Senda Sadasue /千田貞季, 16 December 1892 – 8 March 1945/ was a native of Kagoshima Prefecture, and was born to the Takayama family, and was later adopted by the Senda family, whose surname he took. A graduate of the 26th class of the Imperial Japanese Army Academy in 1914, one of his classmates was General Tadamichi Kuribayashi. He was promoted to major in 1924. Assigned to the IJA 11th Division, he as in combat in the disastrous Battle of Lake Khasan against the Red Army in 1938 https://asiamedals.info/threads/bad...ngkufeng-incident-battle-of-lake-khasan.15154. He was promoted to colonel in 1939, but was reassigned as chief of the discipline section in the Sendai Army Youth School.
On 29 May 1940, he became commanding officer of the 44th Infantry Regiment of the Japanese Imperial Army. He later became commandant of the Sendai Army Youth School on 5 February 1943, a post he maintained until 27 November 1944.
In Autumn 1944, general Tadamichi Kuribayashi, in charge of the defense of the island of Iwo Jima, replaced many local officers with others whom he judged more competent. Imperial General Headquarters promoted Senda to major general and sent assigned him to Iwo Jima, after general Kuribayashi requested "the best infantry leader" available. The choice was puzzling, as Senda had never attended the Army War College, a prerequisite for higher ranking officers, and his combat experience was very limited. Nevertheless, Senda took office at the 2nd Mixed Brigade as its commanding officer on 16 December 1944.
Senda built his headquarters in a cave in Mount Tamana, near Motoyama Airfield. He also organized his men in to "special assault squadrons" who were assigned suicide missions to rush enemy tanks with explosives. The 2nd Mixed Brigade more the brunt of the attack by the IUSMC 4th Division for six days, from March 2 to March 8, in which it became completely encircled. As the US Marines resorted to flamethrowers to burn Senda's men in place, Kuribayashi refused Senda's repeated requests to be allowed to lead his men on a final Banzai charge attack. Instead, Kuribayashi ordered Senda to retreat with his remaining forces to the Japanese headquarters. Senda attempted a breakout with 427 men, but were pinned down on a beach and were annihilated, with only two men reaching Kuribayashi's lines. Some of Senda's men refused the order to surrender, and remained behind at Mount Tamana to continue guerrilla-style attacks on the American forces. Approximately half of the American forces killed in action during the battle died in Senda's sector. Senda was posthumously promoted to Lieutenant General.
On 29 May 1940, he became commanding officer of the 44th Infantry Regiment of the Japanese Imperial Army. He later became commandant of the Sendai Army Youth School on 5 February 1943, a post he maintained until 27 November 1944.
In Autumn 1944, general Tadamichi Kuribayashi, in charge of the defense of the island of Iwo Jima, replaced many local officers with others whom he judged more competent. Imperial General Headquarters promoted Senda to major general and sent assigned him to Iwo Jima, after general Kuribayashi requested "the best infantry leader" available. The choice was puzzling, as Senda had never attended the Army War College, a prerequisite for higher ranking officers, and his combat experience was very limited. Nevertheless, Senda took office at the 2nd Mixed Brigade as its commanding officer on 16 December 1944.
Senda built his headquarters in a cave in Mount Tamana, near Motoyama Airfield. He also organized his men in to "special assault squadrons" who were assigned suicide missions to rush enemy tanks with explosives. The 2nd Mixed Brigade more the brunt of the attack by the IUSMC 4th Division for six days, from March 2 to March 8, in which it became completely encircled. As the US Marines resorted to flamethrowers to burn Senda's men in place, Kuribayashi refused Senda's repeated requests to be allowed to lead his men on a final Banzai charge attack. Instead, Kuribayashi ordered Senda to retreat with his remaining forces to the Japanese headquarters. Senda attempted a breakout with 427 men, but were pinned down on a beach and were annihilated, with only two men reaching Kuribayashi's lines. Some of Senda's men refused the order to surrender, and remained behind at Mount Tamana to continue guerrilla-style attacks on the American forces. Approximately half of the American forces killed in action during the battle died in Senda's sector. Senda was posthumously promoted to Lieutenant General.
Promotions
1939-08-01 Colonel
1944-03-01 Major-General
1945-03-17 Lieutenant-General (Posthumously)
Service
1939-08-01 – 1940-05-29 Chief of Discipline Section, Sendai Army Youth School
1940-05-29 – 1943-02-05 Commanding Officer 44th Infantry Regiment
1943-02-05 – 1944-11-27 Commandant of Sendai Army Youth School
1944-12-16 – 1945-03-08 Commanding Officer 2nd Mixed Brigade
1945-03-08 – Killed in Action at Iwo Jima
Circa late 1944. Note Manchukuoian 4th class Auspicious Clouds order.