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Leaving Sugar Loaf Hill


tsweeney
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Sugar Loaf Hill was a small, insignificant-looking mound, barely 50 feet high and about 300 yards long, situated on the southern end of Okinawa. It was part of a triangle of strongpoints set up by the Japanese defenders designed to delay and damage the attacking American forces. The other two points of the triangle were the higher terrain of Shuri Heights and an irregular-shaped set of hills that Marines called the Half Moon.

The Sixth Marine Division was given the task of taking the mound called Sugar Loaf, and it would prove costly. By the time the area was considered secure, 1,656 Marines would be dead and another 7,429 wounded. Regiments were reduced to com­pany strength, and companies to platoon size. Platoons and squads simply ceased to exist in some cases. It took 11 tries during a 12-day period and ate up most of three regiments before the hill was taken.

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I was stationed in Okinawa and I remember touring some of the Japanese bunkers that have remained intact since WWII. You have captured the weariness of war and in the end; the Marines prevailed. This is a great diorama. Great work Sweeney. I knew a radio operator named Sweeney from Scituate, RI. back in '76 on the Med. float BLT 2/2. He was attached to 81mm mortars.

 

Semper Fi.

 

Manny

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Joe Yes I purchased them s a set. They're made by Evolution and is called WWII Pacific set and you can also purchase them separately

Gents thanks for the kind words about my work

 

Thanks Again

 

Tom

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  • 1 year later...

Fantastic, reminds me of the scene from the HBO miniseries The Pacific when they are walking past the Okinawa village.

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