one might say normandy was a relative cake walk when compared to ................."60 YEARS AGO......"
Sixth Marine Division cemetery - valorous warriors' resting place prior to removal to the Punchbowl Cemetery in Hawaii, or return to their families choice of cemetery'
It was April 1, 1945 and the 'Striking Sixth' Division landed on the beaches of Okinawa to commence what would be an 82 day battle.
Our 6th Division was the final Marine Division to be formed during WWII. They would be the only Division formed overseas, fight overseas, and disband overseas. The 6th was also the most experienced Division of all Six Divisions then in the Pacific. Elements of the Division had fought on Guadalcanal, Bougainville, the Marshall Islands, and Guam. The 4th Marine Regiment was also formed of the Raider Battalions which had fought many battles in the South Pacific. The Division was born in September 1944 on the Island of Guadalcanal. There we trained until sailing to Okinawa, which would be the Divisions first and also the last battle that the Division would be involved in.
Upon landing on April 1, the 6th made its way North on the Island expecting to find some 100,000 or more Japanese entrenched on Okinawa's highest mountain, and also within a most difficult terrain. It turned out though, that the Japanese General Ushijima chose to defend in depth, lines that crossed the Island East to West on the southern half of the island. The 6th battled north and ran into stiff resistance on a series of hills known as Yae Take (yay-tacky). The 29th and 4th regiments were in the attack, while the 22nd became involved in pursuing the enemy to the far reaches of the northern half of the island. Nine days later the northern end of the island was declared secured, though Japanese would hide throughout the area for many weeks to come.
While most of the Division thought their work was done, and it would ship out to another island, their dreams were shattered by Commander in Chief, Admiral Chester Nimitz ordered the 6th into the lines on the southern end. The 6th was to relieve the embattled 27th Army Division on the extreme West coast of the island. Ushijima's main line of defense was waiting for the men of the 'Striking Sixth'. The ensuing battles along the Naha-Shuri-Yonabaru line would equal any singular battle on Iwo Jima. On Sugar Loaf Hill the Division's 22nd and 29th Marine Regiments were almost destroyed. Replacements were rushed in to fill the depleted ranks of the Killed in action, and the wounded. The 4th Marine Regiment relived the 29th on Sugar Loaf hill and then the 4th fought into and through the bombed out rubble of the City of Naha.
The battles during the month of May included the Asa River, Half Moon Hill, Horseshoe hill, Cresecent Hill, Charlie Hill, Queen hill, Sugar Loaf Hill and others that were bitterly defended. Tunnels were dug to reinforce each hill with the surrounding hills. To destroy the enemy atop one hill would result in bringing in fresh Japanese soldiers by the tunnels from hill to hill. The Division was involved in one of the most sanguinary battles of not only Okinawa, but of all of World War II.
During the ten day battle for the Sugar Loaf hill complex, the Division lost more than 2,662 killed and wounded. Wounded Marine's were treated and if the wound was not debilitating, they were immediately sent back to the lines. Many a Marine simply walked out of aid stations to find their buddies back on the lines. Replacements poured into the line companies, only to find themselves immediately in the thick of a battle, resulting in their becoming a quick casualty. During this period the men suffered from incessant rain and mud, malaria, dengue fever, stomach disorders, hordes of files, scabs, insects, lack of sleep...and poor food just to name a few of the many difficulties. Heroes were so plentiful that the 6th History book takes up page after page listing these fine Marines.
The 6th battled through the island capital of Naha, and then landed in an amphibious operation (the final one of WWII) behind the Japanese lines on Oroku Peninsula on June 4. Some 18 days or more of fighting lay ahead. Bitter battles were fought for the various ridges that crossed the island, mostly defended by the soldiers who retreated and the fresh Japanese Naval forces trapped behind the lines. It was not until the 19th of June that the Division reached the Southern tip of Okinawa, and till the 22nd of June that the island was officially declared secured. The 6th Division then raised the final flag - final battle, of WWII. This was far from the end for many a Marine who were in the skirmish lines flushing out the Japanese from swamps and flushing out the enemy still hidden in the many caves and tunnels in the area. The Japanese had dug over 60 miles of tunnels prior to the Americans landing and they always made good use of these, defending most to the death.
The battle of Okinawa cost the 6th Division over 8,300 killed and wounded. The Division would receive one of the Nations highest awards, the Presidential Unit Citation. The Japanese lost over 100,000 killed and wounded, and over 120,000 Okinawan civilians were killed during the battle. American forces lost 12,000 killed. It was indeed an island of death.
American casualties on Okinawa reached to almost 40,000. The U.S. Navy had the highest casualty rate for any of the many WWII Naval battles with almost 5000 dead, and some 5000 wounded. Almost 800 U.S. planes were lost, 36 ships were sunk of damaged.
The Japanese had 4,600 Kamikaze planes shot down or lost, and 7,830 of their planes met the same fate. The statistical data on the battle is such that when one first reads of the battle, they feel the writer is in error. These are not errors...but the facts on what was a horrific battle.
One can only wonder what the casualty rates for both sides would have been had the Japanese mainland been invaded.
Six Medals of Honor were awarded for the battle. One can not write a story without mentioning our heroic Navy Corpsman and Medical staffs. Ask any Marine and they will say that they would not know what to do without them.
For those 6th Division Marines today, all look back on that Easter Sunday in April of 1945 and think of those that never saw another Easter Sunday. Our thoughts will always be with our valiant, honored dead....our real heroes!
sixthmarinedivision.com |
