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 USMC May 29, 1945  USN 1945 |
Location Shuri Castle (Shuri-jo) is located at Shuri (Shui, Syuri) in the center of the southern Okinawa Island in Okinawa Prefecture of Japan. To the north is Shuri Ridge (Shuri Heights). To the northwest is Wana and beyond Dakeshi. Beyond to the west is Naha. The postal address is 1-2 Kinjo-cho, Shuri, Naha-shi, Japan. Prewar Starting in 1429, Shuri Castle (Shuri-jo) was built on a hilltop overlooking Naha as the seat of the Ryukyu Dynasty. By 1544 the stone outer wall was added to protect the inner wooden buildings including the Seiden (main hall). During the Ryukyu Dynasty era, the buildings inside burned down three times and each time were rebuilt until Okinawa was annexed by Japan. Wartime History During April 1945 during the Battle of Okinawa, Shuri Castle was used by the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) 32nd Army as a command post for the Shuri Line and anchored the entire defense of southern Okinawa. Below the castle was an underground command cave used by General Ushijima until late May 1945. By late May 1945, as the U.S. Marines and U.S. Army neared Shuri Castle, they believed the Japanese would defend fanatically to the death. On May 21, 1945 during the night General Ushijima and his staff debated the merits of defending Shuri to the last man or withdraw to the south to prolong the Battle of Okinawa. A withdrawal was ultimately authorized and was aided by bad weather that allowed the soldiers, supplies and wounded to slip away without being observed or harassed by American aircraft. Only a rear guard remained behind in the ruins of the castle. On May 29, 1945 in the morning, U.S. Marines from Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment led by Captain Julian D. Dusenbury reached the ruins of Shuri Castle and found barely any resistance. With the ruins of Shuri Castle under American control, the Battle of Shuri ended. During the Battle of Shuri, Shuri Castle was totally destroyed by heavy U.S. bombardment and left in ruins. Even the massive walls of Shuri Castle were destroyed with only a few sections intact. Inside the ruins of the castle, the Americans dug out two large brass bells. Today By 1992 the castle was reconstruction to the original specifications and in became a UNESCO World Heritage site and a popular attraction on Okinawa. On October 31, 2019 at 2:40am a fire started that aided by strong winds burned down the seven wooden building of the inner castle. References U.S. Army in World War II Okinawa: Chapter VIII: The Attack of 19 April on the Shuri Defenses pages 184-185, 187, 194, 198, 200, 202, 205 U.S. Army in World War II Okinawa: Chapter IX: Fall of the First Shuri Defense Ring pages 208, 219, 220, 247, 248 U.S. Army in World War II Okinawa: Chapter X: Tactics And Tactical Decisions pages 249, 250, 255, 258-260, 262-264 U.S. Army in World War II Okinawa: Chapter XI: Assaulting The Second Shuri Defense Ring pages 265, 267, 269, 271, 276 U.S. Army in World War II Okinawa: Chapter XII: The Japanese Counteroffensive And Its Aftermath pages 283, 286, 291, 299, 301, 302, 303, 304, 307, 309, 310 U.S. Army in World War II Okinawa: Chapter XIII: The May Attack on the Shuri Defenses pages 311-312, 314, 317, 318, 323, 324 (photo), 325, 328-330, 332, 333, 335, 344, 345 (photo), 351, 352, 356-357 U.S. Army in World War II Okinawa: Chapter XIV: Battle in the Rain pages 360, 365, 366 U.S. Army in World War II Okinawa: Chapter XV: The Fall of Shuri pages 383-401 The Final Campaign: Marines in the Victory on Okinawa pages cover photo, 1-2, 9, 19-21, 26-28, 33 (map), 30-31, 35-36, 39-42, 51 Contribute
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 Map May 5-21, 1945 Map Fallingrain |
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