View source for Kiyochi Ogata

'''Kiyochi Ogata''' (died August 1, 1944) was a [[colonel]] in the [[Imperial Japanese Army]] during [[World War II]]. He committed ''[[seppuku]]'' after the [[Battle of Tinian]].
== Biography ==
Kiyochi Ogata was the commanding officer of [[Tinian]], one of the [[Pacific Islands]]. He commanded 4,500 soldiers on the island, while the other troops were commanded either by the commander of the four airfields on Tinian, Captain [[Goichi Oie]], or the commander of the naval forces stationed there, Vice Admiral [[Kakuji Kakuta]]. Fortunately for the Japanese, the [[IJA 50th Division|50th Division]] arrived on the island after leaving [[Manchukuo]]. But when the [[United States]] invaded Tinian, Ogata's defenses were poor and the US troops made it onto the beaches without extensive resistance. He failed a counterattack, and was forced into the inner parts of the island. The Japanese were defeated in the battle, and Ogata and Oie committed ritual suicide.
== References ==
* Brooks, Victor: ''Hell is Upon Us: D-Day in the Pacific'', 2005 pp.&nbsp;234–260
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ogata, Kiyochi}}
[[Category:1944 deaths]]
[[Category:Imperial Japanese Army officers]]
[[Category:Imperial Japanese Army personnel killed in World War II]]
[[Category:Japanese military personnel who died by suicide]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing]]
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