During the afternoon, the regiment advanced an additional 400 yards securing Sugar Hill, and by 1600, had elements about 200 yards north of the Yonabaru–Shuri–Naha Highway. The enemy’s strong position on the Cutaway Hill (8271-U), continued to pour heavy machine gun and rifle fire on all assault troops of both the 381-IR and the 383-IR, and it was not until after the Sugar Hill had been taken that this strong point was reduced. Heavy enemy fire from the positions in the vicinity of Roger Hill halted any further advance by this regiment during the day. During this action, the 381-IR was engaged in some of the most fierce hand-to-hand combat they had yet experienced on Okinawa.
As a result of the day’s attack, the 381-IR on the division’s left flank advanced 800 yards, securing Sugar Hill and breaking the right flank of the enemy Shuri defenses by advances to within 200 yards of the Yonabaru–Shuri–Naha Road. The 382-IR advanced 800 yards and secured Oboe Hill. The 383-IR moved forward 100 yards but were unable to make further advances due to the heavy enemy fire from Love Hill, the west slopes of Conical Hill, and the east slopes of Victor Hill.
May 22–29, 1945 – Heavy Rains Halt Advances
During the period of May 22-29, extremely heavy rains prevented the division from making any progress other than local gains. Supply and evacuation became critical, and front-line elements had to hand-carry all re-supply of ammunition, food, and water up the steep slippery slopes. Roads became impracticable and in many instances, front-line troops had to be supplied by air. However, during the period, the enemy continued his bitter fight to hold his ground. Numerous attempts of infiltration and counter-attacks were repulsed, and the enemy continually harassed our front lines with intermittent artillery and mortar fire. During the night of May 23-24, the enemy thrust a strong counter-attack against 1/382 on Oboe Hill. These attacks were repulsed but some of the enemies had succeeded in penetrating through our lines inflicting heavy casualties upon our troops. On May 24, the 1/382 reorganized into a single company of 198 men, and despite heavy enemy opposition, succeeded in holding Oboe Hill. During the entire rainy period, all three regiments sent strong patrols to their front to keep contact with the enemy, and all front-line battalions continued to mop up enemy positions within their zone. Visibility was extremely poor during this eight-day period and the majority of artillery fire consisted of harassing missions on known enemy targets. In one instance, a forward observer from the 361-FAB burrowed through the slopes of Sugar Hill in order to establish observation on Roger Hill.
All flat trajectory and supporting weapons and ammunition were brought forward as conditions permitted. In numerous cases, tunnels were dug through the tops of hills and these guns were placed to fire directly into enemy emplacements and pillboxes.
May 30, 1945 – Shuri Defenses Broken
A Division attack was launched at 0800 on May 30 in an all-out effort to destroy the enemy’s excellent Shuri defenses. During the morning the 382-IR supported the advance of the 383-IR by fire and sent strong patrols to probe their front. At 1230, with the 1/382 and the 2/382 in the assault, the regiment began their attack in conjunction with the 307-IR attack on their right. Both of these battalions were temporarily held up at 1245 by a strong enemy force along the south slopes of Hen Hill (8272-R1). Heavy fires were placed down on this force and at 1400 the group opposing the 2/382 attempted to withdraw across the front of the 1/382. It is estimated that approximately 50 to 60 of these retreating Japs were killed by the 1/382. Immediately, the 2/382 renewed their attack down the south slopes of Hen Hill, and by 1715 had reached the top of Peter Hill and were engaged in mopping up and destroying Japs still in this area. Forward elements of this battalion continued the advance and by 1800 had secured the top of Bart Hill (8071-C3), and were engaged in a hot firefight with the enemy still entrenched on the hill. The 383-IR began their attack at 0800 with the main effort on the left, and by 1030 the 2/383 had cleared out the enemy pockets along the west slopes of the Hogback Ridge and had secured the Conical and Love Hills Ridge (8171-M2-8171-O2).
The attack of the 1/383, delayed until the enemy resistance at (8171-I) was overcome, began at 1100 to secure both hills, the Love and Mike. By 1200, one company had taken Love Hill, while the 2/383 continued their advance to Queen Hill against moderate resistance. Advances continued during the afternoon, meeting very little resistance on the left and heavy resistance on the right. At 1300, the 3/383 jumped off in the attack to seize Victor Hill, and by 1400 elements were reported on top of this hill where they immediately encountered heavy resistance from an estimated platoon, and at 11300 they were still engaged in close-in fighting between the Victor and the Bart Hills. Left elements of this battalion continued their advance to join up with the 2/382 at (8071-M). After securing Queen Hill, the 2/383 continued their advance to the south and by 1400 one company had reached Little Queen Hill (8171-U4), with no enemy opposition. These hills were all secured by 1600, and the 2/383 moved on to the high ground at (8071-X), where they dug in for the night.
The 381-IR, with the 1/381 and the 2/381 in the assault, advanced quite rapidly during the morning against moderate enemy resistance in the form of machine guns and rifle fire. By 1100, the 2/381, after considerable hand-to-hand combat in the town of Miyagusuku, secured Roger Hill. The 1/381 secured the enemy’s strong point on Cutaway Hill. Reserve elements were committed to containing and mopping up this area while the balance of the battalion pushed rapidly on to capture Don Hill (8170-D2) and Sparrow Hill (8170-C5), meeting relatively light resistance. By 1200 this regiment secured the Roger and Sparrow Hill mass, and during the afternoon concentrated on mopping up enemy caves and installations which had previously been bypassed.
With the new change in the Corps boundary between the 96-ID, the 77-ID, and the 7-ID, effective 1200, May 30 HQ XXIV Corps, one company of the 1/381 moved forward to occupy the Zebra Hill, 8070-H2, and at 1800 this same company was in defensive positions and tied in with 2/382 on the right and Fox Co 32-IR the left. As a result of these activities, the Division advanced approximately 1200 yards during the day to clean out all enemy resistance north of the Yonabaru–Shuri–Naha road within the division zone, except in the Pearl and Pauline Hills area, (8071-KLPQ). Enemy resistance encountered was surprisingly light throughout the day except on the extreme right of the division zone, where the 382-IR fought against a fairly strong enemy position until late in the afternoon when this enemy began to withdraw.
May 31, 1945 – Jap Resistance Vanishes
On May 31, advances of 600 yards on the division left and up to 1800 yards on the division right were made against light enemy resistance, except on the extreme left of the division zone of action. By 1200 all objectives within the 96-ID zone were reached and the front lines were up against the Corps boundary, except on the left flank southwest of John Hill (7970-01-7970-02-7970-03). The 382-IR began their advance at 0900 with 2/382 in the assault, and by 0940 had secured the Tom Hill (8071-A4), in conjunction with elements of 3/383. This was the final objective for the 382-IR in its assigned zone, and the balance of the day was spent sealing caves and cleaning up scattered enemy remnants in the Oboe – Peter Hills area. The 383-IR resumed their advance at 0900 and by 0940 the 3/383 in conjunction with the 2/382 had secured Tom Hill and one company had reached Pearl Hill (8071-L3). By 1245, the 2/383 and elements of the 3/383 had taken Joe Hill (7971-WX).
In a coordinated attack with elements of the 1-MD (Marine) at 1200, the 383-IR pushed across the Corps boundary and secured the Claire Hill (7971-IG). By 1800 all enemy groups were chased off of Claire Hill, and the 3/333 had established physical contact with the left flank of the 5-MR (Marine) at (7871-D). The 381-IR resumed their advance at 0830 with the 1/381 in the assault. By 0930, elements of this battalion secured the top of John Hill and were engaged in a stiff firefight with the enemy along the south slopes of this hill and on the Raccoon Hill (7970-W1), throughout the rest of the day. By 1100, one company of 1/381 secured the Louise Hill (7970-D4), encountering but little enemy resistance. The regiment spent the remainder of the day mopping up and sealing caves in the Sugar Hill and Roger Hill areas.
As a result of these activities, the 96-ID secured all of its objectives and reduced all organized enemy resistance in its assigned zone of action. Elements of the division’s right flank advanced 1800 yards to gain physical contact with the 5-MR south of Shuri.
During the month of May, the 96-ID continued to grind through the series of well-prepared and defended enemy positions in its zone of action. Much of the fighting had been close-in and the infantry had engaged in hand-to-hand combat using bayonets, knives, and hand grenades to annihilate the Japs as they continued to bitterly contest every inch of ground. Heavy rains during the period made the problem of supply and evacuation critical as the division continued to move forward seizing one hill after another over the most difficult terrain yet encountered. At the close of this phase in the battle for southern Okinawa the following message was received by the CG 96-ID from the CG 10-A, Lt Gen Simon B. Buckner Jr: I wish to congratulate you and all the members of your command for your part in driving the enemy from his Shuri Line and forcing him to the present area for final destruction. While all divisions in the line have contributed toward this end, I regard the capture of the Conical Hill by the 96-ID as the most important single factor in the collapse of the Shuri Position since it opened the way for an envelopment of the hostile right and forced the enemy’s immediate withdrawal. My confidence and best wishes accompany you in the final assault.
The following figures show our losses as compared to those of the enemy for the period May 1-31
381-IR – 29-KIA, 236-WIA
382-IR – 103-KIA, 929-WIA, 74-MIA
383-IR – 113-KIA, 526-WIA, 64-MIA
Total: 2074
Tank losses: 10 (Mines) 2 (Artillery) 5 (AT) 2 (Burned) 2 (Stuck)
Total: 21
Damage to the enemy: KIA: 8483, POW: 13, Field Pieces: 36, Machine-Gin: 170, Mortar: 71, 320-MM Spigot Mortar: 3, Tanks: 4, Pillboxes: 39, Caves: 1210.
