1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

[ 9–10 MAY1945 ]
Marines, 1st Mar Div, concentrates on blasting
enemy from caves on reverse slope of Nan Hill in
preparation for renewing assault on Hill 60. In
XXIV Corps area, limited attack by 305th Inf of
77th Div brings sharp enemy reaction. 184th Inf,
7th Div, slightly improves positions in E coastal
sector.
9 May
WESTERN EUROPE—All hostilities in the European
Theater of Operations are officially terminated at
0001 B as surrender act becomes effective.
EASTERN EUROPE—Resistance on Eastern Front
is limited to Czechoslovakian and Austrian areas,
where enemy is retreating W and SW as rapidly as
possible. On northern front, German remnants along
coast of Gulf of Danzig start surrendering to forces
of Third and Second White Russian Fronts. First,
Fourth, and Second Ukrainian Fronts pursue enemy
westward in Czechoslovakia; Prague falls to forces
of First Ukrainian Front. Troops of Third Ukrainian
Front driving W in Austria reach Amstetten
and Graz and make contact with U.S. forces near
Amstetten.
BURMA—In ALFSEA area, W African 82d Div,
now under direct command of ALFSEA and
moving S along Arakan coast from Taungup, enters
Sandoway.
LUZON—In U.S. Sixth Army’s I Corps area,
battle for Balete Pass nears the end as 27th and 161st
Regts, 25th Div, establish contact in this region. In
XI Corps area, 3d Bn of 145th Inf seizes Mt
Binicayan; 2d Bn improves positions near Sugar
Loaf Hill; 1st Bn patrols in Wawa sector. In XIV
Corps area, patrol of 158th Inf eliminates enemy
party in the Bicols, the only Japanese met in this
area.
S PHILIPPINES—In U.S. Eighth Army area,
RCT 108 convoys leave Cebu and Leyte for Macajalar
Bay operation, Mindanao. In X Corps area on
Mindanao, 1st Bn of 21st Inf, 24th Div, holds its
Talomo R bridgehead against strong opposition.
Efforts to bridge the river fail. Continuing attack
on Guma pocket after air strike, Co K of 34th Inf
finds that Japanese have withdrawn. 124th Inf, 31st
Div, suspends ground attacks in Colgan Woods for
next few days while enemy positions are being
softened by aircraft and mortar fire.
OKINAWA—In U.S. Tenth Army area, Gen
Buckner orders general attack by army to begin on
11th. While holding action is conducted in center,
troops on flanks will attempt double envelopment
of enemy’s Shuri positions. In III Amphib Corps
area, 6th Mar Div prepares to attack across Asa R
on W flank of corps. Engineers construct footbridge
during night. 1st Marines, 1st Mar Div, finishes
[ 535 ]
clearing Nan Hill, then attacks and takes Hill 60.
5th Marines is endeavoring to pocket enemy in region
S of Awacha where stubborn opposition continues.
In XXIV Corps area, 77th Div’s frontal
assaults toward Shuri make little headway. Since enemy
has organized a series of strongpoints on
heights N of Shuri that must be methodically reduced,
div tactics are to attack in small area with
one regt after all available supporting weapons have
softened it, while another regt supports the attack
with fire and mops up. On left flank of corps, 382d
Inf of 96th Div relieves 17th Inf of 7th Div. Most of
the Japanese have been cleared from their Kochi
positions.
10 May
LUZON—In U.S. Sixth Army’s XI Corps area,
145th Inf mops up and patrols within its sector. 152d
Inf, 38th Div, continues almost futile efforts to advance
in vicinity of Woodpecker Ridge. 43d Div
advance slows as troops approach Ipo.
In U.S. Eighth Army’s X Corps area of Mindanao,
RCT 108 lands on shore of Macajalar Bay at 0830
after uneventful mine sweeping and aerial and naval
gunfire bombardment and, assisted by Filipino guerrillas,
establishes beachhead without opposition. 2d
Bn starts SE along Sayre Highway to make contact
with 31st Div forces moving N along it, gaining 5
miles. 155th Inf, which has been probing down
Talomo Trail toward 24th Div sector, is relieved by
167th Inf; 167th will continue to explore the trail.
Japanese guns on Samal I. shell CP area of 19th Inf,
24th Div. 1st Bn, 21st Inf, withdraws its bridgehead
across the Talomo in evening. After arty preparation,
2d Bn of 19th Inf begins attack to destroy bypassed
enemy force on Hill 550, which commands
Davao.
OKINAWA—In U.S. Tenth Army’s III Amphib
Corps area, 22d Marines, 6th Mar Div, begins attack
across Asa Estuary at 0300, rear elements wading
after Japanese destroy the footbridge. Against increasingly
strong resistance marines push forward
through Asa and establish bridgehead 350 yards
deep and almost a mile wide. Bailey bridge is constructed,
night 10–11, for heavy weapons. 1st Mar
Div, under heavy fire from Shuri, makes little
progress: 1st Marines is unable to advance; 7th
Marines reaches Dakeshi Ridge and attacks it unsuccessfully.
In XXIV Corps area, 77th Div continues
laborious reduction of enemy positions N of Shuri.
383d Inf, 96th Div, relieves 184th Inf, 7th Div, and
prepares to attack toward Conical Hill, E anchor of
enemy’s Shuri defense line. 383d Inf reaches crest of
Zebra Hill and holds it against enemy counterattack
at night.