OKINAWARELICS.COM

"Adventure recovering the Past"
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**The Liberty Campaign Order signed by Lt. Gen. Richard C. Zilmer on September 29th 2008 applies to all service members and civilian personnel assigned 
to Marine Corps Bases Japan, III Marine Expeditionary Force in Japan, as well as their dependents.  The Marine Corps says no service members, civilian personnel assigned
 to Marine Corps Bases Japan, III MEF in Japan, or their dependents, will enter any burial site or tomb except as a member of a funeral cortege or as a family member at
appropriate ceremonies.**  

   

        Recollections of a Relic Hunter (Okinawa)              
                                                                                   
   During my last deployment to Okinawa Japan, Saturday mornings were a very special time for me. Short years ago, I was
able to experience such enjoyable experiences with my comrades in Relic Hunting Dwayne and Major B as we traveled the
World War 2 Battlefields of Okinawa.
 
  I knew that I had to write down the feelings and stories of our adventures exploring such historic places as Wana Ridge,
 Kunishi Ridge and the final assault at Cape Kiyan.
 
  This E-book describes those adventures and includes many never before seen photographs I've collected over the years, 
I offer this to you to enjoy and learn about this small aspect of the War and Okinawa in particular.
 
  Listen up !
 If your eyeballing  the site... how about  clicking on a few ads while your sucking up all this great gouge for nothing! 
Semper Fi, - Top 
 
Jon Mitchell's superbly written account of Dave Davenport's lifelong love of saving history and healing families
torn apart by the conflict.
BENEATH THE BATTLE OF OKINAWA    By Jon Mitchell - The Japan Times 13 June 2010
 
 
                  Japan Update Reports
  

**** Fisherman claims to know WW2 Ship's resting spot****

Date Posted: 2008-06-24

 

**** Battle of Okinawa remains found during construction****

Date Posted: 2009-09-24  - Japan Update

 

**** Apologies, criticism at 65th Anniversery Battle of Okinawa****

Date Posted: 2010-06-09

 

**** WWII Battlefields soon to get additional protection****

Date Posted: 2010-06-24
 

 

 Profile of CWO 2 Edward Hassig USMC 1927 - 1954

China Marine - Wake Island - POW

-click on pic -

Thank you Hassig family for your efforts in sharing Edward's military career with everyone.

 For Sale - Fresh 5 plus inch Megalodon Sharks Tooth

 

$300 Read about the dive below in the Blog.  Contact me: robert.wilke@usmc.mil 

  
  
 

 

Construction at Charlie Ridge

 

       

 

CLICK PICTURE ABOVE FOR RELIC

HUNTING STORIES  

 

Ode to the teeth!

 Updated: 24 Aug 10

 Click Here for Okinawarelics BLOG! 

    

 

Japanese Army Lieutenant's Non-Surrender
Dennis Moran recalls:
"The individual I refer to is someone I met in the village of Henoko, Okinawa, in 1963. He was tending a small store in an area of the village not frequented by Americans. I attempted to communicate my wants in my best broken Japanese, while he patiently listened. Then, he responded to me in perfect English. I asked where he had learned that English, and he said he had gone to college in the U.S. in the late 1930's.

 

   I asked what he was doing running a small store in Henoko when his language skills were surely of corporate value and, obviously, he was college-educated. He said he preferred a nondescript and low-key life. He peaked my curiosity, and he told me what had happened. He said he was drafted into the Japanese Infantry and commissioned a Lieutenant in WW2.

 

    He ended up on Okinawa, and near the end of the battle he surrendered what was left of his unit, recognizing the battle as totally lost. He said he then put on civilian clothes and simply mixed himself into the population. He said his family probably thought he was dead and that he and they were probably better off for it. He said he knew others who had done the same thing. He struck me as being very Westernized in some of his thinking. I didn't ask for any real particulars, as the war had been over for 18 years and I believed he was entitled to the life he had made. I don't think he was kidding.

 

   His English articulation was better than mine, and he was completely out of place. The U.S. military had long since lost interest in any Japanese military remnants on Okinawa who had become a part of the population, and they were no doubt aware of a substantial number who had assimilated. It was just a sleeping dog that was just as well to left lie.

 

    These guys are all in their 80's now - those that are still alive - but they may still want to protect the feelings and cultural values of siblings, and perhaps even of descendants. So at the time, and still, I reported nothing to the Japanese liason searching for the (for the most part, remains of) Japanese MIA's.

 

 

   While we gathered up my personal belongings, Chief said: “I pity the Marine who gets to ride on our stretcher.  He’ll have to lie right on Jap sabers or Mauser pistols or Arisaka rifles.”  He turned to Murph.  “You ‘member that guy who had to ride in on the Nambu machine gun?”

 

   According to Chief, he and Murph always loaded their stretcher with battle souvenirs and then carried their wounded in on top on them.  Officers who used to commend Murph and Chief for struggling in with wounded under heavy fire, little realized that under the wounded were enough battle souvenirs to keep the store open for months.  Just as they didn’t worry about insults, they didn’t worry much about danger.  They would go anywhere and endure any kind of fire if the pickings were good, and since they were fairly strong and had good endurance they brought in a lot of wounded Marines along with their hero gear.

Excerpt from “Marine at War” pg 173-174 – Russell Davis 1961

 

Corporal Rudolf thinks this is from B.C. Street

but it was a place to cool your heels

and have a "Amusing Time" in

Shanghai for the China Marines.

Battle of Okinawa Historical Society - Camp Kinser Okinawa Japan
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Veterans,

 

    Would you like to

donate a battle relic to the Museum?  Return a cultural item to the people of Okinawa? 

 

Contact:

Mr. Chris Majewski 

Director of the Non-Profit Battle of Okinawa Historical Society and former Marine for information.

 

iceberg0445@aol.com

 

 

*** I'm looking for general pictures of Okinawa - people and Marines- Equipment from

the 50's - 90's.  Use the contact me tab on top of page if you'd like to share your photographs.   ***

     Semper Fi,

            Bob Wilke 

 

                                                      June 16 1945 : Life Magazine: Battle of Okinawa Link 

 

                                                                              

               All photos in the gallery are free for copy (except for a select few), check back from time to time as I will be scanning in
more photos from veterans albums I have on hand as time and equipment permits. Feel free to send me any of your photographs that you wish
to be posted, I’d be happy to add them for everyone’s enjoyment!
  
RECENT  ADDITIONS click for hyperlink:  
- Saipan Banzai Charge Sword - Mar 2010
-New Tunnel Rat AFN Video of Dave Davenport  
- Recent Finds: Alan's boonie stomping trip report and amazing find in Saipan!  A one of a kind object you
don't want to miss!
 
Site Special Items:                                                                                                                      Marvel Comics  Sept 1964 
 
 
 
Ever wonder what it was like to be a Bomb Disposal Man on Guadacanal during the War?
Now you don't have to!  Click below to read Lt Chewing's account courtesy of the Disposaleer Magazine!
 
                         

 Metal Detecting Code of Ethics you should follow


No leaving of holes and trash you dug up behind.
Always ask permission to hunt private land.

Absolutely stay away from Tomb and Historical Areas! 
If you are asked to leave a place, just say, "Okay, sorry." and leave.
Avoid confrontation with the authorities.
Don't steal your friend's spots
Abide by all foreign, U.S. and local laws
Leave UXO and lethal ojects in place.  Mark if possible!
Use common sense and consideration for others when detecting.
Be responsible
Use thoughtfulness, consideration, and courtesy at all times.

Let somebody know where your going in case something happens.

 
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