Oka was a native of
Wakayama Prefecture and a graduate of the 24th class of the
Imperial Japanese Army Academy in 1912. As a lieutenant, he served in the IJA 7th Infantry Regiment, followed by the IJA 77th Infantry Regiment. In 1924, he received specialized training in
armored warfare, but remained in the
infantry all of his career. He was promoted to major in 1930,
lieutenant colonel in 1935 and
colonel in March 1939. In June 1939, Oka became commander of the 4th sector of the 8th Border Patrol Force under the
Kwantung Army guarding the
Manchukuo border against the
Soviet Union. In June 1940, he was assigned command of the IJA 124th Infantry Regiment, which participated in combat operations in the
Second Sino-Japanese War. He was then scouted by General
Kiyotake Kawaguchi for the proposed invasion of
Port Moresby in
New Guinea and reassigned to the southwest Pacific front in 1942, landing on
Guadalcanal together with the forces commanded by Colonel
Kiyonao Ichiki. Oka commanded a portion of Japanese troops from the 35th Infantry Brigade in a losing effort during the
Battle of Edson's Ridge in September, 1942. He later successfully defended the
Matanikau River area during the September, 1942
Matanikau action. During the
Battle for Henderson Field, he led the 1,200 troops of the 124th Infantry Regiment across the Matanikau and attacked
U.S. Marine defenses early on October 26, 1942, but his attack was thrown back with heavy losses to his men, contributing to the overall decisive Japanese defeat in this battle. At the
Battle of Mount Austen, the Galloping Horse, and the Sea Horse in January 1943, Oka and the 1st and 3rd Battalions from the 124th unsuccessfully attempted to defend a terrain feature called the Sea Horse from American attacks. After losing possession of the feature and surrounding areas, Oka and his surviving troops escaped to friendly lines. Japanese records indicate that he was killed soon after this, but some sources suggest he may have been evacuated with the rest of the Japanese forces during
Operation Ke and survived the campaign. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of
major general. ==References==