Sunday, June 17, 1945. Taking Kuishi Ridge.

The last Japanese defensive line was broken on Kuishi Ridge, Okinawa.  The US 7th Division completed the capture of Hills 153 and 115.

"Tec Sgt. Hiroshi Mukaye, Los Angeles, Cal., Japanese Interpreter for the 32nd Infantry Regiment, and S/Sgt. Ralph M. Saito, Ewa, Hawaii, interpreter for the 24th Corps, question this Japanese sailor brought in by the 32nd Infantry Regiment. 17 June. 1945. 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. Photo Source: U.S. National Archives. Digitized by Signal Corps Archive."  This photograph is remarkable in that S.Sgt  Santo has his rank drawn onto his fatigue cap in the same approximate size that later black subdued rank insignia would have it.  He also has his rank printed on the lapels of his fatigue shirt, which would anticipate the practice of the 1960s, although not in that location.

The 37th Infantry Division captured Naguilian on Luzon.  

Last edition:

Saturday, June 16, 1945. Oppenheimer writes a letter. Bell Bottom Trousers hits the charts. Belgians debate the return of a king. Sugar for canning.

Labels: 1940s, 1945, Belgium, Food, Greek Civil War, Horse Racing, Japanese Empire, Kamikaze, Manhattan Project, Music, Okinawa, Operation Ten-Go, Pop Music, Rationing, Robert Oppenheimer, Weapons, World War Two

Wednesday, January 6, 1943. No pleasure driving.

The Office of Price Administration banned pleasure driving in seventeen Eastern U.S. states, with the ban to commence at noon the following Thursday.

It also limited the amount of fuel oil that could be used by schools, churches, stores, theaters and other non-residential establishments.

German Admiral Erich Raeder tendered his resignation after a difficult meeting with Hitler over the Battle of the Barents Sea, which Raeder had not informed Hitler about.  Hitler actually learned about the battle in the foreign press.

Raeder was promoted on January 30 and put in a ceremonial post, but effectively his service was over.  He was captured by the Red Army towards the end of the war, which is surprising given that he was not serving and theoretically could have attempted to evade them.  He was sentenced to life in prison at Nuremberg, which surprised him, as he expected to be sentenced to death.  He was released in 1955 due to ill health and died in 1960.

Nisei serving in the U.S. Army began to accompany U.S. and Australian troops in New Guinea.

The Red Army continued to advance in the Caucasus, U.S. Troops were pushed off of the summit of Jeb el Azzaq in Tunisia, and the Free French took Oum-el-Arnaeb.

Marian Anderson sang at the dedication of a mural for the Department of the Interior.  Present were vocalists from the U.S. Navy, and JrROTC cadets who participated.