General Orders 1946 - Fort Benning

played heroic conduct near St. Die, France, on 16 Novemhcr 1944. When the
patrol was attacked by a suyerior force, in the vicinity of a large ~tream, he
vol~ntsrily remained behind as a delaying forcc and held off the attack by his
a~cnrate fire. After the groun had crossed safely by boat, Lieutenant Pohbd
crossed the stream by swimming, under heavy enemy fire, and rejoined them
safely.
VI..BATTLE HONORS.-As authorized by Erecutire Order 9396 (see. I, WD
Bul. 22, 1M3), supcrseding Executive Order DOT6 (see. 111, WD BUl. 11, 1912),
citntions of the following nnits iu the general orders inrlienld are mnfirmed under
the provisions of section ITr, WD Circular 333,1943, in the name of the President
of the United Stntes as public evidence of desemea horlor anti distinction. The
citations read as follows:
1. The Sd Beltalion, 305th I?i(astrg Rcpiment, is cited for outstanding Pcrformance
of duty in action ag!linst tlrc encmy in brcalriug through the rnuchvnunled
Shuri dcfense line on Okinnwn, Ryukyus Islands, on 1M7 Ma!: 1065.
After 10 days of bitter fighting the Sd Yattalion, 305th I~cJantrff Vcpilrient,
launched an attack against the enemy nexr Shuri Castle on 15 May 1045. The
enemy was numerically superior, determined, and deeply entrenched in a mar& of
caves, tombs, pillbuxes, and rerrtted installations. Despite murderolls fire from
all typs of menpons and rcpcnted eounternttaeks, on 16 May, tl1i.q b,?ltalion
rcachcd a position from which it could dircct an assault against the main Shuri
lint position. At 0215 on 17 any, the battalion launchcd an all-out affrmsive
against this position in a predawn attack. So depleted was the effcctire fighling
strength of the battalion that only 21 rifl?men rcmaincd in the entire battalion.
Cooks, bakers, drivers, headquarters personnel, and pioneers had been pressed
into front line duty. Skillfully taking adrantag of the element of Surprise, the
battalion forced a breach in the Shuri defense line in a riolent baronet assault, eseeuted
under cover of darkness. The cnemy was forced into a withdrawal, which
contributed ultimately to the Jnpnnese evacuation of Shuri Castle. The assault
element doggedly held their captured position agairst increasing enemy reaction
until thc first light of day. Hnrassed by pockets of Japanese hyprtssecl in the surnrise
attack, and exposed to heavy fire, the battalion organized the position. At
dawn, ail s~pportiup weapon: had been brangllt up, the gallantinfantrymen
resumed the atbldi, capturing a dominant ridge which secured our position in the
break made so gallantly in thc cnemy line. So other haltnlion pnrtieipating in
this assault was able to effect a penetration of the enemy main dcfenses on these
dates. Duriug Lhr 2-day action. 707 enemy dead nere counled, 99 caves were
scaled, 7 prisoners of wa were taken, and F light and 6 heavy machine gnus were
dcsbo~ed. Officers and rum of this battalion disliuguished themselres consistently
with great individwil courage, extraordinary heroism, and esemplary Be-
Votiou to duty. ThC action of the Sd Baltalioa, 305th Infanlr~ Hcpimmt, was
marked by gallnntrJ', fearlessness, and outstanding esprit de corys, and cxcmplifica
the highrst traditions of the armed farces of the United Slntcs. (General
Orders 30,1l~n1I~uartl.rs 77th Infantry Division, 19 Janusry 1948, as approved by
the Cummander in Chief, Unitcd States Army Farces, Pacific.)
2. The Sd Dallalion, 306th Infantry Regiment, is cited for outstanding performnnce
of duty in actiun against the encmy from 29 Aliril to 6 May 1846 on
Okinawa, nyukrus Islands. On 29 April 1945, the Sd Battalion, 306th Inimztry
Regiment occrlpied a defeusive position guarlling the main avenues of approach
from Shnri, scvcral thousand yards to tbc south. In a desperate attcmpt to
eliminate this salient, the Japanese cxpelrded thousands of rounds of heavy
AGO 3762B