Okinawa: Victory in the Pacific

by
Major Chas. S. Nichols, Jr., USMC
Henry I. Shaw, Jr.

Historical Branch, G-3 Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps
1955



COVER PICTURE: Marines hurdle a stone wall as they drive inland from the Hagushi Beaches on L-Day at Okinawa.



AMERICAN COLORS are raised over Ara Saki, southernmost point of Okinawa, by men of Company G, 2d Battalion, 22d Marines, symbolizing the end of organized resistance in the III Amphibious Corps zone of action.


Contents

Chapter Page
1. Background 1
    Strategic Situation 1
    Historical Notes 3
    Okinawa and the Okinawans 6
2. Planning ICEBERG 12
    Strategic Concepts 12
    Command Relationships 17
    Intelligence 19
    Tactical Planning 22
    Logistical Planning 27
3. Preparations for the Assault 30
    Training and Rehearsing 30
    Mounting and Staging for the Assault 34
    Preliminary Covering Strikes 36
    Seizure of Kerama Retto 38
    Prelanding Operations 43
4. Japanese Defensive Preparations 48
    The Thirty-Second Army 49
    Strengthening the Defenses 53
    Reinforcing the Army 56
    Prelanding Dispositions 59
5. Seizure of the Beachhead 63
    L-Day 63
    Severing the Island 69
    Meeting the Enemy 77
    Logistical Progress 80
    Kamikaze 82
6. Action in the North 87
    Securing the Eastern Islands 87
    6th Marine Division Advances 90
    Battle for Motobu Peninsula 96
    Marines' "Guerrilla War" 104
    Capture of Ie Shima 111
7. Developing the Shuri Defenses 119
    Penetrating the Outpost Line 119
    Build-up in the South 124
    Attack of 19 April 126
    Assaulting the Second Defense Ring 131
    1st Marine Division Joins the XXIV Corps 134
8. IIIAC Enters the Lists 142
    Japanese Counterattack 142
    The Battle Lines Are Drawn 151
    Tenth Army Attacks 160
    Logistical Progress 172
9. Reduction of the Shuri Bastion 176
    Sugar Loaf Hill 176
    Wana Draw 185
    Shuri Heights and Conical Hill 192
    Struggle in the Rain 196
    Japanese Withdrawal 207
10. Ushijima's Last Stand 210
    Breakout to the South 210
    The Capture of Oroku Peninsula 217
    Kunishi Ridge 228
    Iheya-Aguni Operation 243
    Yaeju Dake-Yuza Dake 244
    End of Organized Resistance 249
11. Campaign Summary 258
    The Clean-up Drive 258
    The Tenth Army's Air Force 261
    Island Command Activities 266
    Tactical Evaluation 269
    Key to Conquest 273
Appendices  
I. Bibliography 276
II. Chronology 281
III. Command and Staff List of Marine Units on Okinawa 284
IV. III Amphibious Corps Task Organization 298
V. Japanese Order of Battle 302
VI. Marine Casualties 305
VII. Marine and Naval Corpsmen Medal of Honor Winners 309
VIII. Navy Unit Commendations 313
Index 316


Table of Distances from Okinawa

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