The US military produced an estimated 1.5 million Purple Hearts during World War II, with a significant portion — around half a million — reserved for the anticipated casualties of the invasion, code-named Operation Downfall. The war ended before the invasion took place, and a large surplus of medals was left over.
Anticipated casualties: American military planners anticipated the invasion of Japan would be a costly and bloody conflict, leading to a massive number of potential casualties.
Large-scale production: In preparation for this, the military ordered an unprecedented number of Purple Heart medals, with production peaking in 1945.
Operation Downfall: The planned invasion, the largest amphibious assault in history, was divided into two phases: "Olympic" and "Coronet".
Overstock: The war ended in August 1945 before the invasion could be launched, leaving a massive surplus of approximately 500,000 Purple Heart medals.
Continued use: These surplus medals were used to award service members for wounds and deaths in subsequent conflicts, and some are still in stock decades after World War II - and still being issued to this day.
I am surprised Mad Man Joe did not hand those out to poor lefties who were offended by 'something'.
ReplyDeleteYou hear of guys who were on the way from Europe to the Pacific and guys already there talk about the utter relief of the war ending when it did. After the meat grinders of Peleliu and Okinawa, dropping the bombs was an easy decision. Still, too many people now question that decision, but I wonder how many of them would not even be here if grandpa had gotten killed in the streets of Osaka or Tokyo or Kobe or wherever.
ReplyDeleteMy late Father In Law was one of those GIs who came home because of the Bombs. Bronze Star with V, Purple Heart, Meritorious promotion to Sgt in the ETO.
DeleteSadly, he died before the wife and I ever met up.
The scary thing is post-surrender analysis in 1946 basically came out and said, "We undercalculated the casualties needed to subjugate the Japanese Islands and people."
ReplyDeleteThey can provide purple hearts for generations. But a republic, elected representatives , civil servants and a currency that can store value is just too much to ask???
ReplyDeleteSo why didn't the article mention why the war ended before the invasion could be launched?
ReplyDeleteThe original article is just too long to post
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