Okinawa in August and September - 2009

So, when our new daughter Micah was only 11 days old, I had to fly to Okinawa to Kadena Air Base for 11 days for a General Court-Martial. Fortunately, my mother was in Guam for 3 weeks to help Carrie and I with Faith and Micah. Although I worked almost the entire time, I did get a day to hang out with Reagan and Sierra Beaton and Sierra's uncle Brad. We visited several Okinawan castles and one of the Japanese last stands during the battle in 1945. The cool thing about Okinawa is that it was its own kingdom and ethnicity until the Japanese empire conquered it in about 1878. Prior to that, the Ryukan kingdom ruled this island chain.
Gate to Shuri Castle in Naha.
Inside the tunnels of the Japanese Naval Underground where 4,000 Japaneses committed mass suicide.
The crumbling walls of Nakagusuku Castle farther north on the island. Absolutely stunning craftsmanship, built in the mid 1400s. In addition, the United States Marines had to capture it in 1945 early in the battle.
There are several concentric defensive rings in the castle. And it sits on a ridge with views far north and south and of both sides of the island.