Japan Occupation Photo Collection
Description
This collection of 28 photographs ranging from approximately 1945-1946 depicts a window into the life of men serving in the 89th Field Artillery Battalion, US Army who likely enlisted towards the very end of the war and were training to be replacements for the supposed invasion of mainland Japan but following the use of the nuclear bombs to end the war were reassigned as occupation forces. A few locations depicted in this collection include a training camp near Seattle Washington, another training camp located in Santa Maria Italy, Osaka Japan, and lastly Nara Japan. This collection provides images of military training, scenery in Japan, the destruction of war in Japan due to allied bombing, as well as some images of civilian life. This collection was purchased from a flea market in the Cleveland area in 2020.
Table of Contents
Soldiers in the Making
Guard Hut Outside Camp in Santa Maria
Description Written on Back of Photograph
Most likely the [San] Maria replacement depot, formerly Count Ciano's Dairy. Link
The Men in the Service
Military Convoy on the Way to Nara
The Destruction of War
Photograph most likely depicting the destruction in Nara following allied bombing.
Photograph most likely depicting the destruction in Nara following allied bombing.
Destruction in Nara
This photograph is the same sky line from a different angle as the photograph directly above on the left. This can be identified through the building with the bell tower being present in the top left corner of the photograph above and the top right corner of the photograph directly to the left.
The Scenery of Japan
The port coming into Osaka.
This is likely what the men first saw as they were first landing in Japan in the spring of 1946.
Civilian Life
