Okinawa ground order of battle

To this end, the southern portion of Okinawa had been covered with the most extensive system of fortifications and interlocking fields of fire the Americans had yet encountered in the Pacific Theatre.

The initial American landings took place on 1 April 1945 and the island was not declared secure until 22 June, a period of 82 days, far longer than was expected by US planners.

Four days before the end of the campaign, Lieutenant General Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr. became the highest ranking U.S. military officer to be killed in action in the Second World War.

United States US Tenth Army Lieutenant General Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr., USA (KIA 18 Jun) Japan For most of the war, the Japanese had not considered Okinawa vital to their defensive arrangements.

The 9th Division, a veteran unit, was intended for Okinawa but was stranded on Formosa when the high command decided it couldn't risk more slow-moving transports in the East China Sea.

LCTs unloading at Yellow Beach, Okinawa, 13 April 1945.
Final photograph of Lt. Gen. Simon B. Buckner (right) just before being killed by a Japanese artillery round on Okinawa
Maj. Gen. Lemuel C. Shepherd with Okinawan capital of Naha in background
A 105mm howitzer crew of the 15th Marines in action in Naha, Okinawa
Marine riflemen follow a flame-throwing tank on Okinawa, 11 May 1945
Maj. Gen. Pedro A. del Valle
Men of the 1st Marine Division assault a ridge two miles north of Naha supported by a bazooka.
Artillerymen of the 11th Marines swabbing the barrel of their 75mm pack howitzer during the Okinawa campaign.
Marine Corps TBM Avengers over Okinawa; white-pained hospital ship is visible below
Archibald V. Arnold as a brigadier general
Maj. Gen. James L. Bradley
Medium tanks of the 713th Tank Battalion during a respite in the fighting on Okinawa.
Andrew D. Bruce as a lieutenant general
Renowned combat journalist Ernie Pyle shortly after being killed on Ie Shima.