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"60 YEARS AGO......"
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. 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! Introduction to the Sixth Marine Division
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