Kagoshima

Kagoshima (鹿児島市 Kagoshima-shi?) is the capital city of Kagoshima Prefecture at the south western tip of the island of Kyushu in Japan, and the largest city in the prefecture by some margin. It has been nicknamed the "Naples of the Eastern world" for its bay location (Aira Caldera), hot climate, and impressive stratovolcano, Sakurajima. The city was officially founded on April 1, 1889.

Kagoshima in Joe Steele
Kagoshima was the first urban area U.S. forces attacked during Operation: Olympic. The attack was spearheaded by a punishment brigade under the command of Captain Luther Magnusson.

Prior to reaching the city, the brigade was attacked by ivilians armed with black-powder muskets popped up and took single shots before trying to disappear in the undergrowth. The effective range was only fifty yards beyond which only luck would allow a hit. However, the Americans at first hesitated to shoot, especially at women, and would try to save the wounded and take them prisoner. After a number were killed by wounded civilians allowing a soldier to come up and then killing both them and themselves with a grenade, they quickly became hardened and shot to kill.

The battle for Kagoshima itself proved to be a bloody fight with the Japanese fighting street by street, and house by house to hold the city. Sgt. Mike Sullivan compared the fight to what the Germans faced in Trotskygrad. However, with American losses in the thousands and Japanese (both military and civilian) in the hundreds of thousands, the U.S. managed to take the island.