[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 41 (Thursday, March 9, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E297]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                THE BATTLE OF OKINAWA--TYPHOON OF STEEL

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 9, 2017

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, ``America was not built on fear. 
America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable 
determination to do the job at hand.'' These words were spoken by 
President Harry S. Truman after World War II. Our courageous sailors 
and soldiers defended freedom and liberty on two fronts. In the 
Pacific, they fought on the beaches, ultimately leading to the 
surrender of the Japanese. Saipan, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa were the names 
of some of the island hopping invasion sites. Those of the Greatest 
Generation proved that when the peace of our nation is threatened, our 
people will stand up and fight. Tom Morgan is just one of those 
patriots in the Greatest Generation who answered the call to fight for 
our great nation.
   When World War II began, Tom was just 21 years old. He answered his 
country's call to duty and joined the U.S. Marines. He fought in all 
three Pacific battles: Guadalcanal, Saipan, and Okinawa. He contracted 
malaria on his first tour in 1942 at Guadalcanal. That didn't stop him. 
In the summer of 1944, he fought in the Battle of Saipan. On July 8, 
1944, the stars and stripes were raised in victory over Saipan, and Tom 
survived his second major battle. Less than a year later, Tom was sent 
to fight in the Battle of Okinawa, or the Typhoon of Steel as it was 
called because of intense shelling and gunfire. On that Easter morning, 
1945, Tom and his fellow Marines were on board a transport ship eating 
breakfast in the mess hall when an enemy kamikaze plane hit their ship. 
Water began filling up in the mess hall, and Tom thought he was going 
to meet his maker. However, the man above had different plans for Tom. 
The hatch flew open, and Tom was able to escape. Tom and his fellow 
Marines sailed on to Okinawa where they stormed the beaches in the 
final island battle of the Pacific. The bloodiest battle yet was the 
largest amphibious invasion of World War II: over 60,000 soldiers 
invaded the island. Tom was one of them in the battle that thundered on 
for 82 days.
   Japanese General Ushijima Mitsuru and his soldiers had created a 
series of defense lines across the island which provided them with a 
strong resistance against our soldiers. The Japanese Army staked most 
of their defenses at Shuri Castle. The Tenth Army battled for nearly 
two months, inch by inch, hill by hill, to take Shuri Castle.
   The Marines seized the Capitol, Naha, and then the Japanese 
retreated to the southern tip of the island where many surrendered or 
committed suicide. The generals on both sides died in the course of 
battle: General Simon Buckner by a sniper and General Ushijima Mitsuru 
by suicide. On June 22, 1945, the United States flag was raised in 
victory over Okinawa. Our soldiers would not have experienced land 
victory, if not for our sailor's water victory over Japanese kamikaze 
aircraft.
   One of my favorite battleships, the USS Texas, participated in the 
invasion of Okinawa. She provided initial support, gunfire support, and 
fended off aerial assaults for nearly two months. Suicide plane attacks 
by the Japanese army and navy were relentless against our navy fleet. 
The gunfire at Okinawa was the most extensive in history, 26 ships were 
sunk and 164 damaged. The Mighty T survived; she was an integral part 
of the Okinawa victory.
   Some today forget the feats of these warriors of World War II. Some 
never came home. American casualties were the highest experienced in 
any campaign against the Japanese. More than 49,000 American casualties 
occurred, including 12,000 deaths. They were great Americans and we 
should always remember them.
   My friend Tom's story is not over; he survived his third battle at 
Okinawa. He remained in the Marines until 1946 and continued his 
service in the Reserves. He even served three months in the Korean War. 
At 96 years young, Tom is the oldest active lawman in the State of 
Texas.
   President Ronald Reagan best summed up soldiers like Tom when he 
said, ``Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a 
difference. The Marines don't have that problem.''
   And that's just the way it is.

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