MajGen Pedro del Valle USMC

CALHOUN COUNTY MUSEUM

Marine MajGen Pedro del Valle (1893-1978) commanded the 1st Marine Division in the WWII battle for Okinawa. Th e division was attacking the 10th Army objective Shuri Castle on the right with two US Army Divisions to its left. Th e objective was in the 77th Division zone in the center. Th e Marines had advanced ahead of the more decisively engaged Army Divisions and a patrol of the 5th Marine Regiment discovered the Japanese were repositioning out of Shuri Castle fortifi cations. Th e 1st Battalion commander LtCol Richard P. Ross (1906-1990) realized he had a rare opportunity to occupy the 10th Army objective they had been fighting almost two months for. MajGen del Valle authorized the out-of-zone move. Some days it doesn’t pay to get out of bed. Th e occupation was successful, though tenuous and a flag was raised over the castle. However, the occupying Marine company commander from South Carolina raised the Confederate battle flag. MajGen del Valle was dealing with two irate Army Generals for the un-reported zone violation when LTG Simon B. Buckner Jr. (1886-1945), 10th Army Commander jumped him about the confederate flag. It took two days to replace the Stars and Bars. LtCol Ross personally raised the Stars and Stripes while still in range of repositioned enemy fire. 

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