A small rocky typhoon swept island. This is okinawa, principal link in a chain of islands that stretches from japan to formosa. Unimportant this perhaps at first glance, but the role in todays tense world is out of proportion to the size. An area equal to half of that rhode island, okinawa is a vital out post less than 400 miles from the post of communist china. But okinawa has not always played the important world role it plays today. For many centuries it slept, an island off the beaten track of world affairs. Futile lords were over villages where life centered around rice and religion. Answers to worship was the dominant phase. Here peaceful peasants lived and worked. And children played with little brother or sister, a perennial passenger. It was a contented culture that looked back ward rather than forward for the inspiration. As such, it changed little over the centuries. Agriculture was the most important occupancy. The ungenerous work was worked by hand with hand tools. Crops were sewn and harvested by hand. It was a rough, simple life. When the crops were good and the harvest plentiful, the people were content. They lived in peace in primitive prosperity. The harvest occupied everyone. It was the womens work to separate the grain from the chad. It took strenuous shaking to set the rice kerjs through a small sieve. A method as old as farming itself. The United States first became acquainted with okinawa when Matthew Perry landed an expedition here in 1853. Some of his men are buried here. When perry returned to the United States, he recommended to congress that they annex the island, but congress was uninterested. It was not until 1871 that anyone expressed further interest in the primitive island. At that time Japan Incorporated it into her empire. The japanese gave auk gnaw away their language and introduced them to the more advanced japanese culture. The dance in particular became important and the people from okinawa took pleasure in many celebrations featuring the highly stylized oriental dance. However, the japanese looked upon the island primarily as a source of agricultural supply, and so life in okinawa changed very little over the years until the outbreak of world war ii. Vital to the Japanese Defense, okinawa had to be taken before our main attack on japan at sea. After the most tremendous naval and air pounding of the pacific war, american troops landed on okinawa. It was easter sunday, 1945. It was also april fools day. It marked the beginning of the most bitter island battle in modern history. The Japanese Defense turned out to be desperate. This was a last outpost. Their last chance to blunt the american blow on japan itself. They fought with fanatical fury. And the island gave the rugged support, deep caves, jagged ridges and sleep clifs all aided the enemy. It was a small, difficult process. An individual operation against each and every japanese soldier. It was a tough way to fight on a tough Little Island. Okinawa earned the name, the rock. Six whole divisions took five whole months to rest okinawa. The few prisoners taken attested to the fury of the battle. When it was all over, there wasnt much left standing on okinawa. Naha, the capital was in shambles. We had no time to fix it because the rock was the staging area for the assault on japan. But that assault never came. Suddenly and dramatically the war ended and when the japanese surrenders, okinawa was placed under United States ju jurisdiction. Okinawa after rot and rust away. The rock was forgotten. The fu troops that remained lived in temporary quarters. They primary concern was a battle with the elements. First dust, so much it darkened the sky. Then there were the typhoons. Sweeping in off the ocean, they lashed the Little Island with their fury. Leaving behind a path of wrecked buildings and equipment. And after, mud. Bogging down everything to a crawl. Then in 1949 the chinese mainland fell to the communists and suddenly almost overnight the situation changed. In 1950, south korea was invaded. Okinawa once again became strategically important. Equipment was rushed in. New facilities had to be built. New runways and roads and buildings. We had to make okinawa strong. Air bases came first. We needed longer runways to accommodate bigger, faster bombers. Guided by army engineers, okinawa people pitched in with a will. Heavy equipment was brought in and men who had never even seen steam rollers were taught to operate it. Concrete and steel and human sweat gave us a first class air base in operation in time to support the korean war. Day after day, plane after plane, the b29s roared up on their okinawa bases. Out over the yellow sea 1,000 miles on missions over north korea to blast strongholds held by the communist enemy. The bombers fought their war from that important Little Island, okinawa. But the air bases were only the beginning. If okinawa was going to be our primary military establishment in the far east, a great many other things had to be accomplished. Facilities were entirely inadequate. New typhoon proof permanent buildings had to be constructed. To keep costs at a minimum, contracts were out to japanese and philippine companies. Many became skilled bricklayers, painters and carpenters and okinawa blossomed out in a boom of production activity. Along with a purely military construction, when the developed of dependence housing, attractive suburban areas were laid out and trim homes constructed. Now American Kids play among the servicemens families. If a soldiers wife runs shy of supplies, there are stores with the complete stock of things she might expect to find back home. Theres even somebody to help with the grocery cart. The interfaith chapel recently erected at suki run is a handsome example of the clean modern lines in okinawas new construction. New two and three story army bar rocks are units with two quarters, administration offices, supply rooms and armory and mess hall all under one room. The new construction in okinawa extended to every area of activity. University buildings, hospitals, theaters, public buildings and sports facilities all have been built to serve americans in o okina okinawans alike. Striking as the architecture of this island and the beautiful Head Quarters building is perhaps the crowning achievement. A credit to okinawans and americans, its a blend of functional and styling. This is a great city. To tie in the numerous facilities spread out over the island, a modern communication and Transportation System have to be constructed. Before the American Occupation, there were few paved roads at okinawa. Mud and dust trails were often the only means of getting around. Heavy equipment was tackling the difficult terrain. And as in all phases of the modernization program, local auk gnaw wa labor was taught to operate. This saved millions of dollars to the american taxpayer, but it gave people in okinawa the knowledge to operate equipment they never could have attained any other way. And so together we built a modern highway system. Crisscrossing the island, it serves every important military installation as numerous native cities and villages. All the construction on the island so far as amounted to about as big a job as building a city the size of indianapolis from scratch. All in a few years time. But for the troops on okinawa, it has not been simply a question of building a base. They must stay in the peak of condition, a problem may last the night or begin before the sun is fully up. Men attached to the Armys Special forces load their equipment aboard the submarine tile fish for an underwater demolition exercise at a nearby island. Soldiers are charged in a variety of combat skills which qualify them for specialized and often hazardous duty. Theyre typical of the versatile strength on okinawa which includes air and naval forces. This Practice Mission calls for a predawn landing on a training beach by swimmers from tile fish. The men are carefully briefed before the submarine departs. Tile fish approaches the kargt area at full speed as the swimmers prepare to leave on their mission. Carrying bags of explosives, wire and detonating devices, their objective is to destroy beach obstacles before the practice assault is carried out later in the day. Training like this makes these men outstanding as versatile combat ready soldiers. Split Second Timing and physical endurance are both demanded by such strenuous assignments. Men in these units can be utilized anywhere in the far east if an emergency requires. Into the water and into the beach with only the fish for company. Mission accomplished, and the men swim into the sea again. Where they are picked up by high speed craft a few hundred yards off the beach. In combat, these men will help to clear the beaches or barriers which would normally impede infantry and vehicles making an amphibious landing. Constant practice in the offensive and defensive phases of Amphibious Operations pays off in troops well trained to handle any infact attempt. Remembering the tremendous cost of taking the island from the japanese, we want to make it impractical for any aggressor to attempt attack. To ek ploit their location, Major Commands were holed here. This has created a fluid force poised to move anywhere at a moments notice. The defense of the island then is a primary concern. Tactical training never stops. In these operations new techniques are constantly employed and new equipment tested out under battle field conditions. These a only through this constant training are commands kept at to be efficiency, and they intend to keep it that way. What about the troops that are arriving today. What do they find on this our most important military base in the far east . Personnel assigned to okinawa today will find a modern community, similar to many communities in america. They will find a place where they can settle their families and live as americans and Good Neighbors in this okinawa community. There is industry and commerce on the island now. Many small plants and factories manufacture products which have become important to the okinawa economy. The art of the glass blower is one of the many individual skills applied. Products from these Small Industries are used locally and for export to japan. Many lovely shapes and designs both decorative and functional emerge from the production line in this tiny factory. Restaurants like the famous tea house of the august moon are a booming business. The movies have become popular with both american and japanese products shown. Today there is a native press, and outside the news building, okinawans keep up with the latest events. Citizens now elect their own legislature as well as most local officials. Here a man is installed in the highest office, that of chief executive, while high ranking people look on. There is a blending of the new and the old here, of the east and the west. Some sections of the island are reminiscent of any oriental community with bustling activity and crowded streets. There are ultramodern department stores. And here halfway around the world from home can be found all the products necessary to satisfy the wants of the american family. These doostores do a booming business with the serviceman shopper. On okinawa there are many enlisted mens and offices clubs. Supported entirely by members dues, they supply many facilities were family recreation. The Swimming Pool is always popular. There is an excellent golf course. Volleyball courts. And tennis. Here too can be found the extended pleasures of a summer vacation. Okinawa abounds in lovely beaches and on this semi tropic island, the swimming is good from march to november. Everybody takes advantage of the water. But how has all this activity affected the okinawa ns. The island has turned into a prosperous community. Agriculture is still important to the economy and new commercial possibilities have grown from it. Over the centuries rice straw served as material for making many articles useful to the native population. Today these same articles have found a new popularity among americans. A flourishing industry has developed in their manufacture and exportation. In all this, the okinawa people have learned new skills, discovered a higher standard of living and enjoyed new forms of recreation. But okinawa and the friendly people are strong on tradition. And despite the many aspects of modern life, much remains of the past. The family is still the most important unit in okinawa society and ancestor worship is still the dominant religion. Here a modern family worships at the tomb of the predecessors. Here past glories are perhaps remembered. Gifts given, and prayers respectfully offered for the well being of past and present generations. Inside the more elaborate shrines the same ceremony pays respect to those who have gone before. Since the American Occupation of the island, the education of young okinawa people has been of primary importance. More and better schools including a university have been constructed. When moving day arrives, the kids pitch in with a will. They are proud of their new school. Perhaps they do not realize it yet, but it will give them new opportunities. From these children will come the leaders of tomorrow, for democrat government is already a reality on okinawa. Many things in okinawa life have changed only superficially under the american influence. Fishing, one of the oldest industries on the island, is carried on from a fleet of fast modern trollers which travel far in search of a catch. The islands location in the modern air age makes it vitally important as a stop off or commercial airliners on long transpacific flights. Heavy air traffic is one more reason why okinawas future is brighter today. More than 100 years ago perrys expedition recognized the importance. And so okinawa is a land of contrast. Leading a modern life with hope in the future where people still find time for the traditional celebrations. Every year the fishermen hold a rowing race where the skills of individual crews are pitt against each other. Crowds line the water front to cheer their favorites but whoever wins, the outcome is always a wet one as they dash into the water to congratulate the winning boat, banners waving. Like all people everywhere, the okinawa people love a parade. The 100th anniversary of perrys visit offers them a chance to celebrate. Schools are let out for the day and kids parade the streets and wave the flags of both the United States and okinawa. They test their skills in making colorful floats to dramatize the event. An oriental version of the come dor and his crew pleases the crowd. And so 100 years of perrys visit, the strategic location today makes the island one of our most important military assets in the far east. In the floats there is a traditional sport. Youngsters compete in putting the banners high in the air which takes a lot of skill and timing. Then it becomes our turn to celebrate. And in a similar way the army puts on its traditional show, the military parade. Its precision is a contrast to the carefree okinawa spectacle and a reminder for tensions. For in this area of the world where totalitarian aggression is a threat, under our guidance okinawa has progressed markedly and gained much. But no matter how much we do for the island and the friendly people, we will have received much more in return. For as president eisenhower stated. Okinawa island is regarded as a major defense bastain knoin the pacific known as the american keystone. Produced by the army pictorial center. Presented by the department of the army in cooperation with the state. Youre watching a special edition of American History tv airing week days. Tonight at 8 eastern, programs on the anniversary of victory in europe day. 75 years ago on may 8th, 1945, the allies accepted nazi germanys Unconditional Surrender of the armed forces bringing an end to hostility and world war iis european theater. American history tv and washington journal mark the anniversary with a look at the leadup to the surrender and the meaning for europe and the rest of the world. Americansurrender. American history tv now and over the weekend on cspan 3. Up next on American History tv, a panel of four veterans discuss their lives in the u. S. Military and combat experiences during world war ii. Participants include veterans of the dday invasion in the normandy, the battle of the bul bulge, the battle of oak nokina. Its about 90 minutes. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us for this Panel Discussion this morning as we get ready to