bigpigeon.us webpage WWII - Japan> Iwo Jima & Okinawa  > Land Battle of Okinawa, updated by RAC 18 May 2022.​
The Battle of Okinawa
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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.
The Ryukyu Islands
The Ryukyu Islands
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.
Battle of Okinawa
Battle of Okinawa
The Dead at Okinawa
Rough estimates for the dead at Okinawa are:
  • 9,000 US ground and air troops.
  • 5,000 US navy shipboard personnel.
  • 80,000 Japanese ground troops.
  • 3,700 IJN sailors in Operation Ten-Go on April 7.
  • 1,000 Kamikaze pilots.
  • 40,000 Okinawan civilians impressed into the Japanese military.
  • 100,000 other Okinawan civilians.
The Okinawa campaign claimed two Americans who were well-known at the time:
  • April 18: Ernie Pyle, beloved newspaper columnist, was killed from enemy action on the nearby island of Ie Shima. 
  • June 18: While at the front lines, Lt. Gen. Simon Boliver Buckner Jr., 10th Army commander, was killed by rock fragments when a Japanese shell landed. Buckner was the highest-ranking United States officer to die from enemy action in WW II. He was the son of a Civil War Confederate general.
Sources for the Land Battle of Okinawa webpage:​
  • The Ryukyu Islands map is courtesy of Japan Focus.
  • The Battle of Okinawa map is courtesy of http://mickmc.tripod.com.​

Pottawattamie County, Iowa WWII Dead - Land Battle of Okinawa:10-02 - Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Battle of Okinawa (14 dead, updated 15 Jan 2022)
† Bergman, George Eugene, SN 37-752-394, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • Co. C, 384th Inf. Regt., 96th Inf. Div.; KIA 10 Jun 1945, enemy machine gun fire, Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Battle of Okinawa.​
† Broz, Albert James, SN 37-490-921, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • 306th Inf. Regt., 77th Inf. Div.; KIA 1 May 1945, Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan; died instantly when struck by mortar shell near Shuri; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Battle of Okinawa.​
† Caster, John Joseph, SN 37-699-158, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • Co. G, 306th Inf. Regt., 77th Inf. Div.; KIA 28 Apr 1945, Ie Shima, near Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Battle of Okinawa.​
† Cohrs, William Stanley “Dick”, SN 37-733-662, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • 184th Inf. Regt., 7th Inf. Div.; KIA 5 Apr 1945, Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Battle of Okinawa.​
† Kemplin, Alvin Gerald, SN 37-699-280, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • Co. G, 32nd Inf. Regt., 7th Inf. Div.; KIA 23 Apr 1945, Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan; wounds from an artillery shell; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Battle of Okinawa.
† Keuter, Ambrose J., SN 37-699-242, US Army, Crawford Co.
  • Co. I, 306th Inf. Regt., 77th Inf. Div.; KIA 5 May 1945 NW of Kochi, southern Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan; Japanese counterattack; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Battle of Okinawa.
† Knudsen, Robert Dearld, SN 896935, USMC, Pott. Co. & Jackson Co., MO
  • Co. H, 7th Marine Regt., 1st Marine Div.; KIA 14 May 1945 Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Battle of Okinawa.
† McGee Victor Howard, SN 39-203-439, US Army, Shelby Co.
  • 307th Inf. Regt., 77th Inf. Div.; KIA 10 May 1945 on Shuri Line, southern Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Battle of Okinawa.
† ​Pokett, John Frederick "Jack", SN 37-485-635, US Army, Harrison Co.
  • Co. C, 386th Inf. Regt., 96th Inf. Div.; DOW 10 Apr 1945, Okinawa, Japan; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Battle of Okinawa.
† Sampson, Lester Alan, SN 37-685-019, US Army, Polk Co.
  • Co. F, 382th Inf. Regt., 96th Inf. Div., XXIV Corps, Tenth Army; KIA 19 Apr 1945 near Kakazu Line, southern Okinawa; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Battle of Okinawa.
† Scheffler, Norvin Herman, SN 982874, USMC, Pott. Co.
  • Co. I, 1st Marine Regt., 1st Marine Div.; WIA 9 May 1945, DOW 10 May 1945, Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Battle of Okinawa.
† Smith, Eugene McDaniel, SN 37-699-145, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • Co. C, 306th Inf. Regt., 77th Inf. Div.; KIA 14 May 1945 Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Battle of Okinawa.
† Wilson, Dallas Arnold, SN 37-699-245, US Army, Harrison Co.
  • Co. K, 305th Inf. Regt., 77th Inf. Div.; KIA 13 May 1945 Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Battle of Okinawa.
† Winther, Lawrence, SN 37-437-752, US Army, Cass & Audubon Cos.
  • Battery A., 362 Artillery Bn., 96th Inf. Div.; KIA 7 Apr 1945 near Ginowan, Okinawa, Ryukyu Is., Japan; observer killed by machine gun or mortar; Iwo Jima & Okinawa > Battle of Okinawa.