1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

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drive up Sayre Highway and takes Malaybalay, Japanese
supply base, with ease. 1st Bn of 19th Inf, 24th
Div, attacking N through 2d Bn, reaches Bunawan.
To block enemy escape from 34th Inf E of Talomo
R, 3d and 1st Bns, 21st Inf, cross the river N of
Mintal and 1st Bn pushes northward. 3d Bn, 34th
Inf, renews attack but cannot advance despite air
support. After heavy preparatory fire, Co G, 34th
Inf, secures rest of Hill 550, from which Japanese
have now withdrawn.
OKINAWA—In U.S. Tenth Army’s III Amphib
Corps area, 6th Mar Div continues to clear toward
the Asato R on W flank of corps, fighting for Horseshoe
and Crescent in Japanese Sugar Loaf defense
system. Elements clear part of tunneled interior of
the Horseshoe but efforts of others to expand hold
on Crescent fail. 1st Mar Div is attacking toward
Shuri Ridge, last feature covering Shuri Castle on
W; makes slow progress against reverse slope of
Wana Ridge and resists enemy efforts to regain
forward slopes. In XXIV corps area, 77th Div replaces
305th Inf, just N of Shuri on Route 5, with
306th. Co A, 307th Inf, reaches base of Jane Hill,
SW of Flattop, where it is isolated until the 30th
and exposed to intense fire. 382d Inf, 96th Div, drives
to edge of Oboe Hill 1,000 yards E of Shuri, and
is halted there by enemy for some days. With capture
of Sugar Hill by 3d Bn of 381st Inf, E slopes
of Conical Hill are clear and enemy’s right flank is
turned. 184th Inf, 7th Div, starts southward along
E coast at 1900 to envelop Shuri. Japanese decide to
withdraw southward from Shuri.
22 May
INDIA—BURMA—Gen Stratemeyer’s hq learns that
C–54’s are on the way to India. Because of redeployment
needs, this is unexpected.
LUZON—In U.S. Sixth Army’s I Corps area, elements
of 27th Inf, 25th Div, are 2,000 yards SE
of Santa Fe. In XI Corps area, platoon of Co A,
149th Inf, attacks to eliminate enemy position on
Wawa Dam but is brought to a halt by fire. 152d
Inf renews all-out attack and gains final objectives
in area near junction of Mariquina and Bosoboso
Rivers with assistance of flame-thrower tanks.
MINDANAO—In U.S. Eighth Army’s X Corps
area, RCT 108, continuing steadily southward along
Sayre Highway, reaches positions near Impalutao.
155th Inf, 31st Div, after taking undefended
Kalasungay, continues drive up Sayre Highway, surprising
enemy force and inflicting heavy casualties.
2d Bn of 19th Inf, 24th Div, attacks through 1st
Bn and reaches Tambongan. 1st Bn, 21st Inf, gains
ground E of the Talomo, but gap still exists between
it and 3d Bn, 34th Inf.
[ 22–24 MAY 1945 ]
OKINAWA—In U.S. Tenth Army area, rains,
intermittent during past few days, become frequent
and heavy during rest of month and early June,
hampering operations. Japanese begin withdrawing
their supplies and wounded from Shuri. III Amphib
Corps, with supporting armor immobilized by mud,
curtails its activities sharply. 4th Marines, 6th Mar
Div, reaches N bank of the Asato R, on W flank,
and send patrols across it at night. In XXIV Corps
area, 383d Inf of 96th Div struggles for next few days
to reduce Love Hill defenses in region W of
Conical peak. 184th Inf, 7th Div, drives forward
unmolested through ruins of Yonabaru to hills
beyond.
23 May
LUZON—In U.S. Sixth Army’s I Corps area,
27th Inf of 25th Div is still stalled in spite of tank
assistance. In XI Corps area, 1st Bn of 152d Inf
pushes N toward Mariquina R.
S PHILIPPINES—In U.S. Eighth Army’s X Corps
area on Mindanao, entire Sayre Highway is opened
as 155th Inf gains contact with RCT 108 S of Impalutao.
2d Bn of 19th Inf, 24th Div, reaches Ising
area and makes patrol contact with Filipino guerrillas.
1st Bn, 21st Inf, takes road junction 1,700
yards N of Talomo bridge. Arty pounds area between
it and 34th Inf. On Negros, 160th Inf overcomes
final opposition on Dolan Hill in Negros
Occidental with capture of pocket on N spur. 185th
Inf continues slowly southward toward Hill 4055,
final enemy strongpoint in Negros Occidental.
OKINAWA—In U.S. Tenth Army’s III Amphib
Corps area, 6th Mar Div begins drive from the
Asato to the Kokuba on W flank of corps. Since
patrols S of the Asato are but moderately opposed,
2 bns of 4th Marines cross under smoke screen and
start southward. In XXIV Corps area, 184th Inf of
7th Div, after securing line of departure from which
32d Inf can push W to envelop Shuri, protects left
flank and rear of Sad Inf- 32d Inf, whose supporting
armor is immobilized by mud, starts W along
Naha-Yonabaru valley and reaches positions a mile
SW of Yonabaru without great difficulty.
24 May
MINDANAO—In U.S. Eighth Army’s X Corps
area, 2d Bn of 19th Inf, 24th Div, effects junction
with Filipino guerrillas near Tagum R. 21st and 34th
Inf troops clearing Talomo R Valley continue efforts
to link up.
RYUKYU Is.—In U.S. Tenth Army area, Japanese
intensify air activity, night 24–25, concentrating
on airfields on Okinawa and Ie Shima, as well as
shipping offshore. Some airborne troops are landed