Wartime museum focuses on Okinawa
Through June 1, the Camp Gordon Johnston World War II Museum will present a special exhibit on the most violent and costliest campaign of World War II, the battle to take Okinawa.
The battle started with the capture of the Kerama Islands by the 77th infantry Division on March 26, 1945, and ended 98 days later on July 2. This effort involved three Marine divisions and four infantry divisions making up the 10th Army, which had its own tactical air force, and was supported by naval and amphibious commands. The battle cost more lives on both sides than any other campaign in the Pacific.
The taking of Okinawa provided a base from which Operation Downfall, the invasion of the Japanese mainland, was to be launched. That operation was made unnecessary by the surrender of Japan in September 1945.
Included in the exhibit will be historic photos and Marine Corps artifacts.
This exhibit will be on display at the museum until Saturday, June 1 at 5 p.m. There is no charge for admission but donations are gladly accepted.
The museum is in Carrabelle, directly across from Carrabelle Public Beach Park at 1873 Hwy 98 West. For more information, contact the museum at (850) 697-8575 or museum@campgordonjohnston.com. Funded in part by the Franklin County Tourist Development Council.
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Prior to then, David Adlerstein began as a newspaperman with a small Boston weekly, after graduating magna cum laude from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. He later edited the weekly Bellville Times, and as business reporter for the daily Marion Star, both not far from his hometown of Columbus, Ohio.
In 1995, he moved to South Florida, and worked as a business reporter and editor of Medical Business newspaper. In Jan. 2002, he began with the Apalachicola Times, first as reporter and later as editor, and in Oct. 2020, also began editing the Port St. Joe Star.