SEPTEMBER 23, 2024 — On December 7, 1941, the nation saw itself thrust into war as the attack on Pearl Harbor would forever change the landscape of the country, but more specifically the Pacific Theater as combat operations would take place through 1945. Now, nearly 80 years later, The U.S. Army is looking to honor and remember those who served in some of the bloodiest and most strategic battles of World War II.
“The Army’s achievements in the Pacific not only provide the occasion to honor our Soldiers’ hard-fought legacy, but they offer us critical opportunities in the long-term competition to strengthen our Alliances and strategic positioning,” said Gen. Charles Flynn, commanding general, U.S. Army Pacific.
The Indo-Pacific area has long been a combined theater of joint operations, necessitating cooperation across the United States’ military services. During WWII, the U.S. Army acted as the heart of combined operations spanning the enormous Pacific Ocean, which included amphibious invasions, air control campaigns and fierce ground warfare.
“We have a common bond, and that is to work together through mutual respect and trust to keep a free and open Indo-Pacific,” stated Maj. Gen. Gavin Gardner, commanding general, 8th Theater Sustainment Command.
That bond can be traced back decades as the U.S. Army provided support for the war with land power capabilities such as soldier life support, logistics, overland transportation, intelligence, communications, and command and control.
At its peak, the Army deployed almost two million men in the Pacific, commanding three theatre armies, three field armies, and six corps, comprising 22 divisions that participated in dozens of operations including actions in New Guinea, the Philippines and Okinawa — one of the largest amphibious operations ever performed.
These actions were not simply a demonstration of military strength, but also critical to promoting democracy in the region. The Army’s overwhelming presence, from the jungles to the beaches, played a crucial role in supporting Nations’ independence, and eventually set the framework for Japan’s ultimate surrender, which brought the war in the Pacific to a close and ending World War II.
“Today, the guns are silent,” said Gen. Douglas Macarther, supreme commander of allied forces in 1945 while standing on the deck of the U.S.S. Missouri. “A great victory has been won.”
As the U.S. Army commemorates 80 years since the end of World War II, leaders are committed to honoring those who served in the Pacific. Commemoration actions, memorials, and educational programs to remember the hardships of the Soldiers they faced during the warfare are planned as September 2, 2025, approaches, officially 80 years since the war ended.
Of the 194 campaign streamers the U.S. Army has earned, 87 were bestowed for actions in the Pacific while 24 directly tied back to operations during WWII.
The mission, while changed, still reverberates back to the basics preserving democracy and promoting stability in the pacific region.
“It is creating opportunities for the Joint Force to improve our joint cueing, joint targeting, joint collection, and our joint ability to sense, move, and communicate,” said Flynn, emphasizing the Army’s efforts to maintain a strong and united front against any foe.
The 80th commemoration of the Army’s victories in the Pacific serves as a reminder to both allies and adversaries of the U.S. Army’s historical and ongoing role as a stabilizing force in the Indo-Pacific.
By celebrating its triumphs and showing its current military capabilities, the Army reassures its partners that it is committed to safeguarding national sovereignty while discouraging potential adversaries from undermining regional security.
“Our commitment here is to work together, improve and learn, and increase our interoperability to demonstrate to all adversaries throughout this region and around the world that we are united because we share the same values—freedom and prosperity—and that we will work together to maintain those values,” emphasized Lt. Gen. James Jarrard, deputy commanding general, USARPAC.
As the U.S. Army marks 80 years since the end of World War II, it looks ahead to the challenges of the twenty-first century. The Army’s presence in the Indo-Pacific is as important as ever, maintaining peace and stability via collaborative relationships and a constant readiness to respond to emerging threats. The United States Army continues to honor its past and develop its alliances, serving as a crucial deterrent in a strategically important region.
By Spc. Taylor Gray