Men and Women in World War II
Simon B. Buckner:
July 18, 1886 - June 18, 1945
General Simon Bolivar Buckner, Jr. was an American general during World War II. He served in the Pacific Theater of Operations and commanded the defenses of Alaska early in the war. After that assignment, he was promoted to command Tenth Army, which conducted the amphibious assault on the Japanese island of Okinawa. He was killed June 18, 1945, on one of the closing
days of the battle of Okinawa. Buckner was posthumously promoted to the rank of full four-star general on July 19, 1954 by a Special Act of
Congress.
July 18, 1886 - June 18, 1945
General Simon Bolivar Buckner, Jr. was an American general during World War II. He served in the Pacific Theater of Operations and commanded the defenses of Alaska early in the war. After that assignment, he was promoted to command Tenth Army, which conducted the amphibious assault on the Japanese island of Okinawa. He was killed June 18, 1945, on one of the closing
days of the battle of Okinawa. Buckner was posthumously promoted to the rank of full four-star general on July 19, 1954 by a Special Act of
Congress.
Ushijima Mitsuru:
1887-1945
Ushijima Mitsuru was born in Kagoshima and graduated from the Japanese military academy in 1908 and the Army Staff College in 1918. He participated in the Siberian Expedition in 1918-1919 before becoming an instructor at the Infantry School (1920-1924) and director of the Toyama Military School (1932-1933.) Ushijima was given command of 11 Division in central China in 1939 and again led it in Burma in 1942. After a tour as commandant of the military academy, he was given command of 32
Army on Okinawa on 8 August 1944. His army was very resistance to the American invasion of Okinawa. Ushijima and his chief of staff, Cho Isamu, committed ritual suicide on 21 June when Japanese resistance finally collapsed. His consideration for his men went so far as to admonish his junior officers to refrain from striking their subordinates, a common practice in the Japanese Army.
1887-1945
Ushijima Mitsuru was born in Kagoshima and graduated from the Japanese military academy in 1908 and the Army Staff College in 1918. He participated in the Siberian Expedition in 1918-1919 before becoming an instructor at the Infantry School (1920-1924) and director of the Toyama Military School (1932-1933.) Ushijima was given command of 11 Division in central China in 1939 and again led it in Burma in 1942. After a tour as commandant of the military academy, he was given command of 32
Army on Okinawa on 8 August 1944. His army was very resistance to the American invasion of Okinawa. Ushijima and his chief of staff, Cho Isamu, committed ritual suicide on 21 June when Japanese resistance finally collapsed. His consideration for his men went so far as to admonish his junior officers to refrain from striking their subordinates, a common practice in the Japanese Army.
Nancy Wake:
30th August, 1912 - 7th August, 2011.
Nancy Wake was born in Wellington, New Zealand, on 30th August, 1912. The family
moved to Australia in 1914 and after being educated in Sydney Nancy travelled to Europe where she worked as a journalist. In Nazi Germany she saw the rise of Adolf Hitler and the death of Germany's President. On one occasion in Vienna she witnessed Jews being whipped by members of the Nazi group called Sturm Abteilung. In 1939 Nancy married the wealthy French industrialist, Henri Fiocca, in Marseilles. Nancy was in France when the German Army invaded in May 1940. After the French government surrendered, Nancy joined the French Resistance. She worked with Ian Garrow's group helping British airmen shot down over France to escape back to Britain.
30th August, 1912 - 7th August, 2011.
Nancy Wake was born in Wellington, New Zealand, on 30th August, 1912. The family
moved to Australia in 1914 and after being educated in Sydney Nancy travelled to Europe where she worked as a journalist. In Nazi Germany she saw the rise of Adolf Hitler and the death of Germany's President. On one occasion in Vienna she witnessed Jews being whipped by members of the Nazi group called Sturm Abteilung. In 1939 Nancy married the wealthy French industrialist, Henri Fiocca, in Marseilles. Nancy was in France when the German Army invaded in May 1940. After the French government surrendered, Nancy joined the French Resistance. She worked with Ian Garrow's group helping British airmen shot down over France to escape back to Britain.
Natalia Peshkova:
Natalia Peshkova was drafted into the Russian Army straight out of high
school at age 17. She was trained with weapons that were old and did not work to the state standard and then sent off with a unit theat did not have the resources they needed to live. Peshkova spent three years at the front line were the wounded soldiers were trying to fight disease and starvation among the troops. She was wounded three times. Once, when the Germans moved into an area the Soviets held, Peshkova was separated from her unit and had to disguise herself. However, she could not discard her weapon because she knew the Soviet Army would execute her for losing it! Yet she made it back to her unit safely and not spotted by German troops. As the war dragged on, Peshkova was promoted to Sergeant Major and given political education duties further from the front. After the war, she was awarded the Order of the Red Star for bravery.
Natalia Peshkova was drafted into the Russian Army straight out of high
school at age 17. She was trained with weapons that were old and did not work to the state standard and then sent off with a unit theat did not have the resources they needed to live. Peshkova spent three years at the front line were the wounded soldiers were trying to fight disease and starvation among the troops. She was wounded three times. Once, when the Germans moved into an area the Soviets held, Peshkova was separated from her unit and had to disguise herself. However, she could not discard her weapon because she knew the Soviet Army would execute her for losing it! Yet she made it back to her unit safely and not spotted by German troops. As the war dragged on, Peshkova was promoted to Sergeant Major and given political education duties further from the front. After the war, she was awarded the Order of the Red Star for bravery.