[Sidebar (page 8):]Initial Infantry CommandersWithinIII Amphibious Corps, the initial infantry commanders were those who led their troops ashore in the initial assault on Okinawa during Operation Iceberg. Eighty-two days of sustained combat exacted a heavy toll in casualties and debilitation. Among the battalion commanders, for example, four were killed, nine were wounded. Only those commanders indicated with an asterisk [*] retained their commands to the end of the battle.1st Marine Division1st Marines: Col Kenneth B. Chappell1/1: LtCol James C. Murray, Jr.2/1: LtCol James C. Magee, Jr.*3/1: LtCol Stephen V. Sabol5th Marines: Col John H. Griebel*1/5: LtCol Charles W. Shelburne*2/5: LtCol William E. Benedict3/5: Maj John H. Gustafson7th Marines: Col Edward W. Snedeker*1/7: LtCol John J. Gormley*2/7: LtCol Spencer S. Berger*3/7: LtCol Edward H. Hurst8th Marines: Col Clarence R. Wallace*1/8: LtCol Richard W. Hayward*2/8: LtCol Harry A. Waldorf*3/8: LtCol Paul E. Wallace*6th Marine Division4th Marines: Col Alan Shapley*1/4: Maj Bernard W. Green2/4: LtCol Reynolds H. Hayden3/4: LtCol Bruno A. Hochmuth*22nd Marines: Col Merlin F. Schneider1/22: Major Thomas J. Myers2/22: LtCol Horatio C. Woodhouse, Jr.3/22: LtCol Malcolm O. Donohoo29th Marines: Col Victor F. Bleasdale1/29: LtCol Jean W. Moreau2/29: LtCol William G. Robb*3/29: LtCol Erma A. WrightNote: The 8th Marines entered combat on Okinawa in June attached to the 1st MarDiv.Department of Defense Photo (USMC) 123072
[Sidebar (page 8):]
WithinIII Amphibious Corps, the initial infantry commanders were those who led their troops ashore in the initial assault on Okinawa during Operation Iceberg. Eighty-two days of sustained combat exacted a heavy toll in casualties and debilitation. Among the battalion commanders, for example, four were killed, nine were wounded. Only those commanders indicated with an asterisk [*] retained their commands to the end of the battle.
1st Marine Division1st Marines: Col Kenneth B. Chappell1/1: LtCol James C. Murray, Jr.2/1: LtCol James C. Magee, Jr.*3/1: LtCol Stephen V. Sabol5th Marines: Col John H. Griebel*1/5: LtCol Charles W. Shelburne*2/5: LtCol William E. Benedict3/5: Maj John H. Gustafson7th Marines: Col Edward W. Snedeker*1/7: LtCol John J. Gormley*2/7: LtCol Spencer S. Berger*3/7: LtCol Edward H. Hurst8th Marines: Col Clarence R. Wallace*1/8: LtCol Richard W. Hayward*2/8: LtCol Harry A. Waldorf*3/8: LtCol Paul E. Wallace*6th Marine Division4th Marines: Col Alan Shapley*1/4: Maj Bernard W. Green2/4: LtCol Reynolds H. Hayden3/4: LtCol Bruno A. Hochmuth*22nd Marines: Col Merlin F. Schneider1/22: Major Thomas J. Myers2/22: LtCol Horatio C. Woodhouse, Jr.3/22: LtCol Malcolm O. Donohoo29th Marines: Col Victor F. Bleasdale1/29: LtCol Jean W. Moreau2/29: LtCol William G. Robb*3/29: LtCol Erma A. Wright
1st Marine Division
1st Marines: Col Kenneth B. Chappell1/1: LtCol James C. Murray, Jr.2/1: LtCol James C. Magee, Jr.*3/1: LtCol Stephen V. Sabol5th Marines: Col John H. Griebel*1/5: LtCol Charles W. Shelburne*2/5: LtCol William E. Benedict3/5: Maj John H. Gustafson7th Marines: Col Edward W. Snedeker*1/7: LtCol John J. Gormley*2/7: LtCol Spencer S. Berger*3/7: LtCol Edward H. Hurst8th Marines: Col Clarence R. Wallace*1/8: LtCol Richard W. Hayward*2/8: LtCol Harry A. Waldorf*3/8: LtCol Paul E. Wallace*
6th Marine Division
4th Marines: Col Alan Shapley*1/4: Maj Bernard W. Green2/4: LtCol Reynolds H. Hayden3/4: LtCol Bruno A. Hochmuth*22nd Marines: Col Merlin F. Schneider1/22: Major Thomas J. Myers2/22: LtCol Horatio C. Woodhouse, Jr.3/22: LtCol Malcolm O. Donohoo29th Marines: Col Victor F. Bleasdale1/29: LtCol Jean W. Moreau2/29: LtCol William G. Robb*3/29: LtCol Erma A. Wright
Note: The 8th Marines entered combat on Okinawa in June attached to the 1st MarDiv.
Department of Defense Photo (USMC) 123072
Department of Defense Photo (USMC) 123072
Department of Defense Photo (USMC) 123072