World Battlefronts: MEN AT WAR: Hero of Hen Hill

For ten days on Okinawa the 96th Division had stood stymied before Hen Hill, a knobby 450-ft. crag just northeast of Shuri. Crouching in foxholes, trenches and caves, the Japanese could rake the flanks of any unit attempting to move around the hill. Two battalions had taken turns charging up; both had failed—with heavy casualties.

Then one of the battalions, its ranks refilled with battle-green replacements, tried again. Once again a hail of Jap fire pinned the troops to the ground. But this time one soldier just kept walking and throwing hand...