Contents
CHAPTER I – OPERATION ICEBERG 18
American Intelligence of the Enemy 33
Plan for the Capture of Okinawa 44
Psychological Warfare and Military Government 50
CHAPTER II – INVASION OF THE RYUKYUS 61
Preliminary Neutralization of Enemy Strength 61
Seizure of the Kerama Islands 68
CHAPTER III – WINNING THE OKINAWA BEACHHEAD 85
CHAPTER IV – WHERE IS THE ENEMY? 101
The Japanese Plan of Defense 109
Enemy Counterattacks by Air and Sea 114
CHAPTER V – COMING TO GRIPS WITH THE ENEMY 121
Through the Outposts, 4-8 April 121
XXIV Corps Drives South, 4-5 April 122
The Pinnacle: Capture of an Outpost 127
XXIV Corps Halted on the West, 6-8 April 128
XXIV Corps Halted on the East, 7-9 April 131
Assaulting the Shuri Defenses, 9-12 April 133
Rifle Companies Storm Kakazu 136
"Hold the Ridge at All Costs!" 137
"Powerhouse Attack" on Kakazu, 10 April 140
The Enemy Clings to Kakazu Ridge, 11-12 April 143
American Attack on the East Flank Halted, 10-12 April 145
The Enemy Takes the Offensive 149
The Enemy Prepares to Attack 151
Enemy Attack Crushed, 13 April 153
CHAPTER VI — THE CONQUEST OF NORTH OKINAWA 159
Drive up the Ishikawa Isthmus, 4-7 April 159
Probing the Motobu Defenses, 7-13 April 162
Closing In on Yae-Take, 14-15 April 165
Conquest of Motobu Peninsula, 16-18 April 168
CHAPTER VII – THE CAPTURE OF IE SHIMA 170
Plans and Preparations of the Enemy 171
American Plans and Preparations 174
Preparations for the Assault 176
Invasion of Ie Shima, 16-17 April 178
Slow Progress on the South Coast 180
Entrance of the 307th Infantry 181
Stalemate at Bloody Ridge, 18-19 April 184
Reversal at Bloody Ridge, 29 April 190
Capture of Iegusugu, 20-21 April 193
Conquest of the Pinnacle, 21 April 200
CHAPTER VIII – THE ATTACK OF 19 APRIL ON THE SHURI DEFENSES 204
Preliminary Attack of the 27th Division, 18 April 210
Night Attack on the Escarpment 212
The 7th Division Is Stopped on the East 215
96th Division Attack Stalls 216
CHAPTER IX – FALL OF THE FIRST SHURI DEFENSE RING 230
Item Pocket Blocks the Way 231
Captain Ryan's Raiders, 24-25 April 238
Item Pocket Reduced, 26-27 April 241
Assaulting the Outer Shuri Defense Ring 242
The Fight for Nishibaru Ridge 255
The Battle of the Pinnacles 260
CHAPTER X – TACTICS AND TACTICAL DECISIONS 272
Tactics and Weapons on Okinawa 272
CHAPTER XI – ASSAULTING THE SECOND SHURI DEFENSE RING 289
Stalemate on the West Coast 290
The 7th Division at Kochi Ridge 294
The 17th Infantry Attacks Kochi Ridge 296
The Maeda Escarpment Barrier 299
The Japanese Rampart Holds 300
Maeda Escarpment Bastion Falls 307
CHAPTER XII – THE JAPANESE COUNTEROFFENSIVE AND ITS AFTERMATH 309
Tank-Infantry Attack in the Center 318
Japanese Penetration to Tanabaru, 5 May 323
The Americans Resume the Offensive 328
XXIV Corps Advances on the Left 332
Inching Along in the Center 335
CHAPTER XIII – THE MAY ATTACK ON THE SHURI DEFENSES 336
6th Marine Division Advances in the West 338
Closing In on Sugar Loaf, 12-13 May 342
"Banzai Attack" on Sugar Loaf, 14-15 May 343
Attacks on Sugar Loaf Continue, 16-17 May 346
Capture of Sugar Loaf, 18-19 May 348
Attack of the 1st Marine Division on Shuri Heights 349
Capture of Dakeshi Ridge, 10-13 May 351
The 1st Marines Advances on the Right 354
Deadlock at Wana Ridge, 16-21 May 356
Through the Japanese Lines to Ishimmi Ridge 358
The Reduction of Chocolate Drop Hill 358
Opening the East Coast Corridor 358
Conical—the Million Dollar Hill 358
CHAPTER XIV – BATTLE IN THE RAIN 358
The 1st Marine Division at Wana Ridge and Wana Draw 358
The 77th Division Stands Still at Shuri 358
The 6th Marine Division Occupies Naha 358
The 6th Marine Division Crosses the Asato 358
The 7th Division Bids for Envelopment 358
Funneling Through the Conical Corridor 358
The 32d Infantry Attempts an Envelopment 358
CHAPTER XV – THE FALL OF SHURI 358
Decision Under Shuri Castle 358
American Occupation of Shuri 358
The Marines Take Shuri Castle 358
CHAPTER XVI – BEHIND THE FRONT 358
Bringing the Supplies Ashore 358
Delivery of Supplies to the Front 358
Hospitalization and Evacuation 358
CHAPTER XVII – THE ENEMY’S LAST STAND 358
The Push South to the Yaeju-Duke—Yuza-Dake Barrier 358
The Japanese Make Their Escape 358
The Capture of Oroku Peninsula 358
Mud, Mines, and Machine Guns 358
End of the Okinawa Base Force 358
Assaulting the Last Defense Line 358
First Break in the Japanese Wall 358
Pumping Flame Through a Hose 358
The 96th Attacks in the Center 358
Night Move Onto the Yaeju-Dake 358
The Battle of Kunishi Ridge 358
CHAPTER XVIII – THE BATTLE ENDS 358
End of Organized Resistance 358
Deterioration of Enemy Discipline and Morale 358
American Psychological Warfare 358
Surrender and Suicide at the Water's Edge 358
The Death of Generals Ushijima and Cho 358
REQUEST FROM THE PUBLISHER 358
APPENDIX A – MAJOR TACTICAL UNITS OF TENTH ARMY IN THE RYUKYUS CAMPAIGN 358
APPENDIX B – JAPANESE 32D ARMY UNITS IN THE RYUKYUS CAMPAIGN 358
APPENDIX C – STATISTICS OF THE RYUKYUS CAMPAIGN 358
U.S. ARMY FORCES, MIDDLE PACIFIC 358