The following is the account Ms. Nobuko Ooshiro of her experiences as a
teen-ager during the War for Okinawa. she gave this testimony the the
Asian Ladies Baptist Convention held on Okinawa February 2004. It is
translated by Chester & Naomi Carney.
I want to give praise to the Lord of life, Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.
Good afternoon everyone. I want to thank all of you from all over Asia who have come here today. My name is Nobuko Ooshiro.
Fifty-nine years ago the people on Okinawa suffered a terrible war that took the lives of hundreds of thousands. I was 16 years old at that time, and though as painful as it is I would like to share my experience of that war with you.
On March 23, as part of the Himeyuri Student Nurse Corp. we were ordered to serve in the Haebaru Army Hospital as nurses. The hospital was located inside a cave network of over 40 caves. Each of us nurses were assigned to an individual cave.
I was placed the first surgical ward. This particular ward had no wooden walls, just cave walls and there was constant water dripping. Dim lamps shone through the dark cave as bunk beds that looked like book shelves lined the entire walls of the cave. Our job in the cave was to take care o and feed injured soldiers. Also to take care of the hygiene needs of the soldiers.
On April 1, 1945 when the American military landed on Okinawa, soldiers began arriving at our hospital with no hands or legs, with their bodies, faces and chests blown apart, and with deep painful cries and moans.
As the fighting got worse the injured increased and the cave became too full. And the more the injured increased the worse the condition of the cave and sanitation became. Soldiers had to wait 3 or 4 days to be treated. During that time many soldier’s wounds would become infected and fester, flys and maggots infested many, and the smell would be so bad at times that I would feel like vomiting. Some people were in terrible pain, while others suffered despair, others were crying for water in small weak voices. And because all of them were seriously injured many of them died.
Our job outside the cave was to carry food, get water, and bury the dead. It would take two of us to carry barrels and we would have to dodge and run through hails of bullets as we made our way to the kitchen facilities. As we were carrying the barrels of rice and water we were praying hard that the barrel would not be hit. Normally we would have two meals a day, morning and evening, however things were so bad that we could only have one meal, a rice ball.
We would carry the bodies of the dead, 5 or 6 a day, on stretchers to gravesites everyday morning and evening. As we would carry the bodies through hails of bombs and bullets sometimes we would fall on sloping roads and drop the bodies. We would pick them up and then carry them again to gravesites like bomb craters and bury them. Then, praying again, we would frantically run back to the cave. Working outside the cave was dangerous and always a matter of life and death. Many of my co-nurse friends were injured.
We worked so hard day and night that we barely had time for sleep, barely getting 3 hours a day. We couldn’t wash our faces or our clothes and were constantly bothered.by about the lice in our hair and clothes.
On May 4th, the American Naval bombardment became even more fierce. The cave next to mine was hit by a bomb and the nurses and patients inside were buried alive. A doctor by the name of Nakasone, and the head of the nurse corp together, through a hail of bullets and bombs tried to save the trapped people in the cave. Eventually they saved a person by the name of Sawada. However, the next day we found out that Nurse Kakazu and the other patients were killed. We cried. During the rescue Doctor Nakasone injured his foot on a rusty nail. But in spite of his injuries, he and others still tried to help and save other injured and dying in other caves.
On the night of May 25th as the US military drew close to our position, we were ordered to move south. All nurses and patients who were able to walk were ordered to leave the cave. So carrying all of our medical and hygiene supplies we nurses, while helping the injured, walked along muddy roads towards the south.
Along the road south there were many fleeing. From the naval, aerial, and land bombardment we could see bodies piled up everywhere. Some people were still alive and were crying out for help. However, because we were already burdened with many wounded there was nothing we could do. Sadly, this war had made people lose compassion for others. Of my nurse corp many were injured and one died.
The command in the south was inside of five caves. The caves here were also muddy and water constantly dripped. They were full and there was no room at all for us to lay down and rest. At this cave our responsibilities were not taking care of the injured, but rather finding food, getting water, and relaying communications. These jobs also were very dangerous and a matter of life and death.
In the South, the bombs were faraway, the land was green, the well water was good, and we could drink to our full and finally with peace and joy wash our faces. But the peace and joy were short lived because soon US bombs began falling from ocean ships and airplanes. Pretty soon both houses and fields were on fire.
Inside the cave it was hard to breath because of the heat and humidity. So, whenever there was a lull in the bombing we would go outside and sit in a dark place near the cave to catch fresh air. One time, as I was sitting outside trying to catch my breath a bomb fell in the rocks nearby. I was unable to get away in time and my leg was injured.
As the US military drew closer to the south the fighting grew fiercer. The cave of Yamashiro Headquarters took a direct hit from US Navy Warships, the 2nd Surgical Unit was overrun by American forces, and a bomb blew up in front of our cave which was the 1st surgical unit. People close to the entrance were injured and there was blood and screaming coming from all around. It was a terrible scene as there terribly injured and dead. I painfully and tearfully cried as I found out that three of my co-nurses had been killed. Each cave had its own tragedy many people sacrificed their lives.
Suddenly on the evening of the 18th, Doctor Nakosone told us that headquarters had ordered everyone to flee for their own life. He said, “US soldiers are closing in and its very dangerous. Everyone, in groups of 5 or 6 should help each other to flee to the north.” As he spoke we could see the deep painful heart he had. Up until now we had all been together with the doctors and corp. nurses. But from now on we would be on our own to try and find our way through the bullets and bombs to safety. We would also have to leave our injured co-nurses in the cave. So with sobs of tears and crying we nurses all held hands.
June 19th, just before sunrise, we left the cave and fled on foot towards Yamashiro Hill. On the roads and fields there were many dead bodies covered by flies and maggots. It was a nightmare. Among many of the bodies we wept as we saw families of adults and children that had perished together. There were people fleeing everywhere trying to escape the falling bombs.
On the same day at the 3rd Surgical Unit (Himeyuri Tower) Group,, as they were trying to leave the cave US forces threw gas bombs into the cave. Many in the cave were killed.
As the morning went on the bombing attacks from the air, sea, and land became ferocious. When we got to Yamashiro Hill a Navy bomb fell near us. Many were injured, many fell, and some continued to run. I fell and hurt myself on fragments. As I was on the ground I lost my group. As I tried to run behind the people who were fleeing while dragging my injured leg I met my older sister and a woman by the name of Kinjo who both worked for the 2nd Surgical unit. As we cried and held each others hands we were so thankful for finding each other alive.
My sister, while helping me to walk, looked around for a place to hide. There was a fruit tree grove where several injured people and dead bodies covered with flies were. There were also Japanese soldiers and civilians running around inside trying to escape.
While walking we got tired and took rest under some rocks. We ate a rice ball that we got when we left the cave. As night fell it began to rain, something we hadn’t seen in some time, and we cupped our hands and drank. To us it was the water of life.
The next day as light came US Navy Ships came close to the shore. In the air, planes were flying all around. And the grove of fruit trees that we had seen the day before was on fire from incendiary bombs. We were there and suddenly we heard American soldiers yelling come out! come out with your hands up! So, since we were surrounded by American soldiers and that there was no place to run, we decided to kill ourselves. We asked a Japanese soldier to give us a grenade. When I finally realized that the end was near I began to remember all the faces of my family and I wept.
As we looked around we began to see a lot of people and soldiers come out of the tree grove and nearby caves with their hands up. We also saw a Doctor by the name of Yonamine carrying a seriously injured corp. nurse on his back. Behind him were many other nurses coming out. When we saw them I dropped the grenade I was holding, climbed down from the rocks where we were hiding to Arasaki Shore below and joined the Doctor Yonamine and the rest of the nurses who had surrendered.. From there the US soldiers took us away.
Later I learned that at the Cave of Arasaki Shore three nurses had been killed, and that a doctor and 9 other nurses had committed suicide with a grenade.
During the three months of the war on Okinawa 16 teachers, 203 student nurses, and countless other civilians and soldiers perished. My mother was also killed while trying to evacuate with other civilians. The pain and sorrow that comes from the loss of life during war is a sorrow and pain that will never go away no matter how long you live.
In 1960 I was baptized and became a Christian.
In 1971 I was given a job in Zenrin Nursery School. There, through a Pastor by the name of Kuniyoshi and the teachers and children, the bible, hymns, prayer, I was really blessed. I am now thankful to God for His deep love in taking care of me.
Since retiring in 1992 I now work for Himeyuri Peace Memorial Information Center as a living witness of the war. The Center is a place where the history of the war can be remembered, where peace can be built and where the importance of life and peace can be discussed. I am thankful for the Lord God giving me the grace to live each day and with God’s word in my heart and with prayer I am working to preserve peace.
May God’s glory and peace be throughout the whole earth.
And may His limitless love be upon you my Asian sisters.
I pray that those sisters who now are surrounded by difficult situations would continue strong in their faith, and for those who have prayed and labored for this event would have God’s abundant favor and blessing.
Thank You