The battalion flagpole, bent over by the force of the wind
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Damage to the hospital area
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Damage to the camp area
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All photos from the battalion official history
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The big event of October was Typhoon Louise, which ravaged Okinawa starting at around 1500 hours on 7 October. Throughout the night and into the morning screaming winds and sheets of rain ripped down every tent and shredded quonset huts as well as power and communication lines. The tall battalion flagpole was bent over parallel with the ground from about twenty feet up. Men took cover in the four sturdy mess halls, underneath heavy equipment, and even in the traditional Okinawan burial caves built into the surrounding hills.
This could have been the legendary "Divine Wind" (kami-kaze) the Japanese had been hoping to save the Empire. The American fleet off Okinawa in Buckner Bay was in chaos. Twelve ships and landing vessels were sunk, over 200 had gone aground, and over 30 more were severely damaged.Thirty-six men were dead, and hundreds injured. Almost all food, medical supplies and equipment stores ashore were destroyed, as well as most of the housing and buildings. Many aircraft at Kadena Field were damaged, some beyond repair. Had the war not ended just weeks before, the destruction and damage of Naval vessels, aircraft and especially supplies would have had a tremendous impact on the proposed invasion of Japan.
The morning revealed a scene of devastation to the drenched and exhausted men of the battalion. But these were engineers, and they had lumber and tools. Reconstruction began immediately, but with a different tent frame design that would hold up better to the next typhoon. Motivated by the concept of a dry place to sleep, seven hundred men worked nonstop through the day. About 75% of the camp was rebuilt when Higher Command roared up in a jeep and forcefully directed that not another nail was to go in another board until surrounding units (who lacked the luxury of tools and a lumberyard) had been put back into order. |
