1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

[ 10–13 JUNE 1945 ]
10 June
BURMA—In Br Twelfth Army area, Loilem
falls to Detachment 101—guerrillas led by OSS personnel.
Detachment 101 has been clearing Shan
Hills since end of NCAC campaign.
CHINA—Chinese forces pursuing enemy toward
Liuchow take I-shan.
PACIFIC—AFPAC and USAFFE are consolidated.
LUZON—In U.S. Sixth Army’s I Corps area,
37th Div is relieved of all security duties S of Aritao;
1st Bn, 148th Inf, is to take over Bagabag area so
145th Inf can continue along Highway 5; 145th
Inf runs into accurate fire from heights commanding
Orioung Pass and almost comes to a halt; 1st
Bn, 148th Inf, drives N along Highway 4 to S edge
of Lantap.
NEI—Aus 9th Div lands on mainland of
Borneo at Brunei Bay and on islands of Labuan
and Muara. Allied aircraft and Seventh Fleet support
the operation.
OKINAWA—In U.S. Tenth Army’s III Amphib
Corps area, bitter fighting continues on Oroku
Peninsula, where 6th Mar Div compresses Japanese
into area 1,000 yards by 2,000 yards. In local counter
attacks after nightfall, 200 Japanese lose their lives.
7th Marines, 1st Mar Div, takes ridge just N of
Tera and drives through Itoman; 1st Marines seizes
hill W of town of Yuza but pays heavy price in
casualties. XXIV Corps begins all-out assault on
Japanese defense line, with tank support that is now
adequate. While 383d Inf, 96th Div, is pressing
toward town of Yuza, 381st gets 2 cos to intermediate
ledge in saddle between Yaeju-Dake and
Yuza-Dake peaks. 17th Inf, 7th Div, employs softening
fire extensively against its portion of Yaeju-
Dake; 32d Inf, assisted by naval gunfire as well as
arty and flame-throwing tanks, secures key ridge in
front of Hill 95 at coast line.
11 June
CHINA—Japanese regain I-shan from Chinese.
LUZON—In U.S. Sixth Army’s I Corps area,
145th Inf of 37th Div battles enemy at Orioung Pass,
gaining some ground; 1st Bn, 148th Inf, neutralizes
strongpoint in Lantap, patrols into Santa Lucia, and
drives N to Lamut R.
OKINAWA—In U.S. Tenth Army’s III Amphib
Corps area, 6th Mar Div, in strong effort to eliminate
enemy on Oroku Peninsula, compresses Japanese
into area 1,000 yards square. 7th Marines, 1st Mar
Div, tries vainly to cross open ground leading to
Kunishi Ridge; 1st Marines takes Hill 69, W of
Ozato. In XXIV Corps area, 383d Inf of 96th Div
reaches town of Yuza but withdraws under heavy
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fire from the S; 381st gets entire 1st Bn to ledge of
saddle between Yaeju-Dake and Yuza-Dake peaks,
holds there against early morning counterattack, and
places neutralizing fire on caves on Yaeju-Dake
peak. 17th Inf, 7th Div, continues to neutralize positions
and prepares for night assault on Yaeju-Dake;
enemy’s entire line on Yaeju-Dake Escarpment is
endangered as elements of 32d Inf take Hill 95 on E
flank.
12 June
LUZON—In U.S. Sixth Army’s I Corps area, 6th
Div takes responsibility for Highway 5 S of Bayombong,
relieving 37th Div, which, is to concentrate on
clearing Cagayan Valley. 1st Bn of 129th Inf, 37th
Div, relieves 1st Bn, 148th, of responsibility for
security of Highway 4 N of Bagabag so latter can
follow 145th Inf along Highway 5. Continuing attack
on Orioung Pass, 145th Inf pushes through it;
clears town of Orioung and drives N to commanding
ground N of Balite.
OKINAWA—In U.S. Tenth Army’s III Amphib
Corps area, Japanese resistance on Oroku Peninsula
begins to crack as converging columns of 6th Mar
Div maintain pressure and further reduce the small
pocket. Some of the enemy defense force continue to
resist but others are committing suicide or surrendering.
In 1st Mar Div zone, 7th Marines, advancing at
0300 under cover of darkness, gains positions on W
end of Kunishi Ridge. 1st Marines mops up and
consolidates on Hill 69 and patrols toward Kunishi
Ridge. In XXIV Corps area, 383d Inf of 96th Div
drives through Yuza again but is held up short of
Yuza peak; 381st, with 3 bns in assault on div left,
drives to base of Yaeju-Dake Escarpment and by
envelopment maneuver reaches positions on steepest
part. Predawn assault by 17th Inf, 7th Div, takes
enemy by surprise and gains the regt its assigned portion
of the escarpment. Japanese still hold Yaeju-
Dake peak but SE end of their defense line has been
penetrated.
13 June
CHINA—Gen Wedemeyer writes Gen Marshall
that since Japanese withdrawals have virtually eliminated
Phase I of projected offensive against Canton-
Hong Kong area, plans are being made to use
Nanning-Liuchow Kweilin area as base for the
operation. Japanese still hold Liuchow and Kweilin
but are expected to abandon them soon.
LUZON—In U.S. Sixth Army’s I Corps area,
Gen Beightler, in order to exploit capture of Orioung
Pass, organizes an armored column (37th Rcn Tr
reinf by a platoon of light tanks and supported by
a co of motorized infantry) and attaches it to 145th
Inf, 37th Div. The armored column pushes into