Travel Photo: Things Were Looking Grim

General's Last Night

 

 

This cave was the final command post for the Japanese Army, during the Battle of Okinawa.

Generals Ushijima and Cho had their headquarters here and, knew the war was ending.

On the night of June 21, 1945, they made their final preparations.

The American forces, would soon overtake them and, surrender was out of the question.

The Generals, said their farewells and, ordered the troops to fight until death. 

Shortly after four, the next morning, they left the cave.

Spreading a sheet a little way from the cavern the entrance they did a samurai thing.

They had failed the Emperor so, poked their swords in their bellies.

If you enjoy morbid travel stories: Read It All in an Army History Book.

Kenji Monument at Mabuni in Itoman, Okinawa, Japan (Images)

10 Photos of the Kenji Monument Area

 

It's been a few years since my last visit to this war memorial.

April of 2013, Doc Graff and I went back for some photography under cloudy skies.

The Battle of Okinawa began in April of 1945.

Hundreds of high school-age children were forced to serve with the Japanese forces.

The Kenji Monument is a memorial to those who lost their lives.

A bit off the beaten path, not many travelers visit this site.

It should be part of any tour going to Peace Memorial Park.

Good photojournalism requires the author to answer five questions.

Who, What, When, Where and Why?

Any other information you can provide is a bonus.

So, it's important to look at the scene from every possible angle.

Down in the caves was probably where these youngsters lived their last few days.

Visitors should go inside to get a feel for what it was like.

Things smell different and the sounds aren't the same.

It could give you goosebumps or, make your heart rate change, being in there.

And, you have to be really careful coming back out.

Maybe, you would slip and fall or, be blinded by the light, leaving the caves.

It would be nice to do an article about the Kenji Monument.

The Who, What, When and Where parts, I've got them all and, even more.

The only ingredient I'm missing is.....

 WHY?

LOCATION