Terrain and Japs Halt Advances
Following an intense artillery preparation, the division continued working slowly forward against strong enemy resistance and the terrain problem presented by the steep escarpment to its front. The 383-IR jumped off at 0730. Heavy enemy machine gun and rifle fire was received throughout the day from both flanks of the regimental zone. Tank-Infantry teams of the 2/383 worked slowly forward along the division right flank in close coordination with the 1s Bn of the 1st Marine RC, destroying enemy emplacements along the boundary. By 1200, the battalion had secured the town of Yuza. Heavy machine gun fire from the high ground south of the town, however, made it impossible for front line elements to dig in and consolidate positions on the south edge of the town, and the battalion was forced to withdraw for the night to its previous positions. The 3/383, on the regimental left, advanced slowly forward in the open flat valley east of Yuza despite intense machine gun fire from tho left front. By 1800, elements of this battalion had advanced some 200 yards and reached the ledge at the bottom of the escarpment. The 1/383, in regimental reserve, moved forward to the following positions: Able Co, Ora Hill – (7662-S); and Charlie Co, Eleanor Hill – (7762-A).
In the 381-IR zone, the 1/381 continued its movement up the escarpment during the early morning. By 0400, the greater part of the battalion less Able Co was in position on top of the lower escarpment. Strong combat demolition patrols worked west along the top and north slopes of the escarpment, blowing up enemy fortifications previously bypassed. Final front lines remained unchanged. Abel Co, 381-IR, attempted to move up the escarpment on the right of the regimental zone but received heavy fire upon reaching (7861-A) and was finally forced to withdraw to the southeastern edge of the unnamed town at (7762-Y). The 3/381 attacked at 0730, with Tank-Infantry teams working throughout the area between Hill 99 and the base of tho escarpment, knocking out enemy positions and closing numerous caves. AT and Canon Co weapons continued to destroy enemy emplacements along the slopes of the escarpment. Front lines of the battalion were not advanced materially.
During the day, advances of 300-400 yards were made on the right, but final front lines showed only minor gains. Enemy activity during the nights of June 9/10, had been extremely light, with front line units receiving only sporadic mortar and artillery fire. Beginning with the night of June 11/12, however, the enemy began to employ extensive infiltration tactics, as the 2/383 killed 30 infiltrators. These infiltration attempts became increasingly stronger, eventually reaching a point where between 200 and 400 Japs were being killed each night.
Doughboys Scale Escarpment
The 383-IR resumed its attack at 0730. The 2/383, on the right, advanced slowly through the town of Yuza, again encountering heavy machine gun and rifle fire from the high ground to the south of the town. By 1110, this battalion had managed to advance to the high ground immediately south of the town at (7661-IJ). The balance of the day was spent in mopping up and closing caves in this area. The 3/383, on the regimental left, was unable to make any substantial advances during the morning due to intense machine gun fire from enemy positions on the high ground on the right of the 381-IR zone. With the assistance of the 2/381 working on these enemy positions during the afternoon, the 3/383 gained some 400 yards in the face of continuous rifle and machine gun fire and had moved abreast of the 2/381 by 1800.
The 381-IR jumped off at 0730 with all three battalions in the assault. The 2/381, committed on the regimental right, passed through Able Co of the 381-IR, and advanced up the escarpment slopes in conjunction with the 3/383 and with close support of medium and light tanks. By 1200, this battalion had pushed rapidly forward to positions just short of the top of the lower escarpment to the right of the 1/381. During the afternoon, the battalion searched out and destroyed active enemy emplacements which were holding up the advance of the 3/383. The 1/381, on the lower escarpment, was unable to make any advances during the day due to accurate enemy small arms fire. Able Co 381-IR, joined the balance of the battalion on the lower escarpment. The 3/381, supported by medium and flamethrower tanks, continued to push forward, cleaning up the remaining enemy pockets between Tonui and the base of the escarpment. During the afternoon, King Co, on the battalion’s right, passed through Item and Love Cos and reached the base of the escarpment where it consolidated front lines for the night. Love Co, on the left, passed through the 7-ID zone and by 1800 was in defensive positions along the top of the main escarpment. The 7-ID had attacked at 0400 and gained the top of the escarpment within its zone.
As a result of the day’s operations, the 96-ID had advanced 300-500 yards against continued strong enemy resistance. Elements of two battalions of 382-IR were on the top of the escarprment, and the left flank of 383-IR had advanced to positions well up on the escarpment. During the night of June 12/13, enemy activity was centered in the 381-IR zone. Baker Co 381-IR engaged in a hand-grenade battle with an unknown number of Japs. The regiment killed 48 infiltrators.
Bitter Fighting Ensues
The 383-IR Inf resumed its advance at 0730 with all three battalions in the assault. The 1/381, committed on the regimental right, passed through the west edge of Yuza and advanced to the outskirts of Ozato (7661) during the morning. The battalion then moved on to secure the town, but just at darkness encountered numerous enemy mines. Several casualties, including two company CO’s, were sustained from mine explosions, and the battalion withdrew and consolidated front lines for the night on the high ground northwest of Ozato. The 2/383, with the close support of medium tanks, continued to blow up and destroy numerous active enemy caves on the high ground just south of Yuza. By 1800, this battalion had secured two small hills to their front, with no material change in front lines. The 3/383 advanced 200-300 yards during the day under cover of smoke screens and against heavy enemy machine gun and rifle fire. At 1800, the battalion front lines vrere still receiving heavy enemy fire and were located along a coral ridge making it impossible to dig in for the night in the area. This battalion was forced to withdraw to positions occupied the previous night. The 2/382, under operational control of the 383-IR, moved forward to Hill 79 – (7763-N) and Eleanor Hill – (7762-A).
In the 381-IR zone, the 2/381, on the right, jumped off at 0730 with two platoons of light tanks in support. Heavy AT fire from skillfully concealed positions on the north slopes of Hill 167 halted the tanks at the road bend at (7761-I4). The battalion made three attempts to reach the top of the escarpment to their front but heavy and accurate machine gun, rifle, and light mortar fire prevented any advance. The 1/381 continued to mop up caves and emplacements in its area. The 3/381, on the regimental left, was more successful in its attack. Employing flamethrowers, satchel charges, bazookas, and other supportinG weapons, King and Item Cos mopped up along the base of the escarpment, and, after eliminating one particularly strong enemy position on their right flank, began to ascend the escarpment. By 1800, all of Item Co and elements of King Co had consolidated front lines on the top of the escarpment to the right of Love Co.
On June 13, advances were made on both flanks of the division. On the right, the 1/383 reached Ozato; on the division left flank, the greater portion of the assault elements of the 3/381 gained the top of the escarpment. During the night of June 13/14, enemy activity was again centered in the 381-IR zone. The 1/381 engaged in a hand-grenade battle lasting until dawn.
Escarpment Defenses Crumble
The 383-IR continued to work against enemy positions along the escarpment with tanks and demolition teams throughout the day. The 1/383 removed mines from the roads in the town of Ozato and fired tank and AT weapons on enemy caves and emplacements located along the escarpment. The battalion then moved back into the division zone, with front lines tied in with the 2/383 on the left and 1/1 Marine on the right. The 2/383 continued to work on enemy positions to its front. The 3/383, on the regimental left, pushed forward in conjunction with the 2/381 on its left and with the aid of direct fire from medium tanks succeeded in capturing the high ground just below the Hill 167 escarpment.
The 381-IR made gains of up to 500 yards in their zone during the day and secured the dominating the Laura Hill. The advance was assisted materially by the close-in support of medium, light and flamethrower tanks which had finally managed to work up to the top of the escarpment. The 2/381, on the regimental right, although pinned down at one time by heavy machine gun and mortar fire, pushed forward some 500 yards during the day and by 2020 was tied in with the 1/381 on its left and the 3/383 on its right.
The 1/381, unable to move during the morning due to machine gun and mortar fire from its front, resumed the attack at 1330, pushed rapidly forward against continuous machine gun and mortar fire, and by the end of the day was tied in with the 2/381 on its right. The 3/381, attached at 1030. By 1125, the battalion had secured the pinnacle of the escarpment on the Laura Hill. After mopping up the hill top area, the battalion continued down the south slopes of the hill and at 1800, was tied in with the 7-ID on its left and was on line with the 1/301 on its right.
The 96-Recon Troop moved to vicinity of the Mazie Hill – (7962-W) and for the balance of the period mopped up behind the infantry, closing caves along the Yaeju-Dake Escarpment. On June 14, the enemy escarpment defense on the division left was definitely broken with the seizure of the peak of the Laura Hill by the 381-IR. Enemy resistance on the right, however, continued unabated and prevented any rapid advances. During the night of June 14/15, enemy infiltration attempts showed an increase, with front-line units killing a total of 102.
Reach Last Enemy Peak
The 383-IR continued the attack during the day, pushing its left flank approximately 400 yards forward. The 1/383, on the right, jumped off at 0730 after cleaning out additional mines in Ozato, but the attack was stopped almost immediately by intense machine gun fire from the Hill 167 escarpment and two ridges jutting out from the Hill 167 area. To be noted: the northern ridge, actually an escarpment at (7661-HNT) extends towards Yuza. The southern ridge at (7560-E-7660-FL) runs towards Ozaro. Tank and AT fire was placed on these ridges, but was not sufficient to neutralize the enemy positions. Final front lines of the battalion were consolidated on the southern and eastern edges of Ozato.
The 2/382, attached to the 383-IR, relieved the 2/383 in the center of the regimental zone during the morning and attacked at 1100 to secure the escarpment and ridge (7661-HNT) running from the Hill 167 to Yuza. By 1800 this fresh battalion had secured the north slopes of the objective and partially closed the gap between itself and the 3/383 on the left. The 3/383 pushed forward in a very successful coordinated attack with the 2/381 on its left and advanced approximately 400 yards during the day. By 1800, elements of the battalion had succeeded in reaching the toP of the Hill 167 escarpment and additional troops were pushed up under cover of darkness. The 2/383, after its relief, moved to a new assembly area at the Hill 89 – (7962-J).
In the 381-IR zone, the left flank of the regiment advanced rapidly during the morning against moderate resistance. The 3/381, the left flank battalion, supported by medium and flamethrower tanks and working in conjunction with the 7-ID on its left, had gained some 1000 yards by 1300 and had completed the mopping up of the south slopes of the Laura Hill. Small pockets of enemy resistance to its front made advances very slow in the afternoon, but the battalion made additional gains of 200 yards. The other two battalions, the 2/381 on the right and the 1/381 in the center, also advanced during the day, swinging on the right flank of the 2/381 and advancing the left flank of the 1/381 some 500 yards to keep on line with the 3/381. Enemy resistance was strong in front of both these battalion.
On June 15, enemy resistance continued to prevent any appreciable gains on the division right flank. Advances of some 1200 yards, however, were made on the left flank where the balance of the Laura Hill was secured. The 3/383, in the center of the line, pushed elements to the top of the escarpment on the Hill 167. The 3/382 moved to (7763-HINM). During the night of June 15/16, heavy 81-MM mortar fire was reported by the 2/382 and the 3/303, in addition to the usual artillery and mortar fire along the entire division front. The enemy continued their strong night infiltration attempts; the three Infantry Regiments killed a total of 106 infiltrators.
382-IR Relieves the 383-IR
The 3/382 began the relief of the 1/383 in Ozato at 0700, and at 0845, the 1/383 was completely relieved and the Commanding Officer of the 382-IR, assumed command of the previous 383-IR zone of action. This placed the 3/382 in Ozato, the 2/382 on the north slopes of the ridge south of Yuza, and the 3/383, attached to the 382-IR, on the north slopes of the Hill 167. After the relief, the 3/382 launched an attack to the south and engaged in a heavy all-day fire fight with the enemy. All available supporting weapons were trained on enemy positions along tho escarpment at 7660-C to 7661-X which held up the advance of the battalion throughout the day. The 2/302 and the 3/383 jumped off in a coordinated attack at 0730 against strong enemy resistance. By 1000, additional elements of the 3/383 had reached the highest peak of the Hill 167, and by 1300? the battalion was in complete control of this high ground. The 2/382 advanced 400 yards to secure completely the small escarpment and ridge south of Yuza and to tie in with the 3/383 on the Hill 167. Elements of the 2/382 had reached this ridge the previous day, but on June 16, the battalion worked down the forward slopes of the ridge cleaning out all enemy resistance in the area. The 1/382 was committed during the afternoon in the gap between the 2/382 and the 3/382 to clean out remaining enemy resistance in that area south of Yuza. Final front line of the battalion were on line and tied in with the 2/382 on the left.
The 381-IR advanced some 600 yards along the entire front to positions on the forward slopes of the saddle between the Hill 167 and the Hill 153 – (7859-G). The regiment began its attack at 0730 with all three battalions in the assault. The 3/381 advanced 200 yards until squeezed out by the 1/381 and during the afternoon mopped up along the left of the regimental zone. The 1/381 and the 2/381 met light resistance initially, but by 1100, their advance was temporarily hold up by heavy machine gun and small arms fire from the Hill 153, which was located in the 7-ID zone, dominated the left flank of the 96-ID. The 7-ID fought throughout the day to secure the hill and by the end of the period had pushed elements to the top against heavy resistance.
Enemy positions on the west and south slopes of the hill, however, continued to hinder the advance of our left flank. At 1300, the 1/381 renewed its attack. After only short advances were made, heavy machine gun fire from positions on tho west slopes of the Hill 153 forced the front-line companies to withdraw. After a quick reorganization, the battalion attacked again at 1600 and pushed its way forward over the saddle at (7760-NT) between the two hills, 167 and 153. At 1800, the battalion was still receiving intense mortar, machine gun, and rifle fire from its left front and the west slopes of the Hill 153. The 2/381, advanced with and abreast of the 1/381 during the afternoon. Two companies of tanks rendered very effective support during the day’s advances. After its relief by the 382-IR, the 1/383 closed into a new area in the vicinity of (7963-U). The 305-IR (77-ID) was attached to the 96-ID for operational control as of 1200. This regiment closed in at (8066-M) during the morning.
On June 16, the division secured the top of the Hill 167, the highest peak on the island remaining in Jap possession. The division left flank advanced approximately 600 yards. Once again the right flank softened up enemy positions to the front with no material changes in front lines. The 382-IR with the 3/383 attached, replaced the 303-IR on the division right. Previous to this time, the 382-IR had extensively patrolled rear areas. During the night of June 16/17, front-line units repulsed numerous infiltration attempts, killing 117 Japs.
