Customer Reviews

Killing Ground on Okinawa: The Battle for Sugar Loaf Hill

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James H. Hallas's book `Killing Ground on Okinawa' is one of those books that should be in any decent military history library. Having previously read his account of the fighting on Peleliu, `The Devil's Anvil' I couldn't wait to read this account of the battle for Sugar Loaf Hill. I am happy to say that I was not disappointed in this book.

The author allows the Marines who took part in the fighting tell the story and its incredible to read what these blokes went through for what looks like a very small piece of Pacific Island real estate. The accounts of the fighting men are detailed and to the point and you are forced to sit back and think of how these men endured this hell, it is almost beyond the comprehension of today's generation.

The narrative is full of details but the real guts of the book is the first-hand accounts by the men involved in the assaults against the well constructed Japanese defensive positions. Not only were the Japanese well dug in and protected but they used their firepower and weapons to great advantage. They wrought destruction upon the advancing marines. Men and machines were continually being knocked out with no gain being made against the determined Japanese defence.

Finally after a heroic night attack the marines secured a toehold on Sugar Loaf but then had to hold against Japanese counter attacks and massive counter fire from artillery, mortars, machine guns and snipers. The casualty list for the marine units were massively high causing some questioning of the strategy and tactics used by the Army High Command. In over seven days of fighting the 6th Marine Division suffered over 2,000 casualties fighting for this pimple of a hill which secured the Japanese Shuri Line.

The only fault that I could find with this book was the standard of the maps and photographs. I am sure that they could have been of a higher calibre. Overall this is a great story of combat, dedication, bravery and Espirt de Corp. I think it is one of the better combat accounts of the Pacific Theatre that I have read in some years and I am certain that anyone interested in the Pacific War would be fascinated by this account.

This book is another amazing account of a ferocious battle engaged by the US Marines at the close of WWII at terrible personal sacrifice. It ranks among the best narratives I have read. If you want to take a trip into the trenches of Okinawa with the men who bled their, this book is a must read. The story is fast paced, action packed, gripping and heart rending. I cannot imagine what the outcome of the Pacific war against the Japanese would have been without the sacrifice these brave young men made on behalf of freedom.

Amid the VE-Day euphoria of 1945, Okinawa was captured at a cost (including civilians) of over 200,000 lives. Mr. Hallas persuasive argues (with others) that had Marine General Lemuel Shepherd's end-run plan been adopted, many of those lives might have been spared. The narrative particularly focuses on the key to Japanese defenses, Sugar Loaf Hill, where the 6th Marine Division lost over 6,000 men in a brutal slugging match unsurpassed in the annals of American courage. Meticulously researched and based on interviews with nearly 100 susvivors, this is a fitting tribute to the struggle, largely unknown to most Americans.

Using historical records of 6th Marine Div, many interviews and other primary and secondary sources, the author reenacts a battle so horrible it defys imagination. This book is a tribute to all the brave men who fought on that island.
The story begins in 1879 with Japan annexing the Ryukyus Islands which has a mixed Chinese/Japanese hertage and quickly evolves into the preparation and disposition of the island by General Ushijima in 1945. The Japanese forces would be deployed along three major defense lines. In the deep south, the Yuza-Dake and Yaeja Dake Escarpment made an ideal defense. A little further north the main defense line called the Shurri Line consists of Sugar Loaf in the west, Shuri Castle in the center and Conical Hill in the east. North of the Shurri Line but still in the southern quadrant would be the Kakuzu Ridge - Nishibaru Ridge - Tanabaru - Ouki Line.
After the introduction, the author delivers a brief overview of the landings and the dispositions of the four divisions and the gains made for the first month. Its not until 6th MarDiv secured Motobu Peninsula to the north and is then inserted into the Shurri line not far from Sugar Loaf that the narrative becomes almost exclusively 6th Marine Division.
The description of the fanatical defense with its many suicidal bombers and the horror that the marines went through in those 10 days of May is incredible. The author does a good job of describing the terrain including the two supporting hills, one on each side of Sugar Loaf that made it so impossible to take. The marines finally figured out that to take one hill , all the hills had to be taken and thats how it was done.
There is only one minor complaint and it concerns the controversey of General Buckner's obstinate refusal of additional help from the 2nd Marines. With thousands of his people dying and making very little progress and with pressure from all sides to change tactics, Buckner refuses and continues to slug it out with a frontal attack. The author mentions this event but doesn't expound or shed new light on it nor does he commit his thoughts on the topic. It would have been nice to hear his views on it. I grant that an impromptu amphibious landing would be difficult but not impossible and it would have prevented Ushijima from consolidating his forces on the Shurri Line, making it easier for 6th Marines to break through.
The last chapter gives the cost of the campaign with the author stating that with the high cost of taking these islands, these brave warriors should never be forgotten.
Even before going very far into the book, you can tell the author had spent much time in accumulating a wealth of first hand information in order to be able to deliver so much action. This is confirmed with you peruse the Source list.
If you're a Okinawa Buff, this is a "must have" story for your collection for it delivers more battlefield action and bravery in this important sector than any other book on the market and it will complement anything that you might already have. Its highly recommended.

I've read this author's book on Pelelieu and it is good. I seem to recall it had better maps. I'm not all the way through but I get lost in some of the tactical descriptions. You really need good maps to follow this battle & this narrative. Good book on a rather neglected topic. I would've quoted more from Manchester. He descriptions of Sugar Loaf were chilling.

I could not put the book down once I started. It's very sobering to read about what these men went through. My uncle fought there and somehow survived, but many of his friends did not. The personal accounts and thoughts revealed in the book are chilling. I purchased this book knowing he had been there. It makes you think again how lucky we are to be able to take a lot of freedom for granted nowdays. God bless these men.

My dad was US Navy (USS Merriweather, LST ) and I heard the name "Okinawa" as a kid in the 50's. But until I read this book, what took place there was only an obscure reference to a Pacific island. After dad died in 2003, I wanted to learn more about where he had been, and ordered this book. Dad had mentioned they had taken wounded marines aboard ship to transport them to hospitals in the Philippines.
This book takes you into the battle through the eyes, ears, and smells of the men fighting. Literally a tooth and nail fight to the death, ferocious in intensity, and without quarter on both sides.
The accounts of battle are graphic, if you want to read an intense description of battle, this is one of the best, and I have read hundreds of WW2 books.
There is a book from the Japanese side by Col. Yahara The Battle of Okinawa that is also good
and probably the best one is The Ultimate Battle: Okinawa 1945--The Last Epic Struggle of World War II by Sloan.
The latter being a comprehensive account from beginning to end.

This is a gift, not yet given, to my Stepfather, Lou Pacini, a Marine Sargent that was in this battle. One of many. Does anyone else know we gave back this island to the Japanese at the end of the war? Just a fact only some would care about. I know he will love the book, he told me about it and it will be a surprise on Holloween, at a special birthday party. He has no idea. He was also a Honor Guard on the Freedom Train in 46&47.
Hoo Ya

My father was a Marine with the 6th Marine Division in the Recon unit. In fifty years, he spoke seldom of his experiences in the Pacific. However, I heard several stories from him over the years. I never asked my father which battallion/regiment he had been assigned. This book is so good that comparing his stories with the author's information,allowed me to believe that my father was with the 22nd Regiment. I saw pictures that my father brought back from Okinawa. The pictures are very graphic, to say the least.The author here captures the horror of those pictures in his detailed accounts.
My father spoke of Sugar Loaf Hill and Naha. He said that he did not have the words to describe what took place there. After reading this book, I now know exactly what my father was referring to, and why he hated to talk about it. I am luck to have been born, and even luckier to have had a father that was a real hero. This is the best WWII book I have ever read.Killing Ground on Okinawa: The Battle for Sugar Loaf Hill

An incredible description of the sacrifice and
determination of the battle for Okinawa. Also
very meaningful in that a family member was in
the battle and featured in the book.