1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

[ 17–20 JUNE 1945 ]
Dake peak falls at last to 381st Inf. 7th Div’s 17th
and 32d Regts are clearing last commanding
ground—Hills 153 and 115.
17 June
LUZON—In U.S. Sixth Army’s I Corps area, 2d
Bn of 148th Inf, 37th Div, preceded by armored
column, seizes Naguilian after forcing Cagayan R
near there.
OKINAWA—In U.S. Tenth Army area, III Amphib
Corps gains ground on Kunishi Ridge, where
enemy resistance weakens perceptibly after fresh
U.S. troops are committed. 22d Marines, 6th Mar
Div, replaces 2d Bn of 7th Marines, 1st Mar Div. In
XXIV Corps area, final defense line of Japanese
32d Army collapses. 7th Div completes capture of
Hills 153 and 115.
U.S.—Gen Arnold, in letter to Gen Wedemeyer,
asks that Gen Stratemeyer replace Gen Chennault
as head of air forces in China.
18 June
LUZON—In U.S. Sixth Army’s I Corps area, elements
of 148th Inf, 37th Div, continuing N on Highway
5 with armored column spearheading, take
Ilagan airfield and cross Ilagan R. Upon completion
of treadway bridge across the Cagayan at Naguilian,
armor and vehicles cross.
MINDANAO—In Eighth Army’s X Corps area,
organized resistance on Mindanao ends as 3d Bn of
163d Inf, 24th Div, reaches Calinan, 8 miles from
Tugbok.
OKINAWA—In U.S. Tenth Army area, Lt Gen
Simon B. Buckner, Jr., is killed by enemy shell
while visiting observation post of 8th Marines, 2d
Mar Div. Gen Geiger, USMC, replaces him as commander
of Tenth Army. In III Amphib Corps area,
6th Mar Div drives steadily forward on W flank of
corps against sporadic resistance, but 1st Mar Div is
desperately opposed near Medeera on E flank. Attack
by 5th Marines against Hill 81, W of Medeera, fails.
8th Marines, 2d Mar Div, enters action, replacing
elements of 7th Marines. In XXIV Corps area, 96th
Div meets intense opposition near Aragachi and
Medeera on right flank of corps. 7th Div, with 184th
Inf on right and 32d on left, advances southward
on E flank of corps against weakening resistance.
JAPAN—U.S. bombers begin attacks on secondary
cities.
19 June
CHINA THEATER—Issues detailed plans for operation
against Fort Bayard, which is to be taken
on 1 August for use as forward supply base for main
effort against Canton-Hong Kong area. India-
[ 547 ]
Burma and China Theaters are both to support the
operation.
LUZON—In U.S. Sixth Army’s I Corps area,
3d Bn of 148th Inf, 37th Div, completes its crossing
of the Cagayan, using newly constructed ponton
treadway. It is passed through by 1st Bn, which
drives to Moranoa and destroys small delaying force.
The armored column moves E along the river and
captures 5 enemy tanks.
OKINAWA—U.S. Tenth Army is reaping substantial
results from psychological warfare program
that has been going on for some time. 343 Japanese
surrender. In III Amphib Corps area, 6th Mar Div
continues southward on W flank of corps against
scattered resistance. In 1st Mar Div sector, some elements
of 8th and 5th Regts reach S coast; other
elements of 5th Marines are still held up at Hill 81.
In XXIV Corps area, 96th Div continues to battle
enemy in Aragachi-Medeera area without making
appreciable headway. To E, 7th Div presses on
toward Udo and Mabuni.
20 June
CHINA—Gen Wedemeyer transmits to Gen
Marshall his approval of Gen Arnold’s recommendations
of the 17th. Gen Stratemeyer is to command
China Theater Air Forces. Under him, Generals
Chennault and Davidson will head respectively the
SAF and TAF.
LUZON—In U.S. Sixth Army’s I Corps area,
Philippine guerrilla units seize Tuguegarao, about
midway between Aparri and Ilagan. Co B of 6th
Ranger Bn, part of TF Connolly, crosses Cagayan
R and enters Aparri without opposition, night 20–
21. Spearheaded by armor, 1st Bn of 148th Inf, 37th
Div, eliminates enemy position on Highway 5 about
4,000 yards N of Ilagan.
S PHILIPPINES—In U.S. Eighth Army area, Operations
VICTOR I (Panay-Negros Occidental),
VICTOR II (Cebu-Bohol-Negros Oriental), VICTOR
III (Palawan), and VICTOR IV (Zamboanga) are
officially closed.
NEI—Aus forces expand positions on Borneo
with unopposed landing at Lutong, in Sarawak.
OKINAWA—U.S. Tenth Army takes almost a
thousand prisoners, establishing a record. Japanese
pocket in Medeera area in center of army front is
still resisting strongly. In III Amphib Corps area,
29th Marines, on 6th Mar Div right, reaches S
coast against light opposition, but 4th Marines is
progressing more slowly in Kiyamu area. Japanese
on Hill 81 continue to delay 5th Marines, 1st Mar
Div. In XXIV Corps area, 96th Div takes Aragachi
but cannot clear Hill 85, within the Medeera pocket.
32d Inf, 7th Div, reaches Hill 89, near Mabuni,
where Japanese hq is located underground.