United States Army in World War II
The War in the Pacific

Okinawa: The Last Battle

Roy E. Appleman
James M. Burns
Russell A. Gugeler
John Stevens


. . . to Those Who Served


Contents

  Foreword vii
  Preface

xi
Chapter     Page
I. Operation ICEBERG 1
    The Strategic Decision 1
    Nature of the Target 7
    The Plan of Attack 17
    Mounting the Attack 36
II. Invasion of the Ryukyus 44
    Preliminary Neutralization of Enemy Strength 44
    Seizure of the Kerama Islands 51
    Softening Up the Target 63
III. Winning the Okinawa Beachhead 68
    The Landing 69
    Moving Inland 74
    Organizing the Beachhead 79
IV. Where Is the Enemy? 84
    The Japanese Forces 84
    The Japanese Plan of Defense 92
    Enemy Counterattack by Air and Sea 96
V. Comming to Grips With the Enemy 103
    Through the Outposts, 4-8 April 104
    Assaulting the Shuri Defenses, 9-12 April 113
    The Enemy Takes the Offensive 130
VI. The Conquest of Northern Okinawa 138
    Drive up the Ishikawa Isthmus, 4-7 April 138
    Probing the Motobu Defenses, 7-13 April 141
    Closing In on Yae-Take, 14-15 April 144
    Conquest of Motobu Peninsula, 16-18 April 146
VII. The Capture of Ie Shima 149
    Plans and Preparations of the Enemy 150
    American Plans and Preparations 153
    Invasion of Ie Shima, 16-17 April 156
    Stalemate at Bloody Ridge, 18-19 April 163
    Capture of Iegusugu, 20-21 April 173
    Last Phase 181
VIII. The Attack of 19 April on the Shuri Defenses 184
    Plans and Preparations 184
    Preliminary Attack of the 27th Division, 18 April 190
    The General Attack 194
IX. Fall of the First Shuri Defense Ring 208
    ITEM Pocket 208
    Assaulting the Outer Shuri Defense Ring 219
X. Tactics and Tactical Decisions 249
    Tactics and Weapons on Okinawa 249
    Tactical Decisions 258
XI. Assaulting the Second Shuri Defense Ring 265
    Stalemate on the West Coast 267
    The 7th Division at Kochi Ridge 269
    The Maeda Escarpment Barrier 274
XII. The Japanese Counteroffensive and Its Aftermath 283
    Planning the Offensive 283
    The Offensive Under Way 286
    Japanese Penetration to Tanabaru, 5 May 294
    The Americans Resume Offensive 302
XIII. The May Attack On the Shuri Defenses 311
    The Attack in the West 313
    The Attack in the Center 332
    Opening the East Coast Corridor 351
XIV. Battle In the Rain 360
    Enemy Air Attacks 360
    Stalemate in the Center 364
    The 6th Marine Division Occupies Naha 372
    The 7th Division Bids for Envelopment 377
XV. The Fall of Shuri 383
    Exodus From Shuri 387
    American Occupation of Shuri 394
XVI. Behind the Front 403
    Supply Operations 415
    Hospitalization and Evacuation 412
    Military Government 415
    Base Development 419
XVII. The Enemy's Last Stand 422
    The Push South to the Yaeju-Dake-Yuza-Dake Barrier 422
    The Capture of Oroku Peninsula 427
    Assaulting the Last Defense Line 434
XVIII. The Battle Ends 455
    End of Organized Resistance 455
    Surrender and Suicide 462
    Final Mop-up 471
    Victory: Cost and Value 473
 
APPENDICES
A. Major Tactical Units of Tenth Army In the Ryukyus Campaign 475
B. Japanese 32d Army Units In the Ryukyus Campaign 483
C. Statistics of the Ryukyus Campaign 487
 
Bibliographical Note 503
Glossary  
Basic Military Map Symbols  
Index 513
 
Tables
 
1. Strength of Army, Marine, and Naval Forces of Tenth Army in the Ryukyus Campaign, 30 April-30 June 1945 488
2. Comparative American and Enemy Major Losses in the Ryukyus Campaign, 1 April-30 June 1945 489
3. Casualties Sustained by Tenth Army, 1 April-30 June 1945 490
4. Troops and Supplies Loaded for the Initial Assault on the Ryukyus 492
5. Personnel and Supplies Loaded for Assault and for First Echelon Garrison in the Ryukyus Campaign, by Point of Embarkation 493
6. Comparison of Estimated Capacities for Unloading at Okinawa Beaches and Quantities Actually Unloaded, 1 April-30 June 1945 494
7. Cargo Unloaded at Okinawa Beaches, 1 April-30 June 1945 496
8. Ammunition Expended by Tenth Army Field Artillery, 1 April-30 June 1945 498
9. Ammunition Expended by the U.S. Navy in the Ryukyus Campaign, March-June 1945 500
10. Ammunition Expended by XXIV Corps, by Type of Weapon, 4 April-21 June 1945 501
 
CHARTS
 
I. Organization of Allied Forces for the Ryukyus Campaign, January 1945 20
II. Organization of Central Pacific Task Forces for the Ryukyus Campaign, January 1945 22
III. Organization of Expeditionary Troops for the Ryukyus Campaign, January 1945 24
IV. XXIV Corps Assignment of Shipping for the Assault on Okinawa 43
V. Organization of the Japanese 62d Division in Okinawa 88
 
1. Tenth Army Weekly Battle Casualties, 1 April-30 June 1945 491
2. Comparison of Estimated Capacities for Unloading at Okinawa Beaches and Quantities Actually Unloaded, 1 April-20 June 1945 495
3. Average Daily Volume of Supplies Unloaded in the Ryukyus, 1 April-16 May 1945 497
4. Ammunition Expended by Tenth Army Field Artillery, 1 April-30 June 1945 499
 
MAPS
 
1. Strategic Situation in the Pacific 3
2. Ryukyu Islands 5
3. Okinawa Island Group 6
4. Island of Okinawa 9
5. Southern Okinawa 9
6. The Plan of Attack 30
7. Kerama Islands: 77th Division, 26-29 March 1945 51
8. Tenth Army Advance, 1-3 April 1945 71
9. Japanese Defensive Positions, 1 April 1945 93
10. Through the Outposts: XXIV Corps, 4-8 April 1945 105
11. The Pinnacle: 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry, 6 April 1945 107
12. Kakazu Ridge: Attack of 9 April 1945 113
13. Kakazu Ridge: Attack of 10 April 1945 119
14. XXIV Corps Advance, 9-12 April 1945 125
15. Japanese Plan of Attack, 12 April 1945 131
16. Japanese Attack, 12-14 April 1945 131
17. Advance in the North: 6th Marine Division, 4-8 April 1945 140
18. Yae-Take: 6th Marine Division, 8-20 April 1945 141
19. Landings on Ie Shima: 77th Division, 16 April 1945 153
20. Ie Shima, 18 April 1945 163
21. Is Shima, 19 April 1945 171
22. Ie Shima, 20-21 April 1945 173
23. XXIV Corps Attack, 19 April 1945 187
24. Fire Plan of 272d Independent Infantry Battalion: Kakazu Area, 19 April 1945 203
25. Item Pocket: 165th Infantry, 20 April 1945 209
26. Item Pocket, 21 April 1945 211
27. Item Pocket, 22-25 April 1945 213
28. Skyline Ridge: 7th Division, 19 April 1945 219
29. Shyline Ridge: 32d infantry, 21 April 1945 225
30. 96th Division, 20-24 April 1945 229
31. Fight for the Pinnacles, 20 April 1945 235
32. Kakazu Pocket, 21 April 1945 240
33. Through the Outer Shuri Defenses, 19-24 April 1945 247
34. Stalemate at Kochi: 7th Division, 25 April-3 May 1945 269
35. Maeda Escarpment, 25-29 April 1945 273
36. Attack on Shuri Defenses, 25 April-3 May 1945 281
37. Japanese Plan of Attack, 4 May 1945 285
38. Jjapanese Attack, 4-5 May 1945 287
39. American Advance, 3-10 May 1945 303
40. Tenth Army Advance, 11-21 May 1945 313
41. Sugar Loaf Hill: 6th Marine Division, 14-15 May 1945 319
42. Sugar Loaf Hill: 6th Marine Division; 16-17 May 1945 319
43. Sugar Loaf Hill: 6th Marine Division, 18 May 1945 321
44. Flattop and Dick Hills, 11-12 May 1945 343
45. Flattop and Dick Hills, 13-14 May 1945 345
46. Flattop and Dick Hills, 15 May 1945 347
47. Conical Hill, 11-16 May 1945 351
48. Conical Hill, 17-21 May 1945 357
49. Closing In on Shuri, 30-31 May 1945 365
50. Fall of Shuri, 30-31 May 1945 397
51. The Push South, 1-3 June 1945 423
52. Oroku and Yaeju-Dake, 4-11 June 1945 425
53. Breaching Yaeju-Dake, 12-17 June 1945 447
54. End of Organized Resistance, 18-21 June 1945 459
 
  ILLUSTRATIONS  
Relief Map of the Philippine Islands 20
Okinawans and Okinawan Customs 8
Okinawans and Okinawan Customs 8
Okinawa's Landscape 11
Village on Okinawa 12
American Commanders 18
Loading Supplies for Okinawa 42
Loading Supplies for Okinawa 42
Preliminary Bombardment 47
Preliminary Bombardment 47
Japanese Kamikaze Attacks 48
Japanese Kamikaze Attacks 48
Terrain in the Kerama Retto 53
Terrain in the Kerama Retto 53
Landings in the Keramas 59
Landings in the Keramas 59
"Suicide Boats" 61
"Suicide Boats" 61
Softening Up the Target 62
Softening Up the Target 62
Bombarding the Beaches 71
Bombarding the Beaches 71
The Landings 73
The Landings 73
Moving Inland 78
Moving Inland 78
Supplying and Developing the Beachhead 82
Supplying and Developing the Beachhead 82
Japanese Commanders 86
Japanese Weapons 90
Japanese Weapons 90
Japanese Weapons 90
Japanese Weapons 90
Kamikaze Attacks 98
Kamikaze Attacks 98
Sinking of the Yamato 100
XXIV Corps Turns South 106
XXIV Corps Turns South 106
East Coast Battles 109
East Coast Battles 109
Kakazu West 114
Kakazu West 114
Kakazu Gorge 122
Tombstone Ridge Area 128
Saddle Between Kakazu West and Kakazu Ridge 136
Saddle Between Kakazu West and Kakazu Ridge 136
Fire Bombing 142
Pushing to Yae-Take 145
Pushing to Yae-Take 145
Ie Shima 151
Ie Shima 151
Rockets Over Ie Shima 155
Invasion of Ie Shima 158
Invasion of Ie Shima 158
Fighting Toward Ie 161
Fighting Toward Ie 161
Death of Ernie Pyle 165
Death of Ernie Pyle 165
Ie and the Southern Beaches 166
Typical Defense System 168
Attack on Bloody Ridge 174
Attack on Bloody Ridge 174
Government House Hill 179
Government House Hill 179
Strategic Area of Southern Okinawa 186
Ouki Hill-Skyline Area and Machinato Inlet 188
Ouki Hill-Skyline Area and Machinato Inlet 188
Opening Action, 19 April 195
Opening Action, 19 April 195
Battle for Tombstone Ridge 199
Battle for Tombstone Ridge 199
Death of a Tank 201
Death of a Tank 201
Death of a Tank 201
Death of a Tank 201
West End of Urasoe-Mura Escarpment 206
Item Pocket Area 212
Heart of Item Pocket 216
Skyline Ridge 221
Skyline Ridge 221
Rocky Crags 229
Rocky Crags 229
Nishibaru Escarpment Area 233
Nishibaru Escarpment Area 233
The Pinnacles 239
Urasoe-Mura Escarpment 244
Kakazu Village and Kakazu Pocket 246
Kakazu Village and Kakazu Pocket 246
Japanese Fortifications 251
Japanese Fortifications 251
Japanese Fortifications 251
Japanese Fortifications 251
Japanese Fortifications 251
Naval Fire and Air Support 252
Naval Fire and Air Support 252
Blowtorch and Corkscrew 254
Blowtorch and Corkscrew 254
Southern Coast Line 261
Asa River Area 266
Kochi Area 270
Kochi Area 270
Maeda Escarpment and Tank-Infantry Attacks 277
Maeda Escarpment and Tank-Infantry Attacks 277
Maeda Escarpment Strong Points 278
Maeda Escarpment Strong Points 278
Japanese Sea and Air Attack 288
Japanese Sea and Air Attack 288
Japanese Position at Tanabaru Escarpment, 4-7 May 292
Japanese Land Offensive 294
Japanese Land Offensive 294
Tanabaru Escarpment 298
Tanabaru Escarpment 298
Attacks on Hill 60 305
Attacks on Hill 60 305
American Advance Down the Center 308
West Flank Zone 315
Sugar Loaf and Horseshoe Hills 316
Fighting at Sugar Loaf and Crescent Hills 324
Fighting at Sugar Loaf and Crescent Hills 324
Dakeshi Ridge 327
Dakeshi Ridge 327
Reverse Slope of Wana Ridge 331
Reverse Slope of Wana Ridge 331
Ishimmi Ridge 335
Chocolate Drop Hill 340
Chocolate Drop Hill 340
Dick Hills and Flattop 345
Advance Around Dick Hills and Flattop 350
Advance Around Dick Hills and Flattop 350
Conical Hill and East Coast Flatlands 354
Conical Hill and East Coast Flatlands 354
Japanese Air Raids on Okinawa 363
Japanese Air Raids on Okinawa 363
Wana Draw 367
Wana Draw 367
Mud and Flood 368
Mud and Flood 368
"Three Sisters" and Oboe 371
"Three Sisters" and Oboe 371
Crossing the Asato River and Entering Naha 374
Crossing the Asato River and Entering Naha 374
East Coast Corridor and Yonabaru-Naha Valley 380
East Coast Corridor and Yonabaru-Naha Valley 380
Casualties 385
Casualties 385
Secret Retreat 390
Secret Retreat 390
Shuri Heights 395
Shuri Heights 395
Shuri 3
Shuri 3
Shuri Castle Bell 401
Supply and Communications Installations 404
Supply and Communications Installations 404
Supply and Communications Installations 404
Moving Supplies 408
Moving Supplies 408
Moving Supplies 408
Movement of Wounded 413
Movement of Wounded 413
Movement of Wounded 413
Movement of Wounded 413
Military Government 416
Military Government 416
Military Government 416
Military Government 416
Development of Airfield and Rehabilitation of Port 418
Development of Airfield and Rehabilitation of Port 418
Mud and Supply 426
Mud and Supply 426
Advancing to Yaeju-Dake 429
Advancing to Yaeju-Dake 429
Last Point of Resistance 430
Last Point of Resistance 430
Base of Oroku Peninsula 435
Yaeju-Dake and Hill 95 437
Yaeju-Dake and Hill 95 437
Flame Through a Hose 444
Flame Through a Hose 444
Flame Through a Hose 444
Flame Through a Hose 444
Flame Through a Hose 444
Night Attack on Yaeju-Dake 448
Night Attack on Yaeju-Dake 448
Yuza Peak and Kunishi Ridge 453
Yuza Peak and Kunishi Ridge 453
Fighting Toward Hill 89 457
Fighting Toward Hill 89 457
Lt Gen Simon B Buckner 460
Overcoming the Last Resistance 464
Overcoming the Last Resistance 464
Surrender 466
Surrender 466
Last Japanese Command Post 469
Last Japanese Command Post 469
Raising the American Flag 472
All pictures in this volume are from Department of Defense files.



Transcribed and formatted for HTML by Patrick Clancey, HyperWar Foundation