U.S. Navy warship founds Okinawa positions. A blanket of smoke billows from the guns of a U.S.

U.S. Navy warship founds Okinawa positions. A blanket of smoke billows from the guns of a U.S. Navy warship as it hurls shells on Japanese positions on Okinawa. The Americans landed on the strategic Ryukyu (Leechee) island, 375miles (600 km.) from Japan, March 31, 1945. By June9, they had isilated elements of the Japanese forces on Oroku Peninsula and were attacking the last main defense line in the south. Bitter fighting was continuing on the strategic island. U.S. President Harry S. Truman, in a message to Congress June 1, warned: "No matter how hard we hit the enemy from the air or from the sea, the feet soldier will still have to advance against strongly entrenched and fanatical troops, through sheer grit and fighting skill, backed up by all the machinal superiority in flame-throwers, tanks and artillery we can put at his disposal. There is no easy way to win".