Brevard's Milt Fletcher recalls Easter morning's Battle of Okinawa
Brevard resident James Milton Fletcher served in the U.S. Army Reserves from June 6, 1944-December 1956. He served as Rifleman in the 184th Regiment, fighting in the last battle of World War II, the Battle of Okinawa. His division was ordered to receive the surrender of the Japanese Army in Korea.
Fletcher, 96, recently told his story for the Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas. Here is his account:
“I was born on Dec. 31, 1926, in Americus, Georgia. I took my oath on June 6, 1944, D-Day, five days after I graduated from high school. They sent us to Hawaii for jungle training.
The Battle of Okinawa
“We were ordered to Okinawa. The Battle of Okinawa started on Easter Sunday (April 1), 1945. They fought viciously there for two months. The politicians declared the island secure, but they were still fighting when I got there in June. When I joined my Infantry outfit, they had 110% casualty. I asked, ‘How did you manage 110% casualties?’ The answer: ‘The replacements get shot pretty fast.’ The life expectancy, I heard, was 90 minutes. It was one of the bloodiest battles in the history of American warfare.
“We thought we were going to invade Japan on Labor Day, On Aug. 6, we heard on the radio that they had dropped this unusual bomb on Japan, and they were pursuing peace. We thought it was just a ruse to get us to walk into one of their surprise attacks. A week later, they dropped the second bomb and we realized it was for real.”
The Japanese Surrender
“Everybody was frightened because the Japanese had said that every man, woman, and child would die for their Emperor rather than surrender. We were very happy at the dropping of the second bomb. There was so much celebrating—we lost 600 men killed due to stray munitions."
According to the National World War II Museum, the official American casualty count between April 1 and June 22 is 12,520 killed out of 49,151 total casualties.
Milt Fletcher: “The fighting continued after the official end of the war. Okinawa is known as the last major campaign of World War II. In my opinion, it was the bloodiest battle in American history. Aug. 21 was the happiest day of my life. We had orders to go to Seoul, Korea to receive the Japanese Army surrender for Korea, the same day they surrendered to MacArthur in Tokyo Bay.”
Securing Korea After the Japanese Surrender
“We were assigned to secure the telephone systems in Seoul, occupy the treasury building, and guard the capitol building.
“People were stealing provisions the Japanese Army had there, so we guarded them and an opium factory. The Koreans had been almost slaves under the Japanese. We were processing them to go back to Japan. So we Americans became the managers until we could train the Koreans to be managers. I was made Staff Sergeant at age 18 and was discharged from active duty in December 1946, before I turned 20 years old.”
Back home and back to school
“I re-started college at Georgia Southwestern and later earned my M.A. at the University of Georgia in entomology and teaching. I became a teaching principal before I was 25 years old. I spent the Korean War running the reception center for draftees in Columbia, SC.
The R.O.T.C. boys were the green lieutenants who were replacements in Korea. We lost 54,260 GIs. In the Reserves for 12 years, I received the Infantry Rifleman’s badge.”
Career and family
“I worked for 30 years in sales and teacher training for Scott Foresman & Company. In 1951 I married Libby, a girl I had known since childhood. We have two children, Jim and Betsy. Sadly, Libby passed away in 2020.
“I love my country. It’s been good to me, gave me two college degrees, and helped me buy a home.I’ve lived in Brevard, N.C. for 10 years. I’m a firm believer in education. I’m taking an art class now and I’ve studied Chaucer, Middle English, and the Great Books. I attend yoga…and always siesta at 2:00 pm. I’ve had a good life, a full life.”
Janis Allen is the communications director for the Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas. The Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas’ mission is to honor veterans, educate the public and prserve history. Located at 21 East Main Street in Brevard (beside the courthouse), admission is free. Hours are 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. For more information call 828-884-2141 or visit theveteransmuseum.org.
This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: Brevard's Milt Fletcher recalls Easter morning's Battle of Okinawa
