just enjoyed the story it was telling, so I think most people could read this pretty easily. I also think this book was more easy to read because it also included the action in the story, which made an educational book like this a lot easier to read. This book had more plot than most books too, since it was based off of a true event. This book can teach you a lot and overall it's a good read, so in summary I would recommend this book to my friends. Reading about Okinwa really opens up more about what happened during WWII, so definitely give it a read.
Why was taking okinawa so important?
What tactaics were used to win over the island?
How long did the invasion last.
August 19, 2025
Fast, furious, and mesmerizing.
Japanese military leaders engineered a ferocious finale that accounted for more combat fatigue cases than anywhere else in the Pacific. The Japanese didn't defend the beaches as they had so many times before. They dug deep into the ground, making conquest very difficult for the soldiers and marines. Hit and run tactics in-and-out of caves lessened chances for inflicting heavy Japanese casualties. It wasn't any better on the numerous support ships around the island with kamikaze flights striking American vessels, and taking many lives there and several ships, too.
Invading land combatants suffered visually, and subsequently mentally from the too many mangled and unburied bodies their eyes and minds captured. Many of those grizzly images followed them into mental wards, and stayed with them for the rest of their lives,
Author Art Shaw was an Army artillery officer, and often serving as a forward observer, but he survived. and eventually wrote his account of that battle with the help of author Robert L. Wise. They worked well together. Shaw's story added human sight to one of the most inhuman events on the planet.
Content was largely limited to what Shaw saw and could remember. His memory was good, but some crucial battle moments, such as Army Gen. Simon Bolivar Buckner's death from Japanese artillery was left out.
Japanese military leaders engineered a ferocious finale that accounted for more combat fatigue cases than anywhere else in the Pacific. The Japanese didn't defend the beaches as they had so many times before. They dug deep into the ground, making conquest very difficult for the soldiers and marines. Hit and run tactics in-and-out of caves lessened chances for inflicting heavy Japanese casualties. It wasn't any better on the numerous support ships around the island with kamikaze flights striking American vessels, and taking many lives there and several ships, too.
Invading land combatants suffered visually, and subsequently mentally from the too many mangled and unburied bodies their eyes and minds captured. Many of those grizzly images followed them into mental wards, and stayed with them for the rest of their lives,
Author Art Shaw was an Army artillery officer, and often serving as a forward observer, but he survived. and eventually wrote his account of that battle with the help of author Robert L. Wise. They worked well together. Shaw's story added human sight to one of the most inhuman events on the planet.
Content was largely limited to what Shaw saw and could remember. His memory was good, but some crucial battle moments, such as Army Gen. Simon Bolivar Buckner's death from Japanese artillery was left out.
August 10, 2020
82 Days On Okinawa is a memoir by Colonel Art Shaw, he is 99 years old. The then, Major shares with his readers his service during the Battle of Okinawa. From being the first officer ashore, to finally returning to the states many months after the battle was won, he doesn't leave anything out. While the Author's Note does mention that over the years a few of the names have escaped his memory, it is obvious Shaw has vividly carried the events with him all these years. The middle of this book is difficult to read. Each chapter is full of death, and often retreat. I feel almost guilty having wanted to stop reading a few times. He gives credit to as many soldiers as he can, from private all the way to the top. You want to put the book down because each day recalled is the same, exhaustion, extreme situations, death, killing, a literal hell on earth. Of course I kept reading. While I was already familiar with the battle, this book has increased my appreciation for those who fought here.
January 27, 2023
This was a tough one to review. I love the firsthand accounts of soldiers and military people when reading. The author was in the Army as an officer during Okinawa and tells the events that happened during that time. There was a lot of dialog and conversations, quotes, etc in the book. The author and co-author did state that some or most of the dialog and conversations were done by them, but the events that happened were true. I don't doubt that, but as I was reading a few other book reviews some of them were saying this could not have happened with the officers (authors) rank. That he would not have been out in the field here or there. As I was reading there was a lot of action where he was watching a battle occur with his binoculars and there was talk occurring where he was looking at it happened. How can he have possibly known what they were saying. So, some of those things really took away from my wanting to enjoy the book more, because it almost seemed like a historical fiction book.
September 20, 2023
This was a tough book to rate. It was exceptionally readable. I read the 300+ pages in only five days. It is one man’s account of his experience in the battle of Okinawa, a Pacific War battle that took place near the end of WWII.
It very much read like a novel. The chapters were fairly short and there was plenty of dialogue. It was also very detailed in the depictions of some of the fighting and of the excessive valor that occurred on both sides of the battlefield. I really enjoyed reading this account.
The problem with this volume is twofold. The more minor one are the choice of maps. They are impossible to read so they cannot help you visualize the battlefield. The second is that some of the book is just off. He describes looking at a battle through binoculars but said he could hear the dialogue from across the valley. So that and other conversations are apparently made up. So does this mean it’s historical fiction? I’m not sure.
I would definitely recommend reading this book but also keep in mind that some of the chatter is probably not accurate.
It very much read like a novel. The chapters were fairly short and there was plenty of dialogue. It was also very detailed in the depictions of some of the fighting and of the excessive valor that occurred on both sides of the battlefield. I really enjoyed reading this account.
The problem with this volume is twofold. The more minor one are the choice of maps. They are impossible to read so they cannot help you visualize the battlefield. The second is that some of the book is just off. He describes looking at a battle through binoculars but said he could hear the dialogue from across the valley. So that and other conversations are apparently made up. So does this mean it’s historical fiction? I’m not sure.
I would definitely recommend reading this book but also keep in mind that some of the chatter is probably not accurate.
June 26, 2020
I have read several memoirs and biographies of WWII combatants. This one is ok. It sounds as if about half of the book is stories Major Shaw heard about not events he participated in. As an artillery officer, he did a fantastic job. I don't think he was with the guy throwing phosphorus grenades into the caves.
Battle books need good battle maps. The author constantly refers to landmarks, towns, etc., with dates. There are four maps but they are not very helpful. I'm not sure I ever figured out where they landed. A few critical landmarks are numbered but those numbers are so small that they are illegible. I never found many locations mentioned in the text on any of the maps.
The editor missed some things. The Korean War didn't start in June, 1945. A lieutenant dies on page 195 but on page 205 he saves the day. We are introduced to Colonel Avery Master as if for the first time at least three times.
I suggest With The Old Breed by Eugene Sledge.
Battle books need good battle maps. The author constantly refers to landmarks, towns, etc., with dates. There are four maps but they are not very helpful. I'm not sure I ever figured out where they landed. A few critical landmarks are numbered but those numbers are so small that they are illegible. I never found many locations mentioned in the text on any of the maps.
The editor missed some things. The Korean War didn't start in June, 1945. A lieutenant dies on page 195 but on page 205 he saves the day. We are introduced to Colonel Avery Master as if for the first time at least three times.
I suggest With The Old Breed by Eugene Sledge.
March 18, 2023
The style it is written in feels as if Shaw is sitting down beside you and remembering what the war was like. Sometimes it feels like he meanders, he suddenly remembers an event and " oh right I should tell you about this guy!" Other times it's calling a unit "A Company" but the next paragraph "Company A". If that doesn't bother you, if you would enjoy spending time with an older gentleman as you he tells you about one of the most difficult times in his life, then pick up this book. If you want a book that is more focused and historical I would skip it.
This was an extremely moving book for me. It felt as if he was finally coming to terms with the traumatic experiences he had, and this was his way of finally moving on. And while some chapters were harder to read than others (not because they were boring but because events were difficult), I am glad that he was able to share these moments with me.
This was an extremely moving book for me. It felt as if he was finally coming to terms with the traumatic experiences he had, and this was his way of finally moving on. And while some chapters were harder to read than others (not because they were boring but because events were difficult), I am glad that he was able to share these moments with me.
June 14, 2024
Okinawa was one of the bloodiest battles of the Pacific. Japanese, American and the Okinawa civilians fought, suffered and died in the conflict. The kamikaze attacks were nonstop, the Japanese soldiers dug extensive caves throughout the island and victories were counted in inches at points. Shaw recounts his experiences and the bravery of those that he served with.
Why I started this book: The main fight for Okinawa was the March-June 1945, so I thought that this would be the perfect time of year to read a first hand account of the battle.
Why I finished it: Shaw preserved the slang and cadence of speech used by the soldiers. He recounts his own experiences and the stories of medal recipients who fought. He talks very little about the nightmares that followed him home. As an artillery officer he recounts the continual work of loading the shells into the guns, the night attacks and the civilians that they encountered. Fascinating and heartbreaking.
Why I started this book: The main fight for Okinawa was the March-June 1945, so I thought that this would be the perfect time of year to read a first hand account of the battle.
Why I finished it: Shaw preserved the slang and cadence of speech used by the soldiers. He recounts his own experiences and the stories of medal recipients who fought. He talks very little about the nightmares that followed him home. As an artillery officer he recounts the continual work of loading the shells into the guns, the night attacks and the civilians that they encountered. Fascinating and heartbreaking.
April 2, 2024
One of those books that made me wish I didn't have a compulsion to finish every book I start. The author is an inverse Goldilocks. As an artillery officer, he's not on the front lines so he doesn't have the infantry experience of endlessly running through the meat grinder; but he's also not far enough back to have a sense of the battle as a whole. Ditto for his rank as a Major. High up enough to not be one of the guys doing the thing, but not high enough to be making battle-impacting decisions. The classic middle-manager position, relaying one man's orders to other men to do. I also found his sanctimonious tone rather grating, as well as the way he tried to put on a perfect front. Perhaps my argument was that I felt he presented himself as an idealized character rather than a real person.
June 30, 2025
Reading the memoirs of an individual who participated in several campaigns, and then related many years later, can be rewarding and frustrating at the same time. Part of it is the storytelling style, which in this case was frankly repetitive---and that is kind of expected. Somehow the editors should have reigned it in. You do get a sense of how brutal the fighting actually was, the determined resistance of the Japanese, and the bravery and grit of our soldiers. But at the same time it felt. . .well, sketchy, which is not unexpected. It also seemed like he was out in front watching the fighting more than I would expect an artillery officer to be doing, and it didn't seem like he was calling back instructions to his guns like a forward observer. I passed through it very quickly. I guess I prefer more historical accounts.
April 8, 2020
Harrowing account of Army Major Art Shaw on Okinawa in 1945. Major Shaw was the first American officer on the island and one of the last to leave in January 1946. This memoir recounts all of the back and fourth of the conquest of the island. Lots gains and losses of small patches of ground in small uint actions. At points it reads like a Civil War battle with bayonet charges and hand-to-hand combat. Terrifying moments, including Japanese ambushes and night attacks. Major Shaw is very candid about fears of combat and the heartbreaking losses that the soldiers in the 96th "Deadeye" division endured. He speaks about the post-war effects in the last chapter, although, honestly, I would have preferred more on that aspect.
September 19, 2020
art shaw was no dick winter. he's a career army officer who served as an army artillery officer who survived okinawa unscathed and recounted many harrowing stories, mostly, he has heard or read about on the battle for okinawa.
beside personal anecdotes, there's little depth and context. the book was clearly written to appeal to emotion and patriotic pride. endless recounts of body counts and captain america type who single handedly killed more than 2 dozens enemy soldier in single fire-fight.
no doubt some will find the stories appealing or even tear-jerking but for war-history buffs, it has little to offer. and in my opinion, the writing style is not engaging but somewhat tiring. cliches abount.
beside personal anecdotes, there's little depth and context. the book was clearly written to appeal to emotion and patriotic pride. endless recounts of body counts and captain america type who single handedly killed more than 2 dozens enemy soldier in single fire-fight.
no doubt some will find the stories appealing or even tear-jerking but for war-history buffs, it has little to offer. and in my opinion, the writing style is not engaging but somewhat tiring. cliches abount.
October 21, 2022
I seem to be having some hesitation about how to start this review, as well as about writing one at all.
As far as the actual/physical part of reading the book, I definitely enjoyed the author’s style. However, when it comes to the emotional side of things … that is where I personally found it challenging to read. My dad was a bazooka man on Okinawa starting in December 1945 at the ripe ol’ age of 19. (yes, prior to that, the war had been declared “over”but some of the people either hadn’t been told or refused to believe it. the area had to be maintained for the sake of peace and recovery.) My suggestion is, if you have or had anyone dear to you involved in the fighting of any military actions, you may want to think twice before reading this book.
As far as the actual/physical part of reading the book, I definitely enjoyed the author’s style. However, when it comes to the emotional side of things … that is where I personally found it challenging to read. My dad was a bazooka man on Okinawa starting in December 1945 at the ripe ol’ age of 19. (yes, prior to that, the war had been declared “over”but some of the people either hadn’t been told or refused to believe it. the area had to be maintained for the sake of peace and recovery.) My suggestion is, if you have or had anyone dear to you involved in the fighting of any military actions, you may want to think twice before reading this book.
February 17, 2020
This was the very compelling account of the Battle of Okinawa as told through the eyes of Art Shaw who was a Major at the time. The battle lasted nearly three months and was considered the bloodiest battle of the Pacific War. The Japanese were brutal and Major Shaw relates the courage, bravery and patriotism that the American soldiers fought with. The toll of human life was heavy on both sides, but the Americans were victorious. The culmination of this savage battle was what convinced the U.S. to drop the atomic bombs on Japan.
Thank you to William Morrow and Goodreads for the gift of this book that I received in a giveaway.
Thank you to William Morrow and Goodreads for the gift of this book that I received in a giveaway.
October 24, 2020
I received 82 Days on Okinawa: A Memoir of the Pacific's Greatest Battle through a Goodreads Giveaway.
This memoir is a must-read for anyone with an interest in understanding the experiences of soldiers who fought in the Pacific Theater during World War II, which is widely under-discussed and taught in many schools. Personally, I wasn't taught much about the Pacific Theater as many of my professors have preferred to focus on the more obvious interests of World War II, such as the Eastern Front. As such, I really enjoyed having the wonderful opportunity to read this first-hand account of a man's experience as the first American officer ashore.
This memoir is a must-read for anyone with an interest in understanding the experiences of soldiers who fought in the Pacific Theater during World War II, which is widely under-discussed and taught in many schools. Personally, I wasn't taught much about the Pacific Theater as many of my professors have preferred to focus on the more obvious interests of World War II, such as the Eastern Front. As such, I really enjoyed having the wonderful opportunity to read this first-hand account of a man's experience as the first American officer ashore.
December 6, 2021
Finished 82 Days on Okinawa: One American's Unforgettable Firsthand Account of the Pacific War's Greatest Battle by Art Shaw & Robert Wise. This book is the account of the last major land campaign in the Pacific Theater and was to lead up to the invasion of the Japanese home islands. This is a vivid account of the brutal nature of fighting the Japanese well hidden in jungles and caves. The battles were close up and often involved hand to hand combat to the death. I’m in awe of the bravery of these men of the greatest generation, overcoming fear, terrible conditions a miserable survival rate.
February 24, 2020
An interesting first person account of one of the major battles in the WWII Pacific theater. Major Art Shaw (now a retired Colonel) was an artillery officer and the first Marine on the beach at Okinawa. This book was written late in his life with Robert L. Wise. As result the narrative takes first and third omniscient and limited voices, as there are parts where he is describing things that happened to other people when he was not present. Most of the memoir, however, involves parts of the battle that he was involved in.
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