Shannon Stirnweis (B. 1931) "Okinawa Invaded by U.S. Marines" Signed lower right. Original Oil painting on Illustration Board.

Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation.

This painting originally appeared on the Republic of the Marshall Islands 55c Okinawa Invaded by U.S. Forces 1945 stamp issued April 1, 1995.

On April 1, 1945, a U.S. invasion force of some 180,000 soldiers and Marines, commanded by Army Lt. General Simon Bolivar Buckner, began landing on the shores of Okinawa. On June 18, Buckner would become the highest ranking American field officer to be killed in combat. Ernie Pyle, the Pulitzer Prize-winning war correspondent, would also die on nearby Ie Shima. If fighting was savage on Okinawa, the scene offshore was just as violent, with the U.S. Navy confronting waves of swarming kamikazes. For the Japanese Combined Fleet, the battle amounted to a suicide mission, as American planes scored hit after hit -- even sinking the giant Yamato. On June 22, when it was apparent that the Americans were about to take control of the island, commander of the Japanese forces Lt. General Mitsuru Ushijima committed Hara-Kiri -- honorable suicide.

Image Size: 18.25 x 22 in.
Overall Size: 20.25 x 24.25 in.
Unframed.
(B14979)

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