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Group to command all Army Ground Forces in the Kerama Retto and assigned the 870th AAA AW Battalion to relieve the Infantry.

This battalion prior to the war was a part of the Harlem National Guard Regiment. The battalion was equipped by Iscom Okinawa with Infantry weapons, mortars, bazookas, flame throwers, etc. In addition, one officer and twenty four enlisted men from the 27th Division were furnished as instructors in Infantry Tactics and in technique in employment of Infantry weapons.

The Battalion landed in Kerama Retto on 22 May 1944. Headquarters Battery, Battery C and D landed at Zemami, while Batteries A and B went directly to Tokashiki.

With relief on 23 May 1944 of the Infantry Battalion, Lt. Colonel W. F. Lucas, Commanding Officer, 870th AAA AW Battalion, assumed responsibility for ground defense of all installations in Kerama Retto and began patrolling the island perimeter in order to destroy Jap suicide boats and caches of ammunition, food and other supplies.

When the 870th Battalion relieved the Infantry on Tokashiki they moved into the position in the lowlands of Tokashiki village held by the Infantry. The village was empty, the natives having been taken to the hills by the Japs as slaves. Fortified Japanese positions on the hills surrounding the village dominated the area, making it impossible to move more than 300 yards from the town without meeting organized Japanese resistance. At night fire from Jap machine guns, sniper and knee mortar fire fell within the town.

[[boxed]]
369th Veterans' Association Convention
October 1 to October 3
Homawack Lodge
Glen Lake, New York
[[/boxed]]

[[image - black & white photograph of men at the screening of Black Athletics]]
[[caption]]William K. De Fossett, Natl. President, 369th, Normal Powell, Joseph Yancey, and Dan Ferris, at screening of BLACK ATHLETICS.[[/caption]]