82 Days on Okinawa, Art Shaw
82 Days on Okinawa, Art Shaw
7 Rating(s)
List: $26.99 | Sale: $18.89
Club: $13.49

82 Days on Okinawa
One American’s Unforgettable Firsthand Account of the Pacific War’s Greatest Battle

Author: Art Shaw, Robert L. Wise

Narrator: Jim Seybert

Unabridged: 8 hr 50 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: HarperAudio

Published: 03/03/2020

Includes: Bonus Material Bonus Material Included


Synopsis

In celebration of the 75th anniversary, a riveting first-hand account of the Battle of Okinawa—the Pacific War’s ""bloodiest battle of all"" (New York Times)—from the first officer ashore, who served at the front for the battle’s entire 82-day duration, heroism that earned him a Bronze Star.On Easter Sunday, April 1, 1945, 1,500 Allied ships and 1.5 million men gathered off the coast of the Japanese island of Okinawa and launched the largest amphibious assault of the Pacific War. They expected an 80% casualty rate. The first American officer ashore was Major Art Shaw, a unit commander in the U.S. Army’s 361 Artillery Battalion of the 96th Division, often called the Deadeyes. For the next three months, Major Shaw and his men served at the front lines of the Pacific’s bloodiest battle, their artillery proving decisive against a ""phantom enemy"" who had entrenched themselves into rugged, craggy island. Now, at 98, Art Shaw looks back to tell the story. 82 Days on Okinawa is an extraordinary eyewitness account of this critical World War II battle.The first step of Operation Downfall—the ground invasion of Japan—the Battle of Okinawa became legendary for its brutality. Over 82 days, the Allies fought the Japanese Army in one of the bloodiest campaigns of the war, one in which more than 150,000 soldiers would die. When the final calculations were made, the totals said that the Deadeyes had killed 37,763 of the enemy. The 361 Field Artillery Battalion had played a crucial role in victory. It would be the last major battle of World War II, and a key pivot point leading to the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the Japanese surrender in August, two months after the siege’s end. A riveting first-person account of this turning point, 82 Days on Okinawa joins the ranks of Donald Stratton’s All the Gallant Men and Dusty Kleiss' Never Call Me a Hero.Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

About Art Shaw

COLONEL ARTHUR “ART” SHAW (1920–2020) was a Field Artillery Unit Commander for the 361st Artillery Battalion of the 96th Division during the battles for Leyte and Okinawa. His numerous medals include the Bronze Star.

About Robert L. Wise

ROBERT L. WISE is the author of 34 books, including five which cover the World War II period.


Reviews

Goodreads review by CYIReadBooks on 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 pre......more

Goodreads review by Carly on August 14, 2023

An amazing memoir — I have so much respect for all of these men. R.I.P. Art Shaw:(......more

Goodreads review by Ronald on May 01, 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 sty......more

Goodreads review by Krisette on 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 w......more

Goodreads review by Linda on 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......more