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The American invasion of the island of Okinawa, codenamed Operation Iceberg, took place 1 April 1945. The 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 the island had been covered with the most extensive system of fortifications and fields of fire yet encountered in the
Pacific War The Pacific War, sometimes called the Asia–Pacific War, was the theater of World War II that was fought in Asia, the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean, and Oceania. It was geographically the largest theater of the war, including the vast ...
. The island was not declared secure until 22 June, a period of 82 days. Lieutenant General
Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr. Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr. ( ; July 18, 1886 – June 18, 1945) was a lieutenant general in the United States Army during World War II who served in the Pacific Theater. As commanding general of Alaska Defense Command, Buckner commanded American ...
, was struck by coral fragments created by the explosion of a Japanese artillery shell on 18 June and later died of his wounds. Buckner became the highest ranking U.S. military officer to be killed in action in the Second World War.


American forces

US Tenth Army The Tenth United States Army was the last army level command established during the Pacific War during World War II, and included divisions from both the U.S. Army and the U.S. Marine Corps. History The headquarters of the Tenth Army was formed ...

Lieutenant General
Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr. Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr. ( ; July 18, 1886 – June 18, 1945) was a lieutenant general in the United States Army during World War II who served in the Pacific Theater. As commanding general of Alaska Defense Command, Buckner commanded American ...
, 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 Beaches

III Amphibious Corps III Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF) is a formation of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force of the United States Marine Corps. It is forward-deployed and able to rapidly conduct operations across the spectrum from humanitarian assistance and d ...
 (Embarked in Task Force 53)
Major General Roy S. Geiger, USMC
Chief of Staff: Brigadier General Merwin H. Silverthorn, USMC
Chief of Corps Artillery: Brigadier General David R. Nimmer, USMC : ''Left Beaches:''
::
6th Marine Division The 6th Marine Division was a United States Marine Corps World War II infantry division formed in September 1944. During the invasion of Okinawa it saw combat at Yae-Take and Sugar Loaf Hill and was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation. The 6 ...
(24,356 officers and enlisted) ::: Division Commander: Major General
Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr. Lemuel Cornick Shepherd Jr. (February 10, 1896 – August 6, 1990) was a four-star general of the United States Marine Corps. A veteran of World War I, World War II, and the Korean War, he was the 20th Commandant of the Marine Corps. As Com ...
, USMC ::: Asst. Division Commander: Brigadier General
William T. Clement William Tardy Clement (September 27, 1894 – October 17, 1955) was a highly decorated general of the United States Marine Corps with the rank of lieutenant general during World War II. He is most noted as commanding general of Fleet Landing For ...
, USMC ::::
22nd Marine Regiment The 22nd Marine Regiment (22nd Marines) is an inactive United States Marine Corps infantry regiment. The regiment was commissioned in 1942 and was placed under the command of the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade, and the 6th Marine Division. It t ...
(Colonel
Merlin F. Schneider Merlin Frederick Schneider (February 22, 1901 – November 15, 1970) was a highly decorated officer in the United States Marine Corps with the rank of brigadier general. He is most noted as commanding officer of 22nd Marine Regiment during the ...
, USMC) – Green Beaches ::::
4th Marine Regiment The 4th Marine Regiment is an infantry regiment of the United States Marine Corps. Based at Camp Schwab in Okinawa, Japan, it is part of the 3rd Marine Division of the III Marine Expeditionary Force. Mission Close with and destroy the enemy by fi ...
(Colonel
Alan Shapley Lieutenant General Alan Shapley ( Alan Herreshoff; February 9, 1903 – May 13, 1973) was a United States Marine Corps officer who survived the sinking of the USS Arizona (BB-39), USS ''Arizona'' during the World War II attack on Pearl Harbor, an ...
, USMC) – Red Beaches :::: 29th Marine Regiment (Colonel
Victor Bleasdale Victor France Bleasdale (December 2, 1895 – February 10, 1984) was a brigadier general in the United States Marine Corps. He was awarded the Navy Cross and Distinguished Service Cross for his actions during the Battle of Blanc Mont Ridge in W ...
, USMC) – Reserve :::: 15th Marine Regiment (Artillery) (Colonel
Robert B. Luckey Robert Burneston Luckey (July 9, 1905 – September 9, 1974) was a decorated officer in the United States Marine Corps with the rank of lieutenant general. A veteran of several wars, Luckey completed his career as commanding general, Fleet Marine ...
, USMC) : ''Right Beaches:''
::
1st Marine Division The 1st Marine Division (1st MARDIV) is a Marine division of the United States Marine Corps headquartered at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. It is the ground combat element of the I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF). It is the ...
(26,274 officers and enlisted) ::: Division Commander: Major General Pedro A. del Valle, USMC ::: Asst. Division Commander: Brigadier General
Louis R. Jones Louis Reeder Jones (June 29, 1895 – February 2, 1973) was a highly decorated major general in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. He was a recipient of Navy Cross for his service with 23rd Marine Regiment during Saipan and Tini ...
, USMC :::: 7th Marine Regiment (Colonel Edward W. Snedeker, USMC) – Blue Beaches ::::
5th Marine Regiment The 5th Marine Regiment (also referred to as "5th Marines") is an infantry regiment of the United States Marine Corps based at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. It is the most highly decorated regiment in the Marine Corps and falls u ...
(Colonel
John H. Griebel John Houghton Griebel (June 28, 1901 - March 10, 1969) was a decorated officer in the United States Marine Corps with the rank of Brigadier general (United States), Brigadier general. A veteran of United States occupation of Nicaragua, Nicaraguan ...
, USMC) – Yellow Beaches ::::
1st Marine Regiment The 1st Marine Regiment is an infantry regiment of the United States Marine Corps based at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. The regiment is under the command of the 1st Marine Division and the I Marine Expeditionary Force. The 1st ...
(Colonel
Arthur T. Mason Arthur Theodore Mason (October 3, 1902 – August 24, 1980) was a decorated officer of the United States Marine Corps with the rank of brigadier general. He is most noted as commanding officer of the 1st Marine Regiment during the Battle of Okin ...
, USMC) – Reserve :::: 11th Marine Regiment (Artillery) (Colonel
Wilburt S. Brown Wilburt Scott Brown (20 December 1900 – 17 December 1968) was a United States Marine Corps general who was a combat veteran of World War I, the Nicaraguan campaign, World War II, and the Korean War. He served in the Marine Corps for thirty-f ...
, USMC) :
1st Provisional Antiaircraft Artillery Group The 1st Provisional Antiaircraft Artillery Group was a provisional unit that served as the headquarters for all United States Marine Corps antiaircraft battalions that participated in the Battle of Okinawa. The group was formed on Kauai, Territo ...
:: Commanding officer: Colonel
Kenneth W. Benner Kenneth Wachter Benner (May 6, 1904 – September 10, 1975) was a decorated officer in the United States Marine Corps with the rank of Brigadier general. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy, he trained as Anti-Aircraft Artillery officer ...
, USMC


Southern Landing Beaches

XXIV Army Corps (Embarked in Task Force 55)
Major General John R. Hodge, USA
: ''Left Beaches:''
:: 7th Infantry ("Bayonet") Division (21,929 officers and enlisted) ::: Division Commander: Major General
Archibald V. Arnold Major General Archibald Vincent Arnold (February 24, 1889 – January 4, 1973) was a United States Army officer who served during World War II. Early life and career Arnold was born in Collinsville, Connecticut on February 24, 1889. He attende ...
, USA :::: 17th Infantry Regiment – Purple Beaches :::: 32nd Infantry Regiment – Orange Beaches ::::
184th Infantry Regiment The 184th Infantry Regiment (''Second California'') is an infantry regiment of the United States Army consisting of soldiers from the California Army National Guard. Only the regiment's 1st Battalion remains an active military unit. The battali ...
– Reserve :::: 48th, 49th, 57th Field Artillery Battalions (105mm) :::: 31st Field Artillery Battalion (155mm) : ''Right Beaches:''
:: 96th Infantry ("Deadeye") Division (22,330 officers and enlisted) ::: Division Commander: Major General James L. Bradley, USA :::: 381st Infantry Regiment – White Beaches :::: 383rd Infantry Regiment – Brown Beaches :::: 382nd Infantry Regiment – Reserve :::: 361st, 362nd, 921st Field Artillery Battalions (105mm) :::: 363rd Field Artillery Battalion (155mm) : ''Reserve:''
:: 27th Infantry ("New York") Division (16,143 officers and enlisted) ::: Division Commander: Major General George W. Griner, Jr., USA :::: 105th Infantry Regiment – landed L+8 :::: 106th Infantry Regiment – landed L+8 :::: 165th Infantry Regiment – landed L+8 :::: 104th, 105th, 249th Field Artillery Battalions (105mm) :::: 106th Field Artillery Battalion (155mm)


Western Islands (Ie Shima, etc.)

: Embarked in Task Group 51.1 : 77th Infantry ("Statue of Liberty") Division (20,981 officers and enlisted) :: Division Commander: Major General
Andrew D. Bruce Lieutenant General Andrew Davis Bruce (September 14, 1894 – July 28, 1969) was an American academic and soldier who served as the third president of the University of Houston. He retired from the United States Army in 1954 as a lieutenant gener ...
, USA :::
306th Infantry Regiment 3 (three) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number following 2 and preceding 4, and is the smallest odd prime number and the only prime preceding a square number. It has religious or cultural significance in many socie ...
– landed Green Beach 17 Apr ::: 305th Infantry Regiment – landed Red Beaches 1 & 2 17 Apr ::: 307th Infantry Regiment – landed Red Beaches 3 & 4 17 Apr ::: 304th, 305th, 902nd Field Artillery Battalions (105mm) ::: 306th Field Artillery Battalion (155mm) ::: One Marine BLT


Air Forces

: Tactical Air Force, Tenth Army
:: Major General
Francis P. Mulcahy Francis Patrick Mulcahy CBE (March 9, 1894 – December 11, 1973) was a general and commander in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. Mulcahy commanded the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, the Cactus Air Force, and the Tactical Air For ...
, USMC
:: Major General
Louis E. Woods Lieutenant General Louis Earnest Woods CBE (7 October 1895 – 20 October 1971), one of the Marine Corps' outstanding aviators, served as commanding general, aircraft, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic, and 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing at the Marine Corp ...
, USMC


Japanese forces


Thirty-second Army

Lieutenant General Mitsuru Ushijima (
seppuku , sometimes referred to as hara-kiri (, , a native Japanese kun reading), is a form of Japanese ritual suicide by disembowelment. It was originally reserved for samurai in their code of honour but was also practised by other Japanese people ...
22 June)
Approx. 67,000 men under arms, incl. 5,000 Okinawan conscriptsRottman 2004, p. 50 : 24th Division : Lt. Gen. Tatsumi Amamiya (KIA 30 June) :: 22nd Infantry Regiment :: 32nd Infantry Regiment :: 89th Infantry Regiment : 62nd Division : Lt. Gen. Takeo Fujioka (suicide 22 June) :: 63rd Brigade :: 67th Brigade : 44th Independent Mixed Brigade : Maj. Gen. Suzuki Shigeji (died 22 June)


Notes


References


Bibliography

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Okinawa 1945 in Japan Battles of World War II involving Japan Battles of World War II involving the United States History of Okinawa Prefecture Japan campaign Murder–suicides in Asia Battle of Okinawa United States Armed Forces in Okinawa Prefecture United States Marine Corps in World War II World War II invasions World War II operations and battles of the Pacific theatre Invasions of Japan Invasions by the United States Amphibious operations of World War II April 1945 events in Asia May 1945 events in Asia June 1945 events in Asia World War II orders of battle