The vessel in the foreground on the right is the command ship of U.S. landing forces during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. (Courtesy of Bill Buckner)
The vessel in the foreground on the right is the command ship of U.S. landing forces during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. (Courtesy of Bill Buckner)
Army Lt Gen. Simon B. Buckner, Jr., who led Army and Marine troops in the Battle of Okinawa, took numerous numbers of photos. Buckner was killed after fragments of an artillery shell struck him in June 18, 1945, five days before an organized battle ended on the island. (Courtesy of Bill Buckner)
Army Lt Gen. Simon B. Buckner, Jr., who led Army and Marine troops in the Battle of Okinawa, took a number of photos. Buckner was killed after fragments of an artillery shell struck him in June 18, 1945, five days before an organized battle ended on the island. (Courtesy of Bill Buckner)
Two servicemembers give a safety check of a path from atop a ridge in the southwestern tip of Okinawa for a visit of Army Lt Gen. Simon B. Buckner, Jr., who led Army and Marine troops in the Battle of Okinawa. Shortly after taking this photo, Buckner was killed when fragments of an artillery shell struck him in June 18, 1945, five days before the battle ended on the island. (Courtesy of Bill Buckner)
Army Lt Gen. Simon B. Buckner, Jr., who led Army and Marine troops in the Battle of Okinawa, took numerous numbers of photos. Buckner was killed after fragments of an artillery shell struck him in June 18, 1945, five days before an organized battle ended on the island. (Courtesy of Bill Buckner)
Army Lt Gen. Simon B. Buckner, Jr., who led Army and Marine troops in the Battle of Okinawa, was killed after fragments of an artillery shell struck him in June 18, 1945, five days before the battle ended on the island. (Courtesy of Bill Buckner)
Okinawa Martial Arts Arena, one of few buildings that survived the 82-day ground battle. Army Lt Gen. Simon B. Buckner, Jr., who led Army and Marine troops in the Battle of Okinawa, took numerous numbers of photos before he was killed in June 18, 1945, when fragments of an artillery shell struck him atop a ridge in southwestern tip on the island. (Courtesy of Bill Buckner)
The Sixth Marine Division Cemetery located on Camp Hansen. This photo was taken by Jerry Scholand, a Navy reserve officer and commander of a refugee camp in Nago shortly after the end of the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. (Courtesy of the Ryukyu America Historical Research Society)
A refugee camp set up in the Taira community in Nago. Many such camps were built in northern and central parts of the island shortly after the end of the Battle of Okinawa. This photo was taken by Jerry Scholand, a Navy reserve officer and commander of a refugee camp in Nago shortly after the end of the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. (Courtesy of the Ryukyu America Historical Research Society)
Japanese Imperial Army soldiers hiding in northern mountains surrendered after an battle on the island ended in June 23, 1945. This photo was taken by Jerry Scholand, a Navy reserve officer and commander of a refugee camp in Nago shortly after the end of the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. (Courtesy of the Ryukyu America Historical Research Society)
Japanese Imperial Army soldiers hiding in northern mountains surrender after a battle on the island ended in June 23, 1945. This photo was taken by Jerry Scholand, a Navy reserve officer and commander of a refugee camp in Nago shortly after the end of the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. (Courtesy of the Ryukyu America Historical Research Society)
Okinawa in 1945 (Courtesy of Donn E. Cuson)
Okinawa in 1945. (Courtesy Donn E. Cuson)
Shuri on Okinawa in 1945 (Courtesy of Donn E. Cuson)
Okinawa in 1945 (Courtesy of Donn E. Cuson)
Okinawa between 1955 and 1958 (Courtesy Donn E. Cuson)
CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — An exhibit of photographs taken during the Battle of Okinawa and the rebuilding years that followed, will be available for public viewing next week.
The free exhibit, “From the Ashes…”Courage and Determination,” will be held at Nanjo City’s Chinen Gymnasium, and will be open June 17 to June 23 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The more than 1,200 photographs on display were taken by American servicemembers who fought in the battle or served during the time when the island was struggling to recover. Among the photos are 50 taken by Army Lt. Gen. Simon B. Buckner Jr., who was killed in the final days of the battle in 1945.
Donn E. Cuson of Arizona, who was stationed on Kadena Air Base from 1963 to 1967, contributed more than 800 photos that he had collected during his tour. Much of them depict island life immediately after the end of the war.
Another photographer whose photos are prominently featured is Jerry Scholand, a Navy reserve officer and commander of a refugee camp captured on film a mass surrender of hundreds of Japanese Imperial soldiers.
For directions or more information on the exhibit, visit the Ryukyu America Historical Research Society website at: http://www.ryubei.com/english/index.html, or email; kishaba@ryubei.com.
