Okinawa Saga

Pfc Dean E Kohlenberg from Kansas was assigned the same day that I was. We replaced observers that were already casualties on the 13th of April, 1945. We would spot enemy movements and keep Headquarters apprised of them. Little did we know at first that the OP was a prime target for the enemy artillery and mortars and snipers, but, we soon found out.

The 7th Division's sector was on the extreme left flank of some 5 divisions that were fighting their way south on Okinawa, overlooking from Skyline Ridge what was later to be named Buckner Bay. We could see Kamikazes diving on ships in the bay. It was awesome.

After some time it was decided that each company commander needed an S-2 observer with him as liaison to battalion headquarters. Kohlenberg and I, being the newest, were elected to go. He was assigned to F Company and I was assigned to E Company. The company CO took me under his wing and we shared the same slit trenches and tent when it was deemed safe. I was treated like I was a real gentleman as well as a soldier although I was only a PFC. Finally after about 10 days E company was relieved to go back and rest.

I was told to switch over to G company who took over for E company up on the line. There is where my being treated like a man ended. I found another PFC Alois Lotz from Ca. We had moved up several hundred yards unopposed just before sundown. Lotz and I dug our slit trenches and pitched our pup tent when our troubles began.

A new replacement 2nd Lieutenant saw our tent and moved in and told Lotz to go dig a slit trench for him and pitch him a tent. (This is irregular.)

G company had set up an outpost out in front of our company in case the Japs counterattacked, which they did. Let me digress, I had a good pair of Jap binoculars that I found in a Jap OP. The Lieutenant asked me where I got them and I told him I found them in a Jap Observation Post we overran. He said, "You are supposed to turn the binoculars in."

I said, "To whom, Lieutenant?" He replied, "To Me." I said in turn, "Lieutenant then you in turn will turn them over to S-2, right?" He said, "Damn right!" I said, "Then Lieutenant I am with S-2 assigned from Battalion to this company as liaison man so you would in turn, turn them over to me." He was so mad he croaked like a frog when he tried to talk because he knew he didn't have a leg to stand on. Meanwhile Lotz was still digging his slit trench. It was monsoon season and raining hard.

The Japs hit our outpost really hard and put it out of business. Two survivors made it to our tent, bleeding thru the midsection. I started lifting a flap so I could at least get their heads out of the rain when he said, "Leave them out there, they are already wet." I guess that is when I lost it. I said, "S**t Lieutenant." and pulled up the whole side of the tent and pulled them in as best as I could. He fairly roared at me, "You and Lotz go up about half way and set up another outpost and see if you can hold them off!" In combat, I could not disobey an direct order from an officer.

We went up and set up our outpost in a shell hole near where a trail came out of the bushes. We
were alone until about 10:00 PM when we were joined by a Sergeant and 3 more men. Now we had 6 men in the hole (from a Navy shell I guessed). Sarge started us taking turns guarding and sleeping.

I was asleep on the outside of the hole when all hell broke loose. Everybody started firing and I rolled in the hole just as a light machine gun raked them. Three including Lotz were hit again in the mid sections of their bodies. I dragged Lotz into a smaller hole under a bush for his safety. One guy ran out and left us.

Now all I had was one new replacement to see if we could hold them. I could hear a bunch just in the bushes near us, so I threw my 2 hand grenades and could hear them moaning and smell blood and feces. That stopped them but, more came up in their place, so I gathered up six more grenades from the wounded and threw them and still kept them back as long as I could. Now I am out of grenades so I took up a good position to see them.

Soon 2 Japs started firing at a poncho on the back slope of the hole. Suddenly they rose up to come in on us. I started firing and got off about 3 or 4 rounds when all of a sudden I was hit. A bullet went through my arm and hit the magazine on my Garand Rifle causing the ammo in it to explode and shrapnel blew back into me. I was dazed. Surprisingly, it didn't hurt too much. I guess that was all the Japs felt that they could do, so thankfully they withdrew. I reached down with my injured left arm to pick up my helmet, which was knocked off, and couldn't grip it.

I picked up my helmet with my right hand an put it back on. I then started to pick up my rifle and when I caught it by the barrel it came up but the stock stayed on the ground. It was completely blown in two pieces. I reached over to feel my wounds and stuck a dirty finger in it .

The new replacement who was injured but to a lesser extent than I was, held me up and walked me back to our lines but not to our tent. I never knew his name.

A medic attended me. He gave me morphine and me, being uninitiated to narcotics, soon went to sleep. He started an IV Plasma and I was evacuated the next day to a MASH unit.

I never ever learned what happened to Lotz and that has bothered me all my life because I was going to get him to safety.

I have begrudged the lieutenant badly for getting my binoculars. He should have never been an officer because he didn't have "The Right Stuff."

I was given 2 blood transfusions and eventually flown to Fleet Hospital 111 on Guam.

I laid in a bed in a ward with only a sling on my arm for 11 days when a Navy Doctor came to my bed and said, "Kirby it is time you started using that arm." I said, "Lieutenant I can't, all I can do is open and close my hand if I hold my wrist in my right hand." He reached out and grabbed my arm and jerked it until I was nearly upright in my bed and said, "You are not getting out of going back to combat crying poor with me, boy!"

The bones in my compound comminuted fracture cut flesh and I started bleeding all over again. I turned sick to my stomach and was as pale as a sheet. A Marine in the next bunk called the nurse and said, "Come see what that SOB has done to Kirby's arm." She said, "I'll have you court marshaled, he is an officer." The Marine said, "Go ahead, I'm not going anywhere." She came to me and said, "What is wrong with you?" I said, "Lt. George jerked my arm and accused me of malingering and those bone pieces cut me and I am bleeding and it hurts awful."

She said, "Your arm is not broken." I said, "Yes, it is, just push easy on my elbow." She did and felt it crunch. She said, "Oh, My God." and left. I had been in a flesh wounds ward probable returnees to combat ward. An hour later I was in the operating room. When I awoke I was in a shoulder spica cast from my waist up and out over my left arm. By then I had some osteomyelitis in my long bone, as well as several fragments of bone removed in 5 operations after that. This happened May 29, 1945.

I was flown back to the USA in a hospital plane and was in 3 hospitals in the USA and was discharged with a CDD-- Certificate of Disability Discharge.

I still wonder about Lotz but I can do nothing. I am in touch with Dean E Kohlenberg.

So much for now. PFC Jim M Kirby, Hdq. Co 2nd Bn. 184th Inf.,7th Inf. Div. Okinawa.

Okinawa Saga
U.S. Legacies: November 2004

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