Did Japanese PM Suzuki & POTUS Truman accidentally bring on the nukes?

I believe Ushijima & Cho sat side-by-side to kill themselves, from what accounts I've read.

 

There were Americans only 50 feet away at the time.

 

From what I've read, the Japanese could still escape out another opening, and several did, including Col. Yahara. As you've seen that cave, perhaps you can tell which way they went. I reckon they got off "lucky", even the 2 generals, as the Americans often fired a long flamethrower burst into any cave opening they came across, late in the battle.

 

Ushijima'd had the time, materials, equipment, & laborers(the native Okinawans) to fortify the island as well as one could be fortified at that time.

MacArthur roundly criticized the Navy for undertaking to conquer the whole island, rather than cordoning off the arrowhead area & Shuri, but he didn't know the enemy had powerful, well-manned artillery that could hammer much of the island from there, including the airfields being built, as well as being able to launch attacks from it. The Allies could not have effectively used Okinawa long as Ushijima's army was intact. It wasn't like many other islands, where there wasn't much artillery or even enough to eat; Ushijima was well-equipped to keep up the fight.

 

Yep. Ushijima had prepared thoroughly.