General Orders 1946 - Fort Benning

Supply details fought their way in and out to fortify the position and thus reduce
the mounting casualty rate. Before the position could bc properly fortified, the
aid station was destroyed and the squadron commander and two troon commanders
were wounded. Enlisted and officer casualties mounted daily. Grimly
deterntined to continue the assaolt and fulfill its mission, the squadron ranged
in all directions day and night, blowing bunkers and caves and ensaging in handto-hand
fighting against Intiltrating. partics and countcrnttncking Japanese. A
47-mrn alltiianlr gun was desiroycd-just 30 feet from the perimeter after patrols
had bypassed it on 3 successive days. All patrols endeavoring to remain outside
the perimeter in temporaly entrenchments were alhjceted to previously registered
barmb-s from knee mortars, %-mm and 150-mm mortars and medium
and heavy artillery. Tans of demolitions were utilized in sealing caves containing
hoslile troops and artiliery and mortar psitions of all'typrs. Rocket
and artiliery positions were repeatedly destroyed by 37-mm and 75-mm guns
mar~llanrlled to position within the perimeter. IIill faces were burned with white
PhOsPorus from arlillery and mortar shells and all spoil of any nature subjectcC
to direct fire. On the 10th day, the squadron more0 forward, eontinning n
ferocious offensive plan of systmmtie reduction of hostile drknses. On the 14th
day, the objective was secured and the area completely mopped up. In tho reduction
of this fortified men, the sqnadron, while sustaining over 30 percent
losses, by its afgressive, - - determined efforts killed over 1.000 Japanese and destrayed
more Lhnn 300 hunkers and caves containing numerous artillery, mortar,
machine am, and rocket oositions. In fulflllinz its mission, the 3d Squadron,
7th Cavalry, vith reinforcements, contributed directly to the complele disintegration
of organized defense over a wide area and the total destruction of Shimbu
Line. (General Orders 232, Headquarters 1st Cavalry Division, 8 Deecnlher 1945,
a8 npproved by the Commander in Chief, United States Army Forces, Pacific.)
5. The 6th Bombardment Group (VH) is cited far oiltsiauding perforlnnnce
of duty in armed conflict with the cnemy. This group was alerted for a mxximum
cffort attaek to take off only 86 hours after return of their bombers from
a rnaxirnum effort mission, on which a large number of the aircraft had sustained
extensive battle damage. Tireless and efficient work by the maintenance crews
readied tventy-seven B-23's by take-off time on 25 May 1845 far ilds important
attack against the last remaining strategicrrliy vaiuahle industrial section of
Tokyo not yet destroyed. In addition to ihe extreme hazards of long overwater
flight and grent distances from friendly bases, the bombing problem was such
that the approximate routc and altitude of attack werc known to the enemy with
consequent massing of defenses. Attacking first after the pathfinders when
the defenscs had hecn fully alerted and not yet saturated hy the raid, the
6th Bombardmmt Group's aircraft were picked up by effective scarcl~lights and
clearly silhouetted from the initial poiut through the target area. Extremely
intense and accurate heavy antiaircraft, automatic weapons fire. and rockets, all
effective against low-level attacks, buffeted the bombers. The enemy air fie.
fenses were at maximum force with 41 night flchters - makine - 28 accressive
attacks agninst the group's aircraft. In fighting them off, the gunners lie~troyed
eieht and darnaced - three hostile interceotors. As lnanv as 50 suicide xir~~innes
were also employed by the enemy in defense of this most important target.
Three B-29's of the group force were lost and 14 heavily damagcd in fighting
their way through almost insurmountable defenses to complete succcssfull~ their
assigned task. Through the indomitablc courage. skill, and extraordinary devotion
to duty in the face of fanatical enemy opposition exhibited by the combat
AGO 3493B