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Okinawa ground order of battle

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Location of Ryukyus and beach assignments on Okinawa
Map of the Ryukyu Island chain showing its strategic location between Formosa and Kyushu, the southernmost of the Japanese Home Islands
Landing beaches on Okinawa
US ground force commanders on Okinawa
Lt. Gen. Simon B. Buckner, USA (KIA)
Maj Gen. Roy S. Geiger, USMC
Maj. Gen. John R. Hodge, USA
LCTs unloading at Yellow Beach, Okinawa, 13 April 1945.

This is the order of battle for the US invasion of the island of Okinawa, the largest island of the Ryukyu chain. This offensive, called Operation Iceberg by its planners, was the final Allied offensive in the Pacific Theater of Operations in World War II.

The defending Japanese military was determined to inflict a casualty rate so high that the U.S. government would choose not to invade the Japanese home islands. To this end, the southern portion of Okinawa had been covered with the most extensive system of fortifications and interlocking fields of fire the Americans had yet encountered in the Pacific Theatre. In anticipation of this level of resistance, five full divisions, two Marine and three Army, were committed to the struggle.

The initial American landings took place on 1 April 1945 and the island was not declared secure until 22 June, a period of 82 days, far longer than was expected by US planners. Four days before the end of the campaign, Lieutenant General Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr. became the highest ranking U.S. military officer to be killed in action in the Second World War.

Summary of opposing ground forces

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United States

US Tenth Army
Lieutenant General Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr., USA (KIA 18 Jun)

III Amphibious Corps
Major General Roy S. Geiger, USMC
Left: 6th Marine Division (24,356 officers and enlisted)
Right: 1st Marine Division (26,274 officers and enlisted)
XXIV Army Corps
Major General John R. Hodge, USA
Left: 7th Infantry ("Bayonet") Division (21,929 officers and enlisted)
Right: 96th Infantry ("Deadeye") Division (22,330 officers and enlisted)
Reserve: 27th Infantry ("New York") Division (16,143 officers and enlisted)

Japan

For most of the war, the Japanese had not considered Okinawa vital to their defensive arrangements. US progress in the Central Pacific led them to activate the Thirty-Second Army[a] on the island in April 1944. In June, 5,000 men of the 44th Independent Mixed Brigade were lost at sea when their transport was torpedoed by a US submarine. The 9th Division, a veteran unit, was intended for Okinawa but was stranded on Formosa when the high command decided it couldn't risk more slow-moving transports in the East China Sea.[1] The unprecedented American casualty figures would almost certainly have been considerably higher had these men made it to Okinawa.

Empire of Japan Japanese Thirty-Second Army[b]
Lieutenant General Mitsuru Ushijima (seppuku 22 Jun)
Approx. 67,000 men under arms, incl. 5,000 Okinawan conscripts[2]

24th Division
62nd Division
44th Independent Mixed Brigade

American forces

[edit]
Final photograph of Lt. Gen. Simon B. Buckner (right) just before being killed by a Japanese artillery round on Okinawa
Maj. Gen. Lemuel C. Shepherd with Okinawan capital of Naha in background
A 105mm howitzer crew of the 15th Marines in action in Naha, Okinawa
Marine riflemen follow a flame-throwing tank on Okinawa, 11 May 1945

US Tenth Army
Lieutenant General Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr., USA (KIA 18 Jun)
Major General Roy S. Geiger, USMC (18 Jun thru 23 Jun)
General Joseph W. Stilwell, USA (from 23 Jun)

Northern Landing Area

[edit]

III Amphibious Corps[3]
Major General Roy S. Geiger

Chief of Staff: Brigadier General Merwin H. Silverthorn
Chief of Corps Artillery: Brigadier General David R. Nimmer

Embarked in Task Force 53 under Rear Admiral Lawrence F. Reifsnider

Left Beaches

[edit]
6th Marine Division
Major General Lemuel C. Shepherd Jr.[c]
Asst. Div. Cmdr.: Brigadier General William T. Clement
Chief of Staff: Colonel John C. McQueen
G-1 (Personnel): Major Addison B. Overstreet
G-2 (Intelligence): Lt. Colonel Thomas B. Williams
G-3 (Operations): Lt. Colonel Victor H. Krulak
G-4 (Logistics): Lt. Colonel August Larson (to 16 May), Lt. Colonel Wayne H. Adams
Left zone – Green beaches
22nd Marine Regiment
Colonel Merlin F. Schneider (to 16 May), Colonel Harold C. Roberts (KIA 18 Jun), Lt. Col. August Larson
Exec. Ofc.: Colonel Karl K. Louther (to 16 May), Lt. Col. August Larson (to 17 Jun), Lt. Col. John B. Baker (to 20 Jun), Lt. Col. Samuel R. Shaw
1st Battalion (Major Thomas J. Myers (KIA 15 May), Major Earl J. Cook (WIA 17 Jun), Lt. Col. Gavin C. Humphrey)
CMoH recipients: Navy Corpsman Fred F. Lester (KIA 8 Jun)
2nd Battalion1 (Lt. Col. Horatio C. Woodhouse Jr. (KIA 30 May), Lt. Col. John G. Johnson)
CMoH recipients: Major Henry A. Courtney Jr. (KIA 15 May), Cpl. James L. Day
3rd Battalion Lt. Col. Malcolm "O" Donohoo (WIA 16 May), Major George B. Kantner (to 19 May), Lt. Col. Clair W. Shisler)
Right zone – Red beaches
4th Marine Regiment
Colonel Alan Shapley
Exec. Ofc.: Lt. Col. Fred D. Beans (to 14 Apr), Lt. Col. Fred D. Beans (from 1 May)
1st Battalion (Major Bernard W. Green, Lt. Col. Fred D. Beans, Lt. Col. George B. Bell)
CMoH recipient: Cpl. Richard Earl Bush
2nd Battalion (Lt. Col. Reynolds H. Hayden (to 26 May), Major Edgar F. Carney Jr.)
3rd Battalion (Lt. Col. Bruno A. Hochmuth)
Reserve – Landed D-Day
29th Marine Regiment[d]
Colonel Victor F. Bleasdale (to 14 Apr), Colonel William J. Whaling
Exec. Ofc.: Lt. Col. Orin K. Pressley
1st Battalion (Lt. Col. Jean W. Moreau (WIA 16 May), Maj. Robert P. Neuffer (to 25 May), Lt. Col. Samuel S. Yeaton (to 14 Jun), Lt. Col. Leroy P. Hunt Jr.[e])
2nd Battalion (Lt. Col. William G. Robb (WIA 19 Apr))
3rd Battalion (Lt. Col. Erma A. Wright (To 14 Jun), Lt. Col. Angus N. FraServ)
CMoH recipient: Pvt. Robert M. McTureous Jr. (KIA 7 Jun)
Artillery
15th Marine Regiment (Artillery)
Colonel Robert B. Luckey
Exec. Ofc.: Lt. Col. James H. Brower
1st Battalion (Major Robert H. Armstrong)
2nd Battalion (Major Nat M. Pace)
3rd Battalion (Lt. Col. Joe C. McHaney)
4th Battalion (Lt. Col. Bruce T. Henphill)
CMoH recipient: PFC Harold Gonsalves (KIA 15 Apr)
Service troops
6th Engineer Battalion (Maj. Paul F. Sackett)
6th Medical Battalion (Cmdr. John S. Cowan, USN)
6th Motor Transport Battalion (Lt. Col. Ernest H. Gould)
6th Pioneer Battalion (Lt. Col. Samuel R. Shaw (to 10 May), Maj. John G. Dibble (to 8 Jun), Lt. Col. Samuel R. Shaw (to 18 Jun), Maj. John G. Dibble)
6th Service Battalion (Lt. Col. George B. Bell (to 25 Apr), Lt. Col. Alexander N. Entringer)
6th Tank Battalion (Lt. Col. Robert L. Denig Jr.)

Right Beaches

[edit]
Maj. Gen. Pedro A. del Valle
Men of the 1st Marine Division assault a ridge two miles north of Naha supported by a bazooka.
Artillerymen of the 11th Marines swabbing the barrel of their 75mm pack howitzer during the Okinawa campaign.
Marine Corps TBM Avengers over Okinawa; white-pained hospital ship is visible below
1st Marine Division
Major General Pedro A. del Valle
Asst. Div. Cmdr.: Brigadier General Louis R. Jones
Chief of Staff: Colonel Robert O. Bare
G-1 (Personnel): Major Harold O. Deakin
G-2 (Intelligence): Lt. Colonel John W. Scott, Jr.
G-3 (Operations): Lt. Colonel Russell E. Honsowetz
G-4 (Logistics): Lt. Colonel Harvey C. Tschirgi
Left zone – Blue beaches
7th Marine Regiment
Colonel Edward W. Snedeker
Exec. Ofc.: Lt. Col. James M. Masters Sr.
1st Battalion (Lt. Col. John L. Gormley)
2nd Battalion (Lt. Col. Spencer S. Berger)
3rd Battalion (Lt. Col. Edward H. Hurst (WIA 19 Jun), Lt. Col. Stephen V. Sabol)
Right zone – Yellow beaches
5th Marine Regiment[f]
Colonel John H. Griebel
Exec. Ofc.: Lt. Col. John D. Muncie
1st Battalion (Lt. Col. Charles W. Shelburne)
CMoH recipient: PFC Albert E. Schwab (KIA 7 May)
2nd Battalion (Lt. Col. William B. Benedict (to 20 Jun), Major Richard T. Washburn)
CMoH recipients: Navy Corpsman Robert Eugene Bush, Navy Corpsman William D. Halyburton Jr. (KIA 10 May)
3rd Battalion (Major John H. Gustafson (WIA 1 Apr), Lt. Col. John C. Miller, Jr. (4 Apr to 16 May), Major Frank W. Poland (to 8 Jun), Jr., Lt. Col. Robert B. Hill)
Reserve
1st Marine Regiment
Colonel Kenneth B. Chappell (to 5 May), Colonel Arthur T. Mason
Exec. Ofc.: Lt. Col. Richard P. Ross, Jr. (to 20 May), Lt. Col. James S. Monahan
1st Battalion (Lt. Col. James C. Murray, Jr. (WIA 9 May), Lt. Col. Richard P. Ross, Jr. (to 12 May), Lt. Col. Austin C. Shofner[g])
CMoH recipients: Cpl. John P. Fardy (KIA 7 May), Cpl. Louis J. Hauge Jr. (KIA 14 May)
2nd Battalion (Lt. Col. James C. Magee, Jr.)
CMoH recipient: Pvt. Dale M. Hansen (KIA 7 May)
3rd Battalion (Lt. Col. Stephen V. Sabol (to 20 May), Lt. Col. Richard P. Ross Jr.)
CMoH recipients: PFC William A. Foster (KIA 2 May), Sgt. Elbert L. Kinser (KIA 4 May)
Artillery
11th Marine Regiment (Artillery)
Colonel Wilburt S. Brown
Exec. Ofc.: Lt. Col. Edson L. Lyman
1st Battalion (Lt. Col. Richard W. Wallace)
2nd Battalion (Lt. Col. James H. Mofatt Jr.)
3rd Battalion (Lt. Col. Thomas G. Roe)
4th Battalion (Lt. Col. Leonard F. Chapman Jr.)
Service troops
1st Engineer Battalion (Major Theodore E. Drummond)
1st Medical Battalion (Lt. Cmdr. Francis Giuffrida, USN))
1st Motor Transport Battalion (Lt. Col. Marion A. Fawcett (to 15 Apr), Lt. Col. Calvin C. Gaines)
1st Pioneer Battalion (Lt. Col. Robert G. Ballance)
1st Service Battalion (Lt. Col. Calvin C. Gaines (to 17 Apr), Col. John Kaluf)
1st Tank Battalion (Lt. Col. Arthur J. Stuart (WIA 13 Jun))
3rd Armored Amphibian Battalion, Provisional (Lt. Col. John L. Williamson, Jr. (to 7 May), Major Arthur M. Parker, Jr.)
1st Amphibian Tractor Battalion (Lt. Col. Maynard M. Nohrden)
8th Amphibian Tractor Battalion (Lt. Col. Chalres B. Nerren (to 13 Apr), Major Bedford Williams (to 17 Apr), Lt. Col. Chalres B. Nerren)
1st Provisional Antiaircraft Artillery Group
Colonel Kenneth W. Benner

Southern Landing Area

[edit]

XXIV Army Corps[5]
Major General John R. Hodge

Embarked in Task Force 55 under Rear Admiral John L. Hall

Left Beaches

[edit]
Archibald V. Arnold as a brigadier general
7th Infantry ("Bayonet") Division
Major General Archibald V. Arnold
Infantry
17th Infantry Regiment – Purple Beaches
32nd Infantry Regiment – Orange Beaches
184th Infantry Regiment – Reserve
Artillery
48th, 49th, 57th Field Artillery Battalions (105mm)
31st Field Artillery Battalion (155mm)
Division troops
7th Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized)
13th Engineer Combat Battalion
7th Medical Battalion
7th Counter Intel Corps Det

Right Beaches

[edit]
Maj. Gen. James L. Bradley
96th Infantry ("Deadeye") Division
Major General James L. Bradley
Infantry
381st Infantry Regiment – White Beaches
CMoH recipient: Sgt. Beauford T. Anderson
382nd Infantry Regiment – Reserve
CMoH recipients: PFC Clarence B. Craft, Lt. Seymour W. Terry
383rd Infantry Regiment – Brown Beaches
CMoH recipient: PFC Edward J. Moskala (KIA 9 Apr)
Artillery
361st, 362nd, 921st Field Artillery Battalions (105mm)
363rd Field Artillery Battalion (155mm)
Division troops
96th Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized)
321st Engineer Combat Battalion
321st Medical Battalion
96th Counter Intel Corps Det
Medium tanks of the 713th Tank Battalion during a respite in the fighting on Okinawa.

Reserve – Landed L+8

[edit]
27th Infantry ("New York") Division
Major General George W. Griner Jr.
Infantry
105th Infantry Regiment
106th Infantry Regiment
165th Infantry Regiment
CMoH recipient: Sgt. Alejandro R. Ruiz
Artillery
104th, 105th, 249th Field Artillery Battalions (105mm)
106th Field Artillery Battalion (155mm)
Division troops
27th Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized)
102nd Engineer Combat Battalion
102nd Medical Battalion
27th Counter Intel Corps Det

Western Islands (Ie Shima, etc.)[6]

[edit]
Andrew D. Bruce as a lieutenant general
Renowned combat journalist Ernie Pyle shortly after being killed on Ie Shima.
77th Infantry ("Statue of Liberty") Division
Major General Andrew D. Bruce
Embarked in Task Group 51.1 under Rear Admiral Ingolf N. Kiland
Infantry
305th Infantry Regiment – landed 17 Apr Red Beaches 1 & 2
CMoH recipients: Sgt. John W. Meagher, Sgt. Joseph E. Muller (KIA 16 May)
306th Infantry Regiment – landed 17 Apr Green Beach
307th Infantry Regiment – landed 17 Apr Red Beaches 3 & 4
CMoH recipients: Cpl. Desmond Doss, PFC Martin O. May (KIA 21 Apr)
One Marine BLT
Artillery
304th, 305th, 902nd Field Artillery Battalions (105mm)
306th Field Artillery Battalion (155mm)
Division troops
77th Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized)
302nd Engineer Combat Battalion
302nd Medical Battalion
77th Counter Intel Corps Det

Air Forces

[edit]
Tactical Air Force, Tenth Army
Major General Francis P. Mulcahy, USMC (to 11 Jun)[h]
Major General Louis E. Woods, USMC (from 11 Jun)

Japanese forces

[edit]
Lt. Gen. Mitsuru Ushijima

Thirty-Second Army[7][i]

[edit]

Lieutenant General Mitsuru Ushijima (seppuku 22 Jun)
Approx. 67,000 men under arms, incl. 5,000 Okinawan conscripts[8]

24th Division
Lt. Gen. Tatsumi Amamiya (KIA 30 Jun)
22nd Infantry Regiment
32nd Infantry Regiment
89th Infantry Regiment
62nd Division
Lt. Gen. Takeo Fujioka (suicide 22 Jun)
63rd Brigade
67th Brigade
44th Independent Mixed Brigade
Maj. Gen. Suzuki Shigeji (died 22 Jun)

Notes

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  1. ^ A Japanese army was equivalent to a Euro-American corps.
  2. ^ A Japanese army was equivalent to a Euro-American corps.
  3. ^ Served as Commandant of the Marine Corps, 1952-55
  4. ^ William Manchester, later a noted historian, served in this unit on Okinawa; his 1980 bestseller Goodbye Darkness: A Memoir of the Pacific War was later discovered to contain multiple exaggerations and falsehoods.[4]
  5. ^ Had been relieved of command on Guadalcanal for poor handling of the 5th Marine Regiment, but was given a second chance for battlefield command.
  6. ^ Eugene B. Sledge, author of the noted memoir With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa, served in Company K / 3rd Battalion.
  7. ^ Captured on Corregidor, Shofner took part in the only successful escape from a Japanese POW camp.
  8. ^ Relieved for ill health
  9. ^ A Japanese army was equivalent to a Euro-American corps.

References

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  1. ^ Frank 1969, pp. 16-17
  2. ^ Rottman 2004, p. 50
  3. ^ Rottman 2004, pp. 55, 91-92
  4. ^ Tyrell, R. Emmett; Flynn, Daniel J. (May 25, 2017). "Stolen Valor: The Fake History From a Real Historian That Fooled Presidents and Publishers". Retrieved 3 February 2025.
  5. ^ Rottman 2004, pp. 55, 90-91
  6. ^ Rottman 2004, p. 91
  7. ^ Rottman 2004, p. 93
  8. ^ Rottman 2004, p. 50

Bibliography

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  • Clark, George C. (2006). The Six Marine Divisions in the Pacific: Every Campaign of World War II. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company. ISBN 0-7864-2769-8.
  • Frank, Benis M. (1969). Okinawa: Touchstone to Victory. London: McDonald & Company. ISBN 0-3560-3066-0.
  • Rottman, Gordon (2004). Okinawa 1945: The Last Battle. Oxford: Osprey. ISBN 0-275-98274-2.
  • Stanton, Shelby L. (1984). World War II Order of Battle. New York: Galahad Books. ISBN 0-88365-775-9.
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