Doomed garrison : the Philippines (a POW story) by Filipiniana Online

DOOMED GARRISONTHE PHILIPPINES (A POW STORY)

* * ABOUT mE AUTHOR * * John R. Vance, Colonel, U.S. Army, Retired entered the Army from the United States Military Academy in 1918 during World War I. Between tours of regimental troop duty with the Infantry he had lengthy assignments with the Historical Sections of the Army War College and the American Battle Monuments Commission headed by General John J. Pershing. While principally involved with the preparation for publication of accounts of American participation in World War I, his work included the study of American military history from the time of the founding bf the Republic. His presence in the Philippines as a finance officer at the outbreak of World War II was more or less accidental. Nevertheless his knowledge of the problems of military mobilization, operations and gov~rnmental financing was put to good use by Generals MacArthur and Wainwright in their beleaguered si tua tion. As a prisoner of war, his appreciation of the importance of personal experience reports by the principal on-the-spot participants resulted in the country eventually being informed of the details of the debacle suffered in the Philippines in 1942. This present story contains hitherto unpublished incidents in this unusual episode. RESUME OF MILITARY RECORD OF COLONEL J. R. VANCE 1 November 1918 Graduate U.S. Military Academy 1920 Graduate Infantry School 1922-23 Post Graduate Work Univ. of Ill. (Modern European History) 1923-26 Historical Research and Writing-Army War College 1926-28 Company Officer, 15th Infantry, Philippine Islands 1929 Post Adjutant, Fort Missoula, Montana Historical Research and Writing, 1929-37 American Battle Monuments Commission Company & Battalion Commander, 9th Infantry, 1937-39 Fort Sam Houston, Texas Graduate Finance School 1939 Finance Officer, Manila, Philippine Islands (Disbursing) 1940-41 Finance Officer, U.S. Forces in the Philippines (Disbursing and Staff) 1942 Prisoner qf War 1942-45 1946-47 Finance Officer, Fort Sam Houston, Texas (Disbursing) 1948-51 Finance Officer, Second Army (Staff) 1951-54 Chief of Staff, Trieste U.S. Troops 1954 Special Assistant to the Chief of Finance 1954 Retired

DOOMED GARRISONTHE PHILIPPINES (A POW STORY)

John R. Vance Colonel, U. S. Army (Ret.)

="'-, .L'-

J'{:- r .,... .... ~ ~Cascade Routt<- "

13880 Highway 66 (The Green Springs) Ashland, Oregon 97520

f/~O(

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Acknowledgment is gratefully extended to The Tribune, Manila, Philippine Islands, for the "Corregidor Falls" front page used in this book. The cartoon "19 Days on Oryoku Maru" is from Colonel Malcolm v.aughn Fortier's The Life of a POW Under the Japanese in Caricature, C. W. Hill Printing Co., Spokane, 1946.

Copyright ÂŠ 1974 by John R. Vance. Printed in the United States of America. All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 74-75441

A PRISONER OF WAR It is a melancholy state. You are in the power of the enemy. You owe your life to his humanity, your daily bread to his compassion. You must obey his orders, await his pleasure, possess your soul in patience. The days are very long, hours crawl like paralytic centipedes. Moreover, the whole atmosphere of prison is odious. Companions quarrel about trifles and get the least pleasure from each other's society. You feel a constant humiliation in being fenced in by railing and wire, watched by armed men, and webbed about by a tangle of regulations and restrictions. - Winston Churchill

"J ......

wWCI)

(.)20

-2Z

o:t~:s CI) w!I(-

(.) .... w

22Z

«:J-

Z«t -S~ ..

N3:

"'"

During the siege of Corregidor, Philippine Islands, the Finance Office, U.S. Army, Manila shared lateral 12 of Malinta Tunnel with the Signal Corps. Enclosed behind the partition, rear right, are the code machines and telegraph operators of the Signal Corps Message Center. Members of the Finance Office staff appear in the foreground. Seated on the left-hand side of the tunnel, they are, left to right, S/Sgt . Wehrner, S/Sgt. Pressman, S/Sgt. Salyer, and Major D. E. Gard; standing in the rear, they are, left to right; T/Sgt. Davis, Col. J. R. Vance (the author) and an unidentified man; seated on the right-hand side of the tunnel, from the rear, they are, left to right: Col. R. J. Jenks (the Message Center equipment is directly behind his desk); Lt. Col. R. E. McElfish, Pfc True, S/Sgt . Long, M/Sgt. Walker, ptc Ballou, Pfc Kuykendall, S/Sgt. Huff. The photo was made by Major Paul Wing of the Signal Corps. The original was lost en route to the United States. The last submarine to contact Corregidor on May 3, 1942, picked up this copy, which has been furnished to the Signal Corps by Col. J. R. Vance of the Finance Office.

* * FOREWORD * * Thirty-three years have passed since the tragic attack on Pearl Harbor.Âˇ On December 7, 1941 *-proclaimed by President Roosevelt as "a Day of Infamy ," John R. Vance, a distinguished Colonel in the United States Army, held a responsible position in Manila on the Special Staff of General MacArthur. In Doomed Garrison-The Philippines (A POW Story) Colonel Vance proyides a moving account of the mixed emotions and bureaucratic frustrations of Americans and Filipinos following the tragic experience of the people in Hawaii. News reports concerning the loss of life and destruction at Pearl Harbor prompted exaggerated and fearful rumors throughout the Philippines-in the cities, the barrios, and across the rice paddies. Everyone felt certain that the next blow would be directed against Manila, but when and how? People, young and old, all frightened, some angry, others numb-businessmen, fishermen, and farmers - eagerly sought information. Blaring radio reports and continued contradictory instructions added to the confusion and dismay. Their worst fears were dramatically confirmed. On December 8th, the Japanese descended upon Luzon with relentless military fury . The attacks were aimed at destroying or driving American air and naval power from the Philippines. Damaging blows from waves of bombers were followed closely by amphibious forces landing at several points along the coast. The author's vivid account is realistic, so much so that one experiences the sensation of actually being present during those tense moments prior to the attack and then the chaos in those terrible days, weeks and months that followed. -Hawaiian time is 18 hours behind Philippine time. Seven-thirty a.m. Sunday, December 7 at Pearl Harbor was 1 :30 a.m. Monday, December 8 in Manila.

Doomed Garrison - The Philippines (A POW Story)

Several months prior to United States involvement in World War II, the diplomatic relations between the United States and Japan were strained. Accordingly, the military plans for the security of outlying United States Possessions were examined and brought up to date by military authorities. Defense plans for Alaska, Guam, Philippines, Wake, Midway, Panama and Puerto Rico were based on the premise that adequate military force and supplies would be maintained on those islands to insure their defense in emergencies, at least until reinforcements could be dispatched from the United States. It was considered economically prohibitive and strategically unsound to maintain the forces necessary to make those island outposts militarily self-sufficient at all times. In Hawaii, however, military forces were deployed in sufficient strength to repel any possible enemy attack. It is generally accepted that the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor would not have been successful if the defense forces in Pearl Harbor and at other close-by military bases had been alerted. Official investigations of that catastrophe failed to assign definite responsibility although evidence was presented indicating that individuals on the highest government levels had relevant information several hours prior to the Japanese attack. So the most ignominious tragedy in American history might have been averted. More than 2,000 lives were lost-over 1,000 were seriously wounded-more than 100 airplanes were destroyed on the ground-and the Pacific Fleet was decimated. Colonel Vance and the other senior officers on MacArthur's staff were fully informed concerning the Emergency Philippine Defense Plan, which directed prompt concentration of military units on the fortified islands and on Bataan peninsula. Further, and very importantly,

Foreword

it directed the immediate evacuation of all noncombatants from those areas to Luzon . The remaining islands in the Philippine Archipelago w~re to be declared "open" to avoid their involvement in hostile action. The Emergency Defense Plan provided that Bataan and the fortified islands would hold out for at least six months, even against determined enemy attacks. Provisions were made for supply of ammunition, food and medicine for a siege of that duration . It was stated that within six months reinforcements from the United States would be dispatched to relieve the defenders . Under paternalistic American rule for more than forty years, the Filipino people were enjoying great autonomy . The United States' provision of the necessary military means for their defense was confidently expected, not only by the Filipinos but also by American civilian and military personnel in the Islands. One of our finest soldiers, Douglas MacArthur, had been appointed Military Advisor to the Philippine Commonwealth Government by President Quezon. MacArthur promptly initiated steps to create an entirely Filipino military force so that when the islands were given complete independence (which was to occur in 1946), their self-defense would be potentially assured. General MacArthur , drawing upon years of experience in the Orient, was aware of the ominous developments during the summer and fall of 1941 concerning relations with the Japanese. However, he felt certain that there would not be any attack until after the monsoon season , which ended usually in December. Confident of the capabilities of the approximately 100,000 native soldiers in the newly organized Philippine Army, General MacArthur decided, in the event of emergency , to deploy them in a perimeter defense of Luzon Island, with strong

Doomed Garrison - The Phifippines (A POW Story)

reserves of American and Filipino Scout units strategically located within the perimeter. Caches of ammunition and other supplies were established in locations readily accessible to the defending forces. Accordingly, when the Japanese launched their attack on December 8, American and Filipino troops were deployed in widely separated positions and ordered to defend the entire island of Luzon. The initial air attacks by the enemy were directed against our limited air force and its ground installations. Within a few days the enemy destroyed approximately 50 percent of our planes. Closely following the air attacks, Japanese amphibious units landed on the island of Luzon at Aparri, Vigan, Legaspi, and at other points along the ~oast. They advanced rapidly inland against the inexperienced Philippine Army units which obviously were no match for the full enormity of modern warfare. The perimeter defense forces gave way before the onrushing enemy. General MacArthur wisely abandoned his plan to defend Luzon, announced Manila an "open" city, and ordered all combatant forces to withdraw immediately to Bataan and the fortified islands. With great difficulty, the hard-pressed Filipino-American Army units reached Bataan peninsula where they hastily prepared for a determined defense. Unfortunately, thousands of Filipino refugees followed the troops into the combat areas. This resulted in a prohibitive number of noncombatants depleting food and medical supplies intended for the troops. With sea and air lanes blocked by the enemy, no more supplies could be brought in. Within a short time, the soldier's daily ration was reduced to 1,000 calories. However, the defenders, Filipino and American alike, fought valiantly-disputing every foot of ground against an enemy that was better equipped and

Foreword

better supplied. Ever increasing numbers of fresh Japanese troops arrived until fmally the Americans and Filipinos were overwhelmed. In March 1942, General MacArthurÂˇ was ordered to new command responsibilities in Australia and General Jonathan M. Wainwright was appointed the overall commander. Our forces on Bataan, exhausted, hungry and weakened by malaria, and experiencing heavy casualties, still resisted-often in bitter hand-to-hand combat. Mercifully, their commanders, recognizing the futility of further resistance, wisely surren.dered. The fighting on Bataan ended in April. On the fortified islands in Manila Bay, the Americans and Filipinos struggled on. Heroic and stubborn resistance continued until May 5 when the enemy, powerfully reinforced and under cover of intense aerial and artillery bombardment, successfully landed on Corregidor and quickly overran the island. On May 6, realizing that continued resistance against the overpowering odds was hopeless, General Wainwright humanely surrendered. Colonel Vance's observations are narrated in a penetrating and objective manner. His story, refreshed by reference to memoranda he adroitly recorded while he was a prisoner of war is neither history, biography, nor diary, although it comprises elements of each. He is clearly revealed (unintentionally, I am sure) as an individual who symbolizes enlightened humanism, whether experiencing the danger and violence of combat or when stoically enduring brutality and humiliation as a prisoner of war. The enemy interpreted the surrender of the Philippines as a cowardly act on our part. Such was their training and "concept of duty" within the framework of Oriental culture that surrender under any circumstance, was forbid-

Doomed Garrison-The Philippines (A POW Story)

den. General Wainwright and the members of his command deservedly received assUrances from their President and Commander-in-Chief, Franklin D. Roosevelt, that "The American people ask no finer example of tenacity, resourcefulness and steadfast courage." Truly these American and Filipino men and women added brilliant pages of heroism, sacrifice and dedication to the annals of military history. A. C. WEDEMEYER General, U.S. Army (Ret.)

*fl AUTHOR'S PREFACE fl* The defensive campaign for possession of the Philippine Islands fought from December 8, 1941 to May 6, 1942 is a singular episode in American history. Committed to a Europe-First strategy, loss of the Philippine Islands was conceded, secretly, by the United States Government even while promising the Filipinos every possible material assistance and demanding their defense to the last man. During the 150 days of battle, the beleaguered garrison received a limited amount of antiaircraft. and machine-gun ammunition delivered by three submarines, and considerable heroic exhortations and ample funds via radio! Events in Manila, Bataan and Corregidor followed the usual pattern of sieges. All present were sitting on the target and being shot at. A few people escaped through the Japanese blockade. The available supplies were stretched out by limiting daily consumption. This slow starvation gained time, but eventually reduced the command to impotency. The struggle ended before the United States had recovered from the consternation caused by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. To its everlasting credit, there were few words of complaint from this doomed garrison, even in the agony of defeat. The subsequent fate of these brave people as prisoners of the Japanese is a horror story of studied and deliberate humiliation, degradation, cruelty and starvation seldom if ever before experienced by civilized men. Many did not survive. The writer was the principal Army disbursing officer in the Philippines. This book is written from my personal wartime diaries. At Bilibid and Tarlac prisons in the Phil7

Doomed Garrison-The Philippines fA POW Story)

ippines, we were denied writing materials and forbidden to write anything, even letters home. But almost everyone had a pencil or a pen that had not been stolen, and paper appeared from nowhere. So some writing did take place. When we were moved to Karenko prison in Taiwan, we were at last furnished scratch tablets and pencils and were permitted to write. We still were not permitted to write home, so as a coverup for my journal, I started it out as a letter to my wife and explained to the Japanese that these notes would be available to me when they did permit me to write letters. To carry out the coverup, the entries, of course, were interspersed with references to personal things and to acquaintances. I was able to obtain maps that had been brought in to Karenko by other prisoners. When paper was made available to us in appropriate sizes, I copied and improved these maps and some of the results are included in this book. My Corregidor journal I had destroyed just before the surrender, but I reconstructed it from memory while a prisoner when writing materials were made available. In addition, I kept a running account of what was happening in prison. Daily entries were brief, consisting merely of what I considered important and of interest. Naturally, there was no criticism of the Japanese; still, unpleasant incidents were mentioned. From time to time, the Japanese took the diary from me, but always returned it intact and without comment. It seems that military history is basically concerned with combat; properly so, I suppose, with limited space given to the behind-the-lines support of the fighting troops. There have been published many accounts of the Philippine Defense with some emphasis on the lack of

Author's Preface

food, medicine and equipment. No one has said that he was short of money. After paying for any and everything that was obtainable, there remained an abundance of cash. Currency was thrown from an airplane to a guerrilla leader behind the Japanese lines, a huge amount was burned and a lesser quantity mutilated, while coin was thrown into Manila Bay or buried. Since my part in the campaign was to support the command financially, this narrative is the story of what was done with money to assist the fighting men, to aid the civilian population, and to protect the interests of every individual as well as the interests of the United States and Philippine Governments. Because this was an old regular Army command, I was personally acquainted with nearly every American officer and most of the senior noncommissioned officers. Many of them are mentioned in the narrative when appropriate to the story. To those unmentioned, I apologize; their part in the war was no less important. Finally, we who survived owe our lives to American Forces in China whose dramatic and timely action in sending special teams from China that landed by parachute near Prisoner of War camps put the Japanese authorities on positive notice that they would be held accountable for any last minute atrocities. JRV

* -(( PEOPLE MENTIONED AND POSITION HELD -(( * Aguilar, Miguel Akin, Spencer Alexander, Irvin

Baldwin, James Baldwin, Lee Ballou, William E. Barnett Barrett, David Barry, Edwin Beard, Paul Beason, Benjamin Beckwith-Smith, M. Beebe, Lewis Bell, Thomas Besson, Bob Bewley, Mrs. Luther Bluemel, Clifford Bonham, Roscoe Boudreau, Napoleon Bowler, Louis Bowes, Edward Boyle, Charles W. Bradford, William Brady, Jack Braly, William Brereton, Lewis Brezina, Frank Brink, Francis Brinkmeyer, John E. Brown, Robert Bunker, Paul Burwell, George Buss, Elmer Byrd,C. Z. Callahan, Pat Calvert, Parker Capinpin, Mateo

Colonel, Chief of Finance, Philippine Army Brig. Gen., Chief Signal Officer, USAF FE Colonel QMC, CO Tarlac Railhead, and later CO 3rd Constabulary Regiment Captain QMC Civilian in charge of Corregidor utilities PFC, Finance Department Lt. Col. Infantry, Bataan Colonel Infantry , China Colonel, Ordnance Officer, Corregidor Lt. Colonel, Finance Department PFC; Finance Department Major General, British Army, Malaya Brig. Gen., G4 USAFFE, later C of S USFIP Captain 31st Infantry Major, Infantry, 11 th Philippine Division Wife American head of Philippine Education Advisor to President Quezon Brig. Gen., CG 31st Philippine Division, Bataan Col., Philippine Scouts, Asst. Engineer, Corregidor Col., CAC, CO Ft. Winter ,later Ft. Frank Colonel CAC Post Adjutant, Corregidor Lt. Colonel, 31st Infantry, Bataan PFC, Finance Dept., radio broadcaster Major Air Corps Lt. Colonel, CO 31st Infantry, Bataan Colonel, CAC, S-3, Corregidor Maj. Gen. Cmdg. Far East Air Force Colonel QMC Brig. Gen., prewar Agent Finance Officer, Corregidor Captain, Finance Dept., Bataan Major CAC, aide to Gen. Moore Colonel, CAC, CO Sea Defense, Corregidor Civilian employee, Finance Dept., Manila U.S . High Commissioner's Manila Office Major QMC, Army Transport Service, Cebu Col. Philippine Scouts, Provost Marshall, Bataan Captain Infantry, Camp John Hay Brig. Gen. CG 21st Philippine Division, Bataan

People Mentioned and Position Held

Carpenter, Frank

Lt. Col. Field Artillery , Asst. to the Asst. C of S, G-4

Casey, Patrick Chastaine, Ben Hur Oliang Kai-shek Clark, George Clark, G. L. Collier, J. F. Cottrell, Joseph Cowie Crews, Cyrus Deleon, Napoleon Derevyanko, Kusma

Brig. Gen. Chief Engineer, USAFFE Colonel Infantry, Mindanao President, Republic of China Colonel 57th Infantry, Bataan Captain U.S. Marine Corps, Corregidor Col. Field Artillery, G-3 II Corps, Bataan Col. CAC, Exec. Officer, Corregidor Commander, U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey Col. CAC, Supply Officer, <;:orregidor 1st Lt. Philippine Finan~e Service, Corregidor Russian General, Mukden Lt. Col. Infantry, aide to General MacArthur Major Cavalry, aide to General Wainwright Brig. Gen . Quartermaster USAFFE and USFIP Lt. Col., Finance Dept., Finance Officer, Corregidor Colonel QMC, Quartermaster, Corregidor Col. Finance Dept., Finance Officer, Ft. McKinley ahd Mindanao Col. CAC, CO Ft. Hughes, Caballo Island Colonel Artillery, G4 USFIP Major, Finance Dept., Asst. Finance Officer, Manila Colonel, Philippine Scouts, Bataan Lt. Colonel, Medical Corps, Bataan Civilian employee, U.S. Navy, Corregidor Admiral, U.S. Navy Lt. Colonel AGD, Bataan Col. CWS Chemical Officer USAF FE & USFIP Major Signal Corps, Bataan Captain Infantry, Bataan Lt. Col. Infantry, staff officer USAF FE Admiral U.S. Navy, Cmdg. Asiatic Fleet Lt. Gen. British Army, Commanding Singapon Army Corps Major OSS Team, China Civilian employee, U.S . High Commissioner's Office Reporter Colonel Infantry, Mindanao Colonel, Ordnance Officer USFIP

Diller, Pic Dooley, Thomas

Drake, Charles Edwards, Roy Elmes, Chester Enos, William Foster, Valentine Galbraith, Nicholl Gard, Dwight E. Garfmkle, Abraham Gattly, Harold Gooding Halsey, William F. Halstead, Earl Hamilton, Stuart Hankins, Stanley H. Hanson, Boyd S. Harries, Herbert Hart, Thomas Heath, Sir Lewis M. Hennessey, J . T . Hester, Evett D. Hewlett, Frank Hilsman, Roger Hirsch, George

Doomed Garrison-The Philippines (A POW Story)

Hoffman, Robert Homma, Masahuru Huff, Sidney Hurley, Patrick Irwin, Constant L. Ivey, Richard Jacoby, Mel and Merylea Jardeleza, B. Jenks, Royal Joel, Henri F. Johnson, R. L. ("Doc") Johnston, Doolen Jones, A1lan Kabakow, James ~akuka,

Theodore

KellY,Colin Kemp, Pete Kerr, Virgil Kielthau, Beatrice King, Edward Kinnee, Dale Kriwanek, Frank Kurusu, Saburo laGuardia, Fiorella Lamar, Robert F. Lawrence, William Lebowitz, Solomon Lee, Clark Leith, Harold B. Lester, Robert Lim, Bennie Long, Paul Lu Lynch, Thomas MacArthur, Douglas Maltby, Paul C. Manees, James Marron, Bud Marshall, Floyd Marshall, Richard Maxwell, Duncan S.

Colonel Infantry, G-2, Bataan Lt. Gen. Japanese 14th Army Lt. Colonel, aide to General MacArthur U.S. Ambassador to China Colonel Infantry, G-3 USAFFE and USFIP Captain CAC, Corregidor TIme reporters Lt. Col., Chief Philippine Army Audit Section Col. Finance Dept., Senior Finance Officer in Philippines Dutch newspaper man, Java Colonel U.S. Army, China Lt. Colonel, Infantry, G4, II Corps, Bataan Major General, Cmdg. I Corps, Bataan Master Sgt. & Captain, Finance Dept., Cashier Manila Finance Office Lt. Col. QMC, Asst. Quartermaster USAFFE & USFIP Captain Air Corps, pilot of plane that bombed Japanese ship Major M.A.C., Sternberg Hospital and Bataan Lt. Col. Artillery, Troop Cmdr. SS Don Esteban Captain, Army Nurse Corps Major Gen. USAFFE, Artillery Officer and Commander, Bataan Major Infantry"Hq. Cmdt., Philippine Dept. Major QMC, Asst. Quartermaster, Corregidor Japanese envoy U.S. Director of C}vilian Defense, Wash., D.C. Major, Medical Corps OSS Team, China Major, Cavalry, aide to General Wainwright Employee, Radio Manila Associated Press reporter Corporal S.C., OSS Team, China radio operator Civilian employee, Manila Finance Office Chinese businessman in Manila Staff Sgt., Finance Department, Manila Major, Chinese Army OSS Team, China Col. JAG Asst. USAFFE and USFIP Lt. Gen., Commanding USAFFE British Air Vice Marshall Col., I.G.D. Provost Marshall, Bataan Lt. Col. Infantry, aide to U.S. High Commissioner and later 31st Infantry Colonel Infantry, G-l, Bataan Brig. Gen., Deputy C of S, USAFFE Brig. Gen., Middle East

People Mentioned and Position Held McBride, Allan McConnell, Alva E. McElfish, Roy McElwaine, Sir Percy McGrath family McKissick, Don McMillin, George McNair, Thomas K. McNamee, Roland Menzie, James Mihailov, Nicholas Moore, George Motley, Ruby Muir, Cecil L. Muzzey I George Nimitz, Chester North, William O'Oay, Ray M. Olson, Kenneth S. Olympia, M. G. Osmena, Sergio Paquet, Leo Parker, Arthur Parker, George Parker, James Percival, Sir A. E. Perry, Howard Pilet, Nunez Posthumous, Rimke Pressman, Aaron Priestly, William Pugh, John Pyzick, Frank P. Quezon, Manuel Quinn, Michael Rawitzer, Emil Razon, Jose Reyes, Norman Richardson, Robert C. Rogers, Richard Romulo, Carlos Roxas, Manuel

Brig. Gen. C of S, Philippine Dept. and CG Service Command Lt. Colonel QMC, Bataan Lt. Col. Finance Dept., Asst. Finance Officer, Manila Chief Justice, Straits Settlements Commercial radio people, Manila Captain, Dental Corps, Corregidor Captain USN and Governor of Guam Major CAC, Anti-Aircraft, Corregidor Colonel Infantry, China Colonel AGD, Adjutant General USFIP Captain 31st Infantry, Bataan Major Gen., Cmdg . Harbor Defenses of Manila & Subic Bays Captain, Army Nurse Corps, Corregidor PFC Finance Dept., Manila Captain Infantry, Asst. to G-! USFIP Admiral, U.S. Navy Major, Medical Corps, Bataan Colonel, Infantry, Bataan Lt. Col., Finance Dept., Manila & Panay Colonel, Medical Corps, Philippine Army Vice-President, Philippine Commonwealth Lt. Col. 31st Infantry, Bataan Colonel QMC, Corregidor . Major General, Cmdg. II Corps, Bataan Major Gen. Air Corps, Cmdg. Hickam Field Lt. Gen., Cmdg. British Forces in Malaya Lt. Colonel Infantry, Mindanao Colonel Infantry, G-! USFIP Colonel, Dutch Army Staff Sgt., Finance Dept., Manila Capt. Infantry, aide to U.S. High Commissioner Lt. Col. Cavalry, aide to General Wainwright Major U.S. Marines, Interpreter, Corregidor President, Philippine Commonwealth Col. QMC, Motor Transport Officer, Bataan Colonel JAG Dept., USAFFE & USFIP Major Philippine Army, aide to Minister of Finance 1st Lt. Infantry, radio announcer USFIP Lt. Gen., Hawaii Colonel QMC, Bataan Major Philippine Army. Asst. G-2, USAFFE & USFIP Minister of Finance & Lt. Col. Philippine Army

Doomed Garrison - The Philippines (A POW Story )

Captain, Philippine Constabulary Lt. Colonel, Engineers 1st Lt., Philippine Army Finance Service Chief Justice Philippine Supreme Court Colonel Air Corps, USFIP U.S . High Commissioner Brig. Gen., Adjutant General USAF FE & USFIP Brig. Gen. (West Point room mate) Warrant Officer, Finance Dept., Bataan Major Signal Corps, USAF FE Lt. Col. Engineers, Basra, Persian Gulf Captain Lt. Colonel, Artillery Engineer, Corregidor Colonel, Secretary General Staff, USFIP U.S. Public Health Service Governor of Sumatra Sgt., Medical Corps, OSS Team, China Col. USAFFE, President Philippine Telephone Co. Colonel, G-1, USAF FE Major Infantry, Bataan Lt. General, Manila Major Gen., C of S USAFFE Col. Signal Corps, USFIP Signal Officer Lt. Gen., Cmdg. Allied Forces in Netherlands East Indies British Governor of Straits Settlements Thomas, Sir Shenton Captain, U.S. Army Air Force, B-26 Pilot, China Thompson Civilian employee, Finance Dept., Manila Tipton, Earl Corporal Infantry, interpreter OSS Team, China Tito Japanese guard, Tarlac Tomita, Huro Lt. Colonel Cavahy, Mukden Trapnell, T. J. H. Colonel Infantry, Asst. G-3, USFIP Traywick, Jesse Brigadier, Indian Army Trott, W. A. Chief Justice, Malay States Trusted, Sir H. H. Twining, Nathan Lt. General Air Corps, Guam Dutch Major General UhI, J. H. 1st Lt., Finance Dept., Manila Underwood, M. E. Valdez, B. J. Major Gen. Philippine Army, Bataan Chief of Staff Vance, Lee Colonel Cavalry, Cmdg. 26th Cavalry, Bataan Van Starkenburge, Tjarda Governor Netherlands East Indies Vargas, Jorge, Jr. 2nd Lt., Finance Service, Philippine Army Vargas, Jorge, Sr. Secretary to President Quezon Wainwright, Jonathan Lt. General Commanding USFIP Wakasugi 1st Lt., Japanese Army, Karenko & Shirakawa Waite, Max D. Captain Walker, Russell Master Sgt., Finance Dept., Manila 1st Lt. USAFFE staff, radio announcer Wallace, Ted.

Rueda Saint Santos, Hermon Santos, Jose Abad Savage, Charles Sayre, Francis B. Seals, Carl Sebree, Edmund Seidler, Joe Sherr, Joe Shingler, Don Short, Earl Short, William Sledge, Theodore Smith, Howard F. Spitts, A. I. Starz, E. A. Stevenot, Joseph Stivers, Charles P. Strickler, Dudley Styer, William Sutherland, Richard Teague, Theodore TerPorten, H.

People Mentioned and Position Held Wangler, Ambrose Ward, Frederick Watson, Bud Weaver, James Wedemeyer, Albert C. Wermuth, Arthur Wheeler, Raymond Wilkes, Joseph Willoughby, Charles Willoughby, Woodbury Wilson, Francis H. Wingate, Mrs. Winter, William Wolf, Thomas Wood, Stuart Worthington, J . W. Young, A. C. Young, Hamilton Young, Sir ~ark

1st Lt., Finance Dept. , Bataan Colonel QMC, Supt. Water Transport Service Lt., U.S. Navy Brig. Gen., Cmdg. Tanks, Bataan Lt. Gen. , Cmdg. China Theater Major Infantry, Bataan Brig. Gen., Persian Gulf Sergeant Finance Dept. , Manila Colonel, G-2, USAFFE Civilian assistant to U.S. High Commissioner Lt. Colonel, USAFFE staff Custodian Insular Vault, Corregidor Radio broadcaster, San Francisco Civilian head of Philippine Red Cross Colonel Artillery, G-2, USFIP Colonel, Veterinary Corps, Bataan Colonel, Infantry , Bataan Colonel, JAG, China British Governor of Hong Kong

* * CONTENTS * * Âˇ Page Foreword-A. C. Wedemeyer, General, U. S. Army (Ret.) ............... . Author's Preface .......................... People Mentioned and Position Held . . . . . . . . . . . Chapter 1 Prelude to War, June 1940-November 1941 ....... Chapter 2 Outbreak of War, December 8-24,1941. . . . . . . . . . . . Chapter 3 Retreat from Manila, December 25, 1941January 10, 1942 ............... Chapter 4 The Siege Begins, January 11-'February 15, 1942 .... Chapter 5 The Siege Tightens, February 16-March 25,1942 .:... Chapter 6 The Fall of Bataan, March 16-April11, 1942 . . . . . . . . . Chapter 7 Corregidor Falls: End of the Siege, April 12-May 6, 1942 .:......... Chapter 8 War Captives, Corregidor, May 7-22, 1942 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chapter 9 Return to Manila, May 23-24, 1942 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chapter 10 War Captives, Bilibid Prison, May 25-June 4, 1942 ........... Chapter 11 Prisoners of War, Tar1ac, June5-August12,1942 ......... Chapter 12 Prisoners of War, Karenko, Taiwan, August 13, 1942-June 6,1943.. . . . 16

7 10 19 31

58 85 102 118 127 146 162 170 184 192

Contents

Page Chapter 13 Prisoners of War, Shirakawa, June 7, 1943-0ctober 8, 1944 Chapter 14 Transfer to Manchuria, October 9-November 14, 1944 Chapter 15 Prisoners of War, Chen Chia Tung, November 15, 1944-May 20,1945 ... Chapter 16 Prisoners of War, Mukden, Manchuria, May 21-August 18, 1945 Liberated Personnel, Mukden, August 19-5eptember 7, 1945 ...... Chapter 17 Journey Home, September 8-26, 1945 ...........

204 211 219

227 242

Italicized "Record of Events" shown in the chapter headings are correct dates for events listed. Because of siege and prison conditions, knowledge of these even ts, if any, was obtained usually much after the fact. Inserting them in this context brings the Far East phase of the global war into proper perspective.

;Y;~LF;:~";:: I

11111111111111111111111111111111111 Roderick Hall CoIl.

13605

0767.4 .V36

E R I TAG E Doomed garrison: the Philippines (a PCNV story) I John I. I Ii K A K Y

Vance