bigpigeon.us webpage WWII-Japan> Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Land Battle of Okinawa, © 2023 by Robert A. Christiansen, updated by RAC 15 Aug 2023.
The Battle of Okinawa, 26 March - 21 June 1945
The Battle of Okinawa, 26 March - 21 June 1945
The Battle of Okinawa
Okinawa is the largest of the Ryukyu Islands chain, stretching southwest from the Japanese Home Islands to Taiwan, which was known as Formosa in WW II. The newly-formed US Tenth Army, comprised of both Army and Marine troops, did the ground fighting in the Ryukyu Islands. Initial landings on small islands near Okinawa began on March 26, 1945. April 1 saw the main landing on the southwest shore of Okinawa. Resistance continued until June 21. Once in American hands, Okinawa became a massive base for the planned invasion of the Home Islands. Although this invasion never happened, Okinawa served as a base for American heavy bombers in the last months of the war (bases for the B-29 very heavy bomber, remained in the Mariana Islands). Unlike Iwo Jima, Okinawa had a large civilian population, which suffered greatly during the invasion. Civilians died by the thousands from US bombing and artillery fire, from being in harms way after being pressed into service by the Japanese army, and from suicide encouraged by Japanese authorities. |
Six US divisions landed on Okinawa, namely the Army's 7th, 27th, 77th, and 96th and the Marine Corps 1st and 6th, later joined by elements of the 2nd Marine Division.
For the first few days, American forces made rapid progress, seizing central and northern Okinawa. Southern Okinawa was a different story. Combat was fierce and protracted and casualties on all sides were high. Japanese resistance continued until June 21. |
The Dead at Okinawa
Rough estimates for the dead at Okinawa are:
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The Okinawa campaign claimed two Americans who were well-known at the time:
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Sources for Big Pigeon's Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Land Battle of Okinawa webpage:
Pottawattamie Area WWII Dead - Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Land Battle of Okinawa:
† Bergman, George Eugene, SN 37-752-394, US Army, Pott. Co.
- The Ryukyu Islands map is courtesy of Japan Focus.
- The Battle of Okinawa map is courtesy of http://mickmc.tripod.com.
Pottawattamie Area WWII Dead - Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Land Battle of Okinawa:
- Taken from the bigpigeon.us WWII Roster module.
† Bergman, George Eugene, SN 37-752-394, US Army, Pott. Co.
- Co. C, 384th Inf. Regt., 96th Inf. Div., XXIV Corps, Tenth Army; KIA 10 Jun 1945, enemy machine gun fire, Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Land Battle of Okinawa.
- 306th Inf. Regt., 77th Inf. Div., XXIV Corps, Tenth Army; KIA 1 May 1945, Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan; died instantly when struck by mortar shell near Shuri; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Land Battle of Okinawa.
- Co. G, 306th Inf. Regt., 77th Inf. Div., XXIV Corps, Tenth Army; KIA 28 Apr 1945, Ie Shima, near Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Land Battle of Okinawa.
- 184th Inf. Regt., 7th Inf. Div., XXIV Corps, Tenth Army; KIA 5 Apr 1945, Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Land Battle of Okinawa.
- Co. F., 29th Marine Regt., 6th Marine Div.; KIA 8 Jun 1945 Okinawa; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Land Battle of Okinawa.
- Co. G, 32nd Inf. Regt., 7th Inf. Div., XXIV Corps, Tenth Army; KIA 23 Apr 1945, Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan; wounds from an artillery shell; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Land Battle of Okinawa.
- Co. I, 306th Inf. Regt., 77th Inf. Div., XXIV Corps, Tenth Army; KIA 5 May 1945 NW of Kochi, southern Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan; Japanese counterattack; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Land Battle of Okinawa.
- Co. H, 7th Marine Regt., 1st Marine Div., III Amphibious Corps, Tenth Army; KIA 14 May 1945 Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Land Battle of Okinawa.
- 307th Inf. Regt., 77th Inf. Div., XXIV Corps, Tenth Army; KIA 10 May 1945 on Shuri Line, southern Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Land Battle of Okinawa.
- Co. C, 386th Inf. Regt., 96th Inf. Div., XXIV Corps, Tenth Army; DOW 10 Apr 1945, Okinawa, Japan; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Land Battle of Okinawa.
- Co. F, 382th Inf. Regt., 96th Inf. Div., XXIV Corps, Tenth Army; KIA 19 Apr 1945 near Kakazu Line, southern Okinawa; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Land Battle of Okinawa.
- Co. I, 1st Marine Regt., 1st Marine Div., III Amphibious Corps, Tenth Army; WIA 9 May 1945, DOW 10 May 1945, Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Land Battle of Okinawa.
- Co. C, 306th Inf. Regt., 77th Inf. Div., XXIV Corps, Tenth Army; KIA 14 May 1945 Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Land Battle of Okinawa.
- 105th Inf. Regt., 27th Inf. Div., XXIV Corps, Tenth Army; KIA 26 Apr 1945 Shuri Line, Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan; Battles of the Shuri Line - Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Land Battle of Okinawa.
- Co. K, 305th Inf. Regt., 77th Inf. Div., XXIV Corps, Tenth Army; KIA 13 May 1945 Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Land Battle of Okinawa.
- Battery A., 362 Artillery Bn., 96th Inf. Div., XXIV Corps, Tenth Army; KIA 7 Apr 1945 near Ginowan, Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan; observer killed by machine gun or mortar; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Land Battle of Okinawa.