General Orders 1946 - Fort Benning

Company E, the 1st Platoon, Company E, and the 1st Platoon, Company C,
completely surprised the enemy and gained the objective by 0445 without suffering
a casualty. The Japanese reacted violently to this surprim? and by 0603,
Japanese artiiiery and mortar shells started raining on the position. Vicious
machine-gunfire tore up the hill from the front, both flauks, and the rear. The
enemy counterattacked furiously and repeatedly, but was repulsed savagely each
time, at times by bayonets alone Friendly units on the right and left attacked.
trying to come abreast of Company E, but were repulsed. Thus Compaay E and
the ist Platoon of Cmnpanies I7 and C still remained isolated and surrounded,
their strength heing depleted rapidly, yet they fought on with dogged determination
to hold their positions. By 1000, all machine guns, both heavy and light,
and all 60-mm mortars had been knocked out. The day was hot and by nightfall
practicklly 811 water had been consumed. The said men had exhausted thcir
supplies. That night, an attempt was made to send in water, ammunition, and
medical supplies, but the sup~ly column was almost mmpletely annihilated.
Throughout the night, heavy enemy flre continued. The men repelled repepted
Japanese infiltration attempts. Dawn of the second day disclosed that hand
grenades were nil expended nnd the only effective weapons remaining were
rifles and bayonets, yet they clung desperately to thcir position. Fear that they
might bbc overwhelmed by numbers aiane was widespread. Four large-scale
enemy attacks were repnlscd during the day with the support of accurate
Cannon Company and arlillery fire. Adjacent units attacked again on the
second day in an effort to come nbreast of Cornpang E without success. That
night a supply and exacuation party reached them, bringing the first medical
attention anti water the men had rtXceived in 45 hours. Dawn of the third day
found Co11~pany E and ilx attached platoons still clinging to their positions.
Lale at night on the third day, Company E and the 1st PZatnms of Companies
H and C were relieved with 48 men of the original 179 remaining. These units
had driven a mcilre into the great Shuri Defense Line, and shortly thereafter,
the Japanese started their withdrawal from the tremendously strong position
they had fcmght 80 desperately to hold. The extraordinary heroism and dogged
determin:ttion of this llttle band, Comoany E, 1st PI.ato~7, Cornpang II, and
1st Plaloon, Compang 0, 307th Infantrg Regiment. wnlribnted in large measure
to lhe subsequent advance of the entire division and are in keeping with the
highest tl.ariilions of the military ser~ice. (Gcneral Orders 492, Ilcadquarters
77th Infuntry Division, 20 Ikccnllier 1045, as approved by the Commander in
Chief, linited States Army Porces, Paciflc.)
2. ComponlJ I, 807th Inlantru Regimmt, is cited for outstandinp performance
of duty in action against the enemy near "Chocolate Drop Hili," Okinawn,
Ryukyns Islands, from 15 to 19 May IWZ. On 15 31ny 1945, Gornpruny I, 307th
Infantry Regiment, inoved into the line SO0 yardsnorthenst of the town of Shuri,
relieving units of Lhe 306th Infantry, and areparerl lo attack "Chacolnte Uruo
view. of all the surrounding area. Attacking at ODW acrova open ground, with a
platoon of medium tanks in support, G0mpon.g I eneounl.ered the concentrated
fire of the enemy's sl:rongest defense line. This fire came from artillery, motars,
antitank guns, dug-in tanks, and small arms. %'he men of Cwngany I advanced
through the enemy tire until they reached the forward slopes of "Chocolate Drop
Hill." Fire from both flank* and the front inflicted heavy casualties and forced
them to dip in there. IIeavy encmy mortar and artillery fire continued during
the night. At 0200, 16 Jlay, thc Japanese, armed with rifles and knee mortars,
6 AGO 3739B