1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

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plain of Cagayan Valley, driving through Cordon
to Santiago. Elements of 148th Inf start forward to
Orioung area. Japanese counterattack and block the
road in Orioung Pass for night. 20th Inf, 6th Div,
relieves 129th Inf of highway security S of Bayombong.
NEI—On Borneo, Australian forces capture
Brunei town.
OKINAWA—In U.S. Tenth Army’s III Amphib
Corps area, organized resistance on Oroku Peninsula
ends. 6th Mar Div, during 12th and 13th, bags
a record number of Japanese prisoners, 159 in all.
By dawn, 7th Marines, 1st Mar Div, has 6 cos clinging
to positions on Kunishi Ridge under heavy fire
that exacts 140 casualties. Marines are being supplied
by aircraft and tanks. XXIV Corps, assisted by
armored flame throwers, is destroying in detail
Japanese in their cave positions. Battleground is
now generally level except for some coral outcroppings.
Japanese are still firmly entrenched on
commanding ground of Yuza-Dake and Yaeju-
Dake peaks and on Hills 153 and 115, from W to E.
14 June
BURMA—Adm Mountbatten attends Burma
Victory Parade in Rangoon and while in Rangoon
continues to plan for ZIPPER (recapture of Malaya).
The operations will be mounted on 9 September,
as planned, but on a drastically reduced scale.
CHINA—Chinese recover I-shan and pursue
enemy toward Liuchow.
LUZON—In U.S. Sixth Army’s I Corps area,
Highway 5 at Orioung Pass is cleared of enemy
block. Armored column followed by 1st Bn of 145th
Inf, 37th Div, drives through Ipil to Echague; from
Santiago, 3d Bn, 145th Inf, starts along road running
SW to Oscariz thence NE to Cabatuan and E to
Cauayan where it joins Highway 5; 148th Inf, less
security details at San Luis and Cordon, moves to
Santiago area. XIV Corps turns responsibility for
the Bicols over to Filipino guerrillas.
OKINAWA—In U.S. Tenth Army’s III Amphib
Corps area, 6th Mar Div is mopping up on Oroku
Peninsula. 7th Marines, 1st Mar Div, holds firmly
on W end of Kunishi Ridge under enemy fire. To
ease pressure, 2d Bn, 1st Marines, attacks toward E
end of the ridge at 0300; gains and holds this objective
despite violent opposition. Tanks play an
important role in the Kunishi Ridge battle, moving
troops and supplies forward, evacuating the
wounded, and blasting enemy from their positions.
XXIV Corps continues to destroy enemy’s elaborate
cave defenses. 383d Inf, 96th Div, is still held up
short of Yuza peak, but 381st drives to top of Yaeju-
Dake peak. 7th Div is clearing Hills 153 and 115 on
E flank of corps.
[ 14–16 JUNE 1945 ]
U.S.—Joint Chiefs of Staff direct Generals Mac-
Arthur and Arnold and Adm Nimitz to prepare
plans for immediate occupation of Japan in the
event that foe suddenly collapses or capitulates.
15 June
BURMA—In Br Twelfth Army area, 101st Detachment,
OSS, successfully concludes its mission
of clearing Shan Hills. Detachment is disbanded in
July.
LUZON—In U.S. Sixth Army’s I Corps area,
Cervantes, on Highway 4, falls to Philippine guerrilla
forces in North Luzon. 145th Inf, 37th Div,
continues advance into Cagayan Valley; 1st Bn
pushes N on Highway 5 to Ganano R; 3d Bn eliminates
enemy strongpoint some 4,000 yards from Santiago,
on road to Cabatuan. XI Corps takes over
sector of XIV Corps and control of 11th A/B Div,
1st Cav Div, and RCT 158. XIV Corps prepares to
conduct operations in N Luzon as directed by
Eighth Army.
OKINAWA—In U.S. Tenth Army’s III Amphib
Corps area, 6th Mar Div, exploring elaborate underground
defense system of Japanese hq on Oroku
Peninsula, finds nearly 200 Japanese dead. Among
them are commanding officer and several members
of his staff who have committed suicide. Marines of
1st Mar Div on W and E ends of Kunishi Ridge
are unable to expand their positions and suffer further
casualties. 2d Bn, 5th Marines, relieves 2d Bn,
1st Marines, on E end of the ridge after nightfall.
8th Marines, 2d Mar Div, lands on Oroku Peninsula
and is attached to 1st Mar Div. XXIV Corps
continues to work toward Yuza peak on W and
Hills 153 and 115 on E, clearing Japanese positions
methodically as it goes. Elements of 382d Inf, 96th
Div, replace center elements of 383d and succeed
in taking N slope of Yuza peak.
NEI—Islands of Labuan and Muara, off
Borneo, are now clear of enemy.
16 June
LUZON—In U.S. Sixth Army’s I Corps area,
37th Div columns converge on Cauayan: 2d Bn of
148th Inf, passing through 1st Bn of 145th on Highway
5, drives on to Cauayan; 2d Bn, 145th Inf,
advancing through 3d Bn, 145th Inf, moves to
Cauayan via Cabatuan; from Cauayan, 2d Bn of
148th Inf continues N toward Naguilian.
OKINAWA—In U.S. Tenth Army’s III Amphib
Corps area, 6th Mar Div prepares to attack on S
Okinawa. 7th Marines, 1st Mar Div, advances
slightly on Kunishi Ridge and gains visual contact
with 5th Marines to E. In XXIV Corps area, 382d
Inf of 96th Div completes relief of 383d in line and
continues assault on Yuza-Dake hill mass. Yuza-