So like a lot of you I finally saw the movie Hacksaw Ridge. It was a great movie and I just had to visit the site of where it actually happened here in Okinawa. Sometimes I think about the terrible battles that have happened here, and I can’t believe that I live here.
It was a very surreal day. The battle of Hacksaw Ridge took place in May of 1945 so almost 72 years ago. I just stood back and kind of watched my boys and the other Japanese tourists. My sweet Colt stands out in Okinawa with his blonde hair and all the locals just love him. I watched as he ran in circles around groups of Japanese tourists and the way they just smiled and waved at him. How could it be that not that long ago we were bitter enemies. Then I looked at my oldest son and thought that some of the men that fought here were just a few years older than him.
Urasoe Castle which is on the ridge was the Japanese defensive position during the battle. The Japanese fought from the castle and in caves and tunnels around the castle. It was on the North side of the castle where Desmond Doss lowered injured men down the cliff. I was surprised to see how much of the castle survived the battle.
This is the part of the Ocean that the ships were located during the battle.
