World War II veteran recalls legendary island battle
Glenn Moore shared his memories and memorabilia with group at library.
By Joyce White
Special to the Sun Journal

LOVELL – Glenn Moore, 80, is a World War II Marine veteran who spoke recently at Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library of his experiences fighting on Okinawa. His wife of 56 years, Claire, helped with the presentation of the couple’s extensive display of war memorabilia.

Lovell is their summer home; Lincoln Park, N.J., their winter residence.

Moore said he was in high school when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.

“I heard FDR’s (President Roosevelt’s) speech about ‘this day of infamy’ and I wanted to join up right then,” he said. His mother persuaded him to wait until after Christmas.

He finished high school before joining the Marines, becoming part of the 6th Maine Division. It landed on Okinawa on Easter Sunday, April 1, 1945.

“I prayed a lot,” Moore said, and remembered thinking, “If I don’t make it in this invasion, at least it’s Easter Sunday.”

The island lies between Japan 350 miles to the north and Formosa 350 miles to the south, he said, and Japanese Kamikaze planes took off 500 at a time from those bases, taking a heavy toll on the U.S. fleet.

The battle for Okinawa went on for 100 days. The Japanese were fierce fighters, he said, and the Marines carried heavy packs as they slogged through mud created by six weeks of rain.

Casualties on both sides were high, with 12,500 U.S servicemen killed taking Okinawa.

When the Marines finally reached the south end of the 67 mile-long island, Moore said they raised the American flag as they had at the north end.

At the conclusion of fighting June 21, 1945, Moore said the 6th Marine Division and its supporting units were awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for their efforts during the 100-day battle.

He remembers the happiest time as getting on the ship to begin the journey home.

“We had our first hot meal in 100 days: meat loaf and potatoes. I couldn’t believe how good it was.”

Moore said he was fortunate-“I didn’t get a scratch.”

The G.I Bill financed his college education, which prepared him for 38 years of teaching and coaching.

The best part of the war experience, he said, was the feeling of brotherhood, “what we would do for each other under horrible conditions.”

And, he said, good also came from the horrors of the battle.

A peace memorial called “The Garden of Remembrance” was put on the southern end of Okinawa in a joint effort between the combatants.

The three sides of the monument represent the Japanese, the Okinawans and the American forces. The names of all 12,500 slain U.S. servicemen appear on monuments throughout the garden, Moore said, and as well 82 names of British Naval forces.

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