April 01, 2005 marks the 60th anniversary of the invasion of Okinawa and the start of the last battle of WW2.  The entire campaign cost the U.S. about 12,000 lives, and of course, many Japanese and Okinawan lives as well.  The invasion was unique in that there was no opposition upon landing, which took place on Easter Sunday; the invading forces walked ashore to silence.  It is of particular interest to myself as my father was a combat engineer with the U.S. Army's 27th Division, which at first was held as a floating reserve (the 27th had not performed well on Saipan the previous summer), but as the battle heated up, the 27th was called into action about mid-April.  The battle lasted until June 21, when the island was declared secure.