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Operation Iceberg: The Invasion and Conquest of Okinawa in World War II
A unique re-creation of one of the century's most decisive battles--the terrible, four-month conflict that preceded by a scant eight weeks the Japanese surrender on V-J Day. Operation Iceberg, as it was known, saw the fiercest attack of kamikazes in the entire Pacific Theater of War. The U. S. fleet suffered severe 34 ships sunk, 368 damaged, 5,000 sailors killed and 5,000 more wounded. Before the Japanese, with a garrison of 100,000, finally surrendered, 7,700 American soldiers were killed and 31,800 were wounded.
In Operation Iceberg Gerald Astor draws on the raw experience of marines, sailors, soldiers and airmen under fire, from generals and admirals to correspondents, line officers and enlisted men on both sides of the battle lines. Their accounts are dramatic and graphic, brutal and awe-inspiring. Based on these first-hand accounts, and presenting a view of the battle that places it in the greater context of the entire Pacific theater, Operation Iceberg is a remarkable account of the last great battle of World War II.
In Operation Iceberg Gerald Astor draws on the raw experience of marines, sailors, soldiers and airmen under fire, from generals and admirals to correspondents, line officers and enlisted men on both sides of the battle lines. Their accounts are dramatic and graphic, brutal and awe-inspiring. Based on these first-hand accounts, and presenting a view of the battle that places it in the greater context of the entire Pacific theater, Operation Iceberg is a remarkable account of the last great battle of World War II.
576 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
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About the author
Gerald Astor
52 books14 followersGerald Morton Astor, a native of New Haven, grew up in Mount Vernon, N.Y. After his Army service in the Second World War, he received a bachelor’s degree from Princeton. He was the picture editor of Sports Illustrated in its early years and worked as an editor for Sport magazine, Look, The Saturday Evening Post and Time.
Besides his accounts of the Battle of the Bulge and the air war in Europe, Mr. Astor wrote of World War II in books including “The Greatest War: Americans in Combat, 1941-1945,” “June 6, 1944: The Voices of D-Day,” “Operation Iceberg: The Invasion and Conquest of Okinawa in World War II” and biographies of Maj. Gen. Terry Allen, a leading combat commander in both North Africa and Europe, and the Nazi medical experimenter Dr. Josef Mengele.
He also wrote “The Right to Fight: A History of African Americans in the Military” and “Presidents at War,” an account of presidents’ evolving assertion of authority to take military action in the absence of a Congressional declaration of war.
Mr. Astor edited “The Baseball Hall of Fame 50th Anniversary Book” and wrote a biography of the heavyweight champion Joe Louis, “And a Credit to His Race.” He collaborated with Anthony Villano, a former F.B.I. agent who recruited informants from the Mafia, in “Brick Agent.”
Besides his accounts of the Battle of the Bulge and the air war in Europe, Mr. Astor wrote of World War II in books including “The Greatest War: Americans in Combat, 1941-1945,” “June 6, 1944: The Voices of D-Day,” “Operation Iceberg: The Invasion and Conquest of Okinawa in World War II” and biographies of Maj. Gen. Terry Allen, a leading combat commander in both North Africa and Europe, and the Nazi medical experimenter Dr. Josef Mengele.
He also wrote “The Right to Fight: A History of African Americans in the Military” and “Presidents at War,” an account of presidents’ evolving assertion of authority to take military action in the absence of a Congressional declaration of war.
Mr. Astor edited “The Baseball Hall of Fame 50th Anniversary Book” and wrote a biography of the heavyweight champion Joe Louis, “And a Credit to His Race.” He collaborated with Anthony Villano, a former F.B.I. agent who recruited informants from the Mafia, in “Brick Agent.”
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 18, 2021
Mr. Astor, as usual perfect blends horrific human history with the big picture.
October 31, 2021
Highly recommend !
A great history of the Okinawa campaign told by the men who were there and fought the battle. I have read other books by the late Gerald Astor concerning World War Two and they are all excellent.
A great history of the Okinawa campaign told by the men who were there and fought the battle. I have read other books by the late Gerald Astor concerning World War Two and they are all excellent.
October 12, 2021
3 1/2 Stars
July 31, 2024
Very hard to read. Story wasn’t not in order of events or even events of just Okinawa. Had to stop halfway. Only positive was the unique nature of hearing only soldiers perspectives.
September 25, 2012
Astor begins by disclaiming accuracy (as he should for self-report taken, often, decades after the event) but the accuracy is also questionable due to Astor’s discounting of the perception of Japanese military and Okinawan civil sources. What strikes me in the personal accounts is the youth of the American participants (many relate to their preparation as Boy Scouts). It reminds me of Vonnegut’s proposition that all wars are actually children’s crusades.
Robert Heinlein proposed that only veterans be allowed to vote. Of course, this presupposes that each generation will find an appropriately menacing enemy to subdue, and that violence is an acceptable response to the sense that one is being menaced. There may be multiple problems with Heinlein’s thesis, but one is the Vonnegut proposition.
Vonnegut was barely 22 when captured at the Battle of the Bulge, and his position is that survivors—particularly young survivors—tend to glorify their war experiences. The problem is not the age at which they survive, but the age at which they are indoctrinated (Heinlein graduated from the Naval Academy at the age of 21; Astor saw service during the War as a teenager).
I suppose it’s no secret that the military likes its recruits as young as the law will allow, and for a reason shared with the Jesuits: the young are retentive, impressionable, and not easily choked by caution. However, while this may improve the effectiveness of one’s command, it also makes veterans less critically reflective about their war experiences. For the most part, Heinlein/Vonnegut/ Astor’s generation came back from their war believing that military threat advantage was a valid diplomatic tool. This has turned America into a global bully, if only in the eyes of those beyond our own borders. And it’s placed us at the mercy of our own military.
We are a nation that has spent most of its time at war with other nations—particularly since moving our imperialist ambitions beyond the confines of our own continent. Is it just coincidental that we have spent so much of our national existence at war? Civil liberty requires the rule of law. Inter arma enim silent leges. The military does not insure our freedom, it threatens our freedom.
Robert Heinlein proposed that only veterans be allowed to vote. Of course, this presupposes that each generation will find an appropriately menacing enemy to subdue, and that violence is an acceptable response to the sense that one is being menaced. There may be multiple problems with Heinlein’s thesis, but one is the Vonnegut proposition.
Vonnegut was barely 22 when captured at the Battle of the Bulge, and his position is that survivors—particularly young survivors—tend to glorify their war experiences. The problem is not the age at which they survive, but the age at which they are indoctrinated (Heinlein graduated from the Naval Academy at the age of 21; Astor saw service during the War as a teenager).
I suppose it’s no secret that the military likes its recruits as young as the law will allow, and for a reason shared with the Jesuits: the young are retentive, impressionable, and not easily choked by caution. However, while this may improve the effectiveness of one’s command, it also makes veterans less critically reflective about their war experiences. For the most part, Heinlein/Vonnegut/ Astor’s generation came back from their war believing that military threat advantage was a valid diplomatic tool. This has turned America into a global bully, if only in the eyes of those beyond our own borders. And it’s placed us at the mercy of our own military.
We are a nation that has spent most of its time at war with other nations—particularly since moving our imperialist ambitions beyond the confines of our own continent. Is it just coincidental that we have spent so much of our national existence at war? Civil liberty requires the rule of law. Inter arma enim silent leges. The military does not insure our freedom, it threatens our freedom.
October 3, 2014
I read this book as my grandfather fought with the British Army against the Japanese during World War II in a similar environment to Okinawa and I wanted some idea of the experiences he might have had. Obviously the book centres around the US armed forces that took part in the invasion of Okinawa as they made up the vast majority of the allied forces involved. Nevertheless, it was a great source of information.
The book details the lead up to the fighting on Okinawa as well as the invasion and subsequent battles on Okinawa itself. The historical description is very detailed without being too dry, and it is clear that the author has done a lot of research into the subject. There are detailed accounts of the contributions of the US Army, Marines and Navy (including the air arms of each), as well as some discussion from the Japanese point of view. The facts are backed up with a large array of quotes and anecdotes supplied by the men that were there (mostly American, but some Japanese). These stories are fascinating and give a clear indication of the kind of conditions that they experienced. There are also many tales of heroic actions by individuals and units of various sizes.
My one criticism of this book is that it is rather long. Although this isn't a bad thing in itself, I felt that the same points were being made over and over again. Maybe this just demonstrates the truth behind them, but I thought that a book around two thirds of the length would have been sufficient to demonstrate just how terrible the fighting was. If you want an idea of what the men on both sides endured, then I recommend this book.
The book details the lead up to the fighting on Okinawa as well as the invasion and subsequent battles on Okinawa itself. The historical description is very detailed without being too dry, and it is clear that the author has done a lot of research into the subject. There are detailed accounts of the contributions of the US Army, Marines and Navy (including the air arms of each), as well as some discussion from the Japanese point of view. The facts are backed up with a large array of quotes and anecdotes supplied by the men that were there (mostly American, but some Japanese). These stories are fascinating and give a clear indication of the kind of conditions that they experienced. There are also many tales of heroic actions by individuals and units of various sizes.
My one criticism of this book is that it is rather long. Although this isn't a bad thing in itself, I felt that the same points were being made over and over again. Maybe this just demonstrates the truth behind them, but I thought that a book around two thirds of the length would have been sufficient to demonstrate just how terrible the fighting was. If you want an idea of what the men on both sides endured, then I recommend this book.
July 30, 2016
The book is okay. It is hard to follow the narrative and action as there is only one map in the entire book. There are also too many characters. I understand the author was trying to personalize the war and give a voice to regular sailors, soldiers, civilians, marines etc. but at times it's hard to remember who is who.
April 15, 2013
Great book about the last great Campaign in the Pacific of WWII.
January 6, 2014
A large book full of first person accounts of the battle. This kind of writing is Gerald Astor's specialty and I've been a fan of his ever since I found myself reading "A Blood Dimmed Tide" non stop.
October 31, 2014
It was an excellent read. Gerald Astor is a great author.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews