Battle of Hill 81, Okinawa

Battle of Hill 81 on Okinawa.

It's quite possibly one of the most insignificant battle in the Pacific in the grand sense.

While it couldn't really be called a battle in the true sense, there was a (tiny) struggle to take this tiny little hill on June 22nd, 1945.

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Most of us who are a bit more knowledgeable about the battle knows how it started, but what about the it ended? Or more specifically, what happened on the last day of organized defense of Okinawa?

For that, we need some information on how the final Japanese organized resistance ended up on this tiny little hill no one knows about.

Let's take a look at the modern day Okinawa just to get sense of the scale we are looking for. Courtesy of Google maps.

The southern tip of island of Okinawa is only about several square kilometers, and by this time most of the Japanese forces are already either eliminated or completely exhausted from the earlier fighting.

We are going to use a combination of original sources from JACAR, US Army publication "Okinawa: The Last Battle", USMC publication "Okinawa: Victory in the Pacific" to illustrate this.

In early June, the IJA 32nd Army set up it's final defensive plans based on the southern tip of the island and awaited the Allies to attack, they expected the allies to come in from the west flank and the possibility of an amphibious landing from the south.

With 24th division HQ around in Maehira(Referred to as Medeera in US literature) and the 32nd Army HQ in Mobumi, the last 2 remaining Japanese command in Okinawa.

Most of 32nd Army's independent infantry companies were deployed to the South west in the village of Kyon.

The IJA 32nd Army also placed the IJA 44th independent mixed brigade in charge of the defense of the Yaeju Dake-Yuza Dake Escarpment. These hills were the final Japanese observation points that could be used to direct artillery fire.

On June 15th, the Americans successfully broke through both Yaeju Dake and Yuza Dake. Japanese lines immediately crumbled the following days.

The little icons that look like spiders with a circle and two bars are actually enemy tank units they spotted. While the Americans didn't particularly noted them, the Japanese made sure they did.

4 days later, On June 19th, the allies have completely broke through from the west, and the east. Completely encircling what was left of the remaining elements of the IJA 24D in the hills of madeera. While also forcing what remains of the IJA 22nd independent infantry company in the village of Kyon to flee and break through towards IJA 24D's final position as well.

Those that stayed were later encircled in the fields of Tsukazato and decimated.

One day earlier, on June 18th, IJA 24D HQ organized all personnel that remained into 3 companies of 30-35 men for the final defense in the town of Uegusukujyo. Most of these that remained were primarily non-combat MOS.

1/381 working in concert with 184th infantry assaulted this final stand from the members of the IJA 24th Division HQ, totaling of 95. This attack and containment on the 24D HQ would last until June 28th.

The singular hill on the right side is hill 66 (Name not referenced in US literature) where IJA 24th Search regiment ended up on, the two to the west are hills 85 and 81 respectively. Along with hill 79 further to the north west, these 4 hills are the last concentrated forces where the Japanese were located on the last days of the defense. Hill 79 was a tiny hill of 100 square meters filled with caves, and the same could also be said for hills 81 and 85 right next to it.

Defensive positions around 24D HQ

Hill 79 was secured by the IJA 32nd Infantry regiment HQ about 70 men or so, and hills 81 and 85 were secured by the remenants of IJA 42nd field artillery regiment, consisted of about 80 or so men, and had the last operational anti-tank cannons on the whole island. With the IJA 24th search regiment on the south eastern side of hill 85 (Hill 66 in Japanese literature), consisted of around 20 men.

IJA 42nd Artillery's position on June 13th, you can see the cannons set on both hill 81 and 85. 32i on hill 79 can also be seen as well/

1/5 Marines launched their attack on hill 79 from the west on June 18th, and with armored support was able to advanced till the lower slopes of hill 79.

On the same day, the 24th search regiment from the north east suffered heavy casualties from 1/381, with more than 20 injured. They retreated to the south eastern tip of hill 85, named hill 66 in Japanese literature.

Hill 79 from South West, ~3 km out, unfortunately was unable to get a good angle from Google maps from the north west direction.

On June 19th, the 1/5 attempted to take the hill again. However even with armored support they were unable to advanced to the hill crest. During this attempt 3 tanks were taken out by the IJA 42nd Artillery's howitzers as well. 

To support and relieve the 1/5, 2/5 was ordered to attack hill 81 from the south. At 1700, 2/5 arrived some distance away from hill 81 through the town of Makabe, which was secured by 3/5 earlier.

Hills 79 and 81 when viewed from the south ~300m away. Hill 79 and Hill 81 are roughly 400m away from each other. Well within rifle shot range.

However, every time the 2/5 attempts to attack hill 81, they received heavy sniper fire from IJA 42nd Artillery on the east side of hill 79 and were unable to advanced forward. Even though 2/5 was ready to commit Company F to assault the hill, (Company G, the leading company were exhausted from the earlier failed assault) the volume of fire coming from both hills 79 and 81, combined with the lateness of the hour forced them to call off the assault and to wait until the next day.

Hill 81 and 85 viewed from the town of Makabe, which was secured by 3/5 earlier during the day. Hill 85 can be seen just a short distance away separated by the road in the middle.

On June 20th, 1/5 renewed their efforts on hill 79 with supporting tanks. Approaching from the north western side of the slope, and advanced towards the hill crest once again.

By this time the IJA 42nd Field Artillery regiment had run out of their limited cannon ammunition as well.

32nd Inf HQ cave west entrance

1/5 with company A, B, C launched an assault from the North West direction of the hill at 0730 with tank support, and by 1300 Charlie company got within 75 yards of the hillcrest.

Able company reported the hill taken at 1635 but two hours later were forced to withdraw to the north western slope side due to accurate enemy small arms fire and dug in for the day. Most of the hill was secured by this point and decisions were made to secure the hill on the following day. 

On the same day the IJA 32nd infantry regiment HQ received their final order from 24th Divison command.

"The divisional command structure, after the destruction of all radio communication equipment will cease to exist. All men of the 24th division are to hold on to their current positions and to fight until the very last men. Keep in your hearts to not taste the shame of becoming a prisoner, and to execute our final purpose to bleed the enemy in the strongest ways."

The IJA 32nd Infantry's 1st company commander Captain Itou wrote in his post-war memoirs "The fate of Okinawa's ground combat" about his thought when he received this final order.

"To bleed the enemy? Our entire company has maybe 10 working rifles at this point, what more can we possibly do?"

Capt. Itou, during his Lt. years

Capt. Itou later survived and surrendered with other remnants of the 32nd infantry on August 29th.

On the same morning, 2/5 marines supporting tanks were to come in from the town of Makabe. However, a rain from the previous night muddied up the roads in the town of Makabe and delayed 2/5's support. Unfortunately, after they cleared the mud road they ran into a series of road block in the town constructed by the IJA 24th Search regiment and had to wait until 1400 when the bulldozer cleared the road blocks.

Hill 81 when viewed from the direct south from the town of Makabe. Closer to where Fox Company would have launch their attack from.

The tanks arrived and at 1520 and the assault was launched from the southern side of the hill. Fox company was immediately pinned down by MG fire and was unable to advance, while Easy company was able to come in from south west and towards hill 66/85 was able to advance to about 100 yards in the eastern slope along with Golf company before MG and mortar fire from the 24th search regiment from the right rear and the 42nd Field Artillery regiment main force from the front was able to stopped them in their tracks. As the tanks ran out of ammunition at 1910 and withdrew, the US tried tried for about an hour more before being pulled back to more defensible positions.

Hill 85 from the south western side viewed from Easy company's perspective, Hill 66 which was occupied by the 24th Search regiment towards the right side of the hill.

On June 21st, significant effort was made to clear up hills 79 and 81.

1/5 was able to secure the hill top of 79 by late afternoon following the previous day's success with the support of 1/305. With the surviving forces of the IJA 32nd Infantry HQ stuck in their caves within the mountains. The 32nd infantry would continue to venture out of the caves until they surrendered on August 29th. With their regimental flag burning ceremony on August 28th.

The top of hill 79 where the regimental flag was burned. Now a monument called "Yamagata's tower" as most men in the regiment were from Yamagata prefecture.

 

2/5's assault on hill 81 was delayed to take advantage of a rocket barrage on hill 81, as the location of the hill was not under coverage by traditional artillery. Easy company were to move in from the east once again and Companies F and G were to come in from the west flank.

2/5 slowly move towards the hill crest while burning and blasting caves they come across. At 1500, 3/5 also joined in to effort to clear the hill as well. At 1700, hill 81 was reported secured.

This marked the last record of the IJA 42nd Field Artillery.

3/305 advances towards hill 85 on June 22nd.

1/305 of the US Army launched their attack on hill 79 from the east under cover of heavy mortar barrage from both 1/305 and 3/305 at 1200. They successfully attacked the crest at 1630. With 3/305 following in 1/305 and was slated to attack hill 85 on the following morning.

IJA 21st Search regiment did their final 3 banzai yells and salute to the emperor for the last time.

During the encirclement of the Makabe ridge (Hills 79, 81, 85), one unit was able to slip through and reach Madeera to the IJA 24th Divisions position.

The IJA 22nd Independent Infantry Company from 62nd Division would arrive on the same day on June 21st, and ended up slightly north of the 24D's position from the village of Kyon, unable to continue to the 62nd Division HQ as their original plan due to significant American forces in the area. They gathered all their remaining members and launched a final suicide attack towards Madeera in 381st's direction.

The following morning of June 22nd, elements of 3/305 successfully took hill 66 and 85 without much effort. The IJA 24th Search Regiment's commander was killed by a grenade into the cave.

Infantrymen of Company K, 3/305 advance against the last organized enemy position on Okinawa on 22 June. (Army Photograph)

With hill 85 secured, the island's final organized defensive was also silenced. While the some remaining hold outs continue to combat, some would attempt to flee northwards in belief of a rumor of a organized guerrilla warfare being conducted in the northern tip of the island.

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IJA 24th Division HQ would continue to fight on June 22nd from their position east of the Makabe ridge (Hills 79, 81, 85). They evacuated the injured when the 24D 2nd Field Hospital retreated through the east came through. On June 25th, their northern flank was overran by the 381st and the cave system was discovered and filled in by the 381st. The breathing vents were also found and gasoline poured into them, followed by grenades and ignited gas. The bottom of the cave however, was a underground water way so those that were trapped in there(By this time about 200 or so from around the area) were able to survive.

On June 28th, all remaining members launched their final assault by digging out of the entrance. On June 30th, the remaining division commander, staff officers, and company commanders committed suicide in the cave.

The remains of the cave entrance to the 24th Division HQ

As for the 24th division 2nd field hospital, immediately after retrieving the wounded from the cave near HQ, they were surrounded near the town of Makabe, and fought to breakthrough the lines for 3 days straight.

On June 27th, while they were able to breakthrough the encirclement, most of the members were wounded or dead during the breakout attempt. The unit made it to a cave in the next town over about 200 meters out in Itosu. The following day on June 28th, the unit commander, Major Koike, disbanded the unit in the cave and committed suicide soon afterwards.

The cave where Major Koike committed suicide

A formal ceremony by the US 10th army on the 22nd of June marked the official end of organized resistance on the island of Okinawa.

Japan's actual surrender would come in 2 months later.