|Unit History Project| THE NATIONAL GUARD IN WAR: AN HISTORICAL
ANALYSIS OF THE 27TH INFANTRY DIVISION (NEW YORK NATIONAL GUARD)
IN WORLD WAR II Chapter 6: Okinawa The Allies, through the
Autumn of 1944 continued to make inroads against the Japanese
held islands of the Central and Southwest Pacific. General
Douglas MacArthur had conducted offensive operations on the
Solomons and New Guinea while Admiral Nimitz had attacked and
seized the Gilberts, Marshalls, and Marianas. The ultimate goal
for these converging pincers was Japan. For MacArthur the next
logical step would be the invasion of the Philippines. Once a
foothold was gained then Operation CAUSEWAY, the invasion of
Formosa and the China coast, could be initiated from there and
the Marianas. MacArthur was ordered to move up his invasion of
the Philippines from December to October 1944 and to bypass
Mindanao and strike Leyte. The Commander-in-Chief Pacific Ocean
Areas, LTG Robert C. Richardson, advised Washington that the
prudent decision would be to nex