BATTLE OF THE PACIFIC: The Vortex

There were 50 Marines on top of Sugar Loai Hill. They had been ordered to hold the position all night, at any cost. By dawn 46 of them had been killed or wounded by Japanese hand grenades. Then, into the foxhole where the remaining four huddled, the Japs dropped a white phosphorus shell, burning three men to death. The last survivor crawled down to an aid station.

Fighting was like that last week on Okinawa. In one Jap counterattack, a U.S. company was reduced from 240 effectives to two, and three company commanders were killed by artillery. In another Jap...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!