A TI E FOR WAR
General Rigoberto J. Atienza
Published by Eugenia S. vda. de Atienza
Cover Design : Abet Jimenez Printed by: Cacho Hermanos Inc. Copyright 1985 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior permission of the publisher. ISBN 971¡10037-0-8
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Foreword Prologue
Tagaytay,1941
PART ONE
WAR COMES TO THE PHILIPPINES
Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
PART TWO Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter
Hasty Preparations The 41st Division Waiting Withdrawal from Batangas Christmas Day 1941 Abucay, Bataan The Old Negrito
vii 1
3 9 11 13 17 23 27
THE ABUCA Y BATTLE LINE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
PART THREE Chapter 1 Chapter 2
Getting Ready for Battle Initiation The Fighting Begins Demoralization Scare Tactics Darkness Descends Retreat to Samat
33 38 42 46 50 56 63
SAMAT New Line, Old Trails Remember Erlinda
72 81
PART FOUR
Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter
INTERLUDE
1 2 3 4 5 6
PART FIVE
Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter
Tightening Defenses Celebration Interrogations "Piripino Rugao" The Devil's Workshop Disease and Despair
90 95 100 108 113 121
THE FIGHTING RESUMES
1 2 3 4
PART SIX
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 PART SEVEN
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 PART EIGHT
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Epilogue Biographical Sketch Roster of Officers Index
Bad News Gallant Acts Japanese 105s Initiative
123 133 139 143
THE JAPANESE ATTACK
A Promotion Good Friday 1942 Another Withdrawal
146 153 162
RETREAT
Getting Re-Organized Stampede at Trail 6 Moving Out
170 183 190
SURRENDER
An Earthquake in Bataan Facing the Consequences
196 202
The Walk Home
210 212 220 229
FOREWORD
This book is a firsthand account by General Rigoberto J. Atienza of the valor and sufferings of the men of the 41st Division of the Philippine Army during World War II. It is a chronicle of the 105 days in Bataan when the 41st Division, in General Atienza's own words, "passed through a hell of fire and steel." At the outbreak of the war, General Atienza was the Division Engineer of the 41st Division with the rank of captain and Commanding Officer of the 41st Engineer Battalion. Subsequently he was appointed Inspector General of the Division. On 1 April 1942, shortly before the fall of Bataan, he was assigned Regimental Executive Officer of the Division's 42nd Infantry Regiment. General Atienza wrote this book in 1942 after his release from Camp O'Donnell in Capas, Tarlac where he and his comrades were incarcerated following the surrender in Bataan and their participation in the Death March. The general was then recuperating from the illness and malnutrition he suffered during the imprisonment in Capas. This book is the story of the fighting men of an inspired Philippine Army division told in human terms by a keen observer and participant. In it are intimate glimpses of men of all ranks and stations including General Vicente P. Lim, the Commanding Officer of the 41st Division . The account takes the reader so close to the events of the war in Bataan as they happened that he can share the fear and determination of the men and feel the heat of the battles. The story begins in 1941 in Tagaytay where the 41st Division was born , and ends in Bataan with "The Walk Home", which the reader will recognize as the beginning of the Death March. It was General Atienza's hope that he would find time in his busy life to finalize the book. As it happened, the manuscript remained in its original form, read only by members of his family, military researchers , and occasionally such writers as John Toland who from the general's manuscript sought information about the war in Bata(ln. vii
This book was a family project and a labor of love. I would like to thank my children for giving their time and effort towards its completion. In preparing it for publication , my children and I have considered this book as a statement, frozen in time , of the events of World War II and the spirit , attitude and feelings of the Filipino during that period . We believe it is of historical value. We ho pe it will be a worthy contribution to the body of World Wa r II lite rature and history.
Eu genia S. vda. de Ati enza
" ... the earth shook violently. An earthquake rocked the ground where we stood . .. a fitting finale to the continued. incessant quakes in the blood and minds and hearts of the men of the 41st Division who for one hundred and five days in Bawan lived in a land of horror. desolation. devastation. and death drenched in blood and tears. Who for one hundred and five days, passed through a hell of fire and steel; of indescribable torture of body and soul; of poignant injury and privations of all kinds: of cold and' heat. hunger and thirst; of death constantly and unwaveringly staring them in the face. Who for one hundred and five days fought ullStintingly for life and hope . .. "
Index A
B
ABCD powers, 4 Abeleda, Capt., 150, 155 Abo-Abo River, 53, 58, 93, 107108 Absence Without Leave, 100, 103, 107 AWOL see Absence Without Leave Abucay, 18, 23, 30, 33, 36, 49, 56, 64,67,69,76-82,87,92-93, 106-107,110,114,122,131, 133,136,138,147,150,157, 176, 180, 186 Abucay Battle Line; 34, 64 Advance Division Command Post, 13 Alcasabas, Capt., 179 Aleutians, 128 Allied territory in the Pacific, 66 American atrocities, 18, 98, 114 American Infantry Officer, 9 American lieutenant, 188 American plane, 67 American rule, 25 American soldiers, 24-25, 115, 193 American(s), 25, 60-61, 66, 114115, 202, 205 America's war, 34 America's fight, 31 Anti-American propaganda, 113 Arellano, Maj., 143-144, 179 Army War College, 9 Articles of War, 107 Artillery, 15,76,107,143,155, 171, 180 Batteries, 68 Definite targets, 107 Emplacement, 107 Field,58 Shells, 107 Artillery Command Post, 162, 169 Artillery Regiment, 181 Arvisu, Sgt., 157 Asiatic peace, 4 Atimonan, 36 Enemy landings, 12 Atienza, Gen., 178 Atkinson, Col., 150 Atlantic, 66 Australia, 66, 128 Avenida Rizal, 19
BagacBay, 139, 141 Balagtas, Lt., 182, 187 Balanga, 5, 7, 26, 30, 33, 44, 67, 68, 70, 76, 77, 92, 106 Balayan, 2, 14, 21 Beaches, 8 Routes, 8 Balintawak, 118 Bangcal, 27-28 Banta, Lt., 124 Barnett, Maj., 13 Barrenengoa, Capt., 150, 154, 158, 163, 165, 175, 176, 181 Bataan, 13-14, 18, 22, 34, 36, 50, 69, 70, 74, 84-87, 92, 105-106, 114, 116-119, 132-133, 173, 203-204, 207 Bataan, Battle of, 49, 206 Bataan Training Center, 26 Batangas, 1-2, 10, 13, 15-17,21, 24, 33, 67, 96, 119 Beaches, 6, 8, 11 Withdrawal from, 87 Battalion Aid Station, 39, 136 Battalion Command Post, 146 Battalion Reserve Line, 36, 38, 42, 56, 139, 160, 162 Battalion staff, 120 bolos, 20,31, 108 Bonifacio, 131 Bosch,12 BRL see Battalion Reserve line buho, 74-75, 154-157 Bustamante, Cpl., 133, 134
c Cabcaben, 202, 199 Airfield, 58 Calaca,2 Calamba,2 Calatagan, 7-8, 14 Beaches, 8 Routes, 8 Caloocan, 114 Camouflages hangers, 5 Camp Keithly, Lanao, 10 Camp Murphy, 5-6, 20, 22 Campo., Maj., 10,69, 128, 125, 177,196 229
Canlubang Sugar Estate, 10 Capas, 104 Capinpin, Gen., 172 Capitangan, 67 Casanova, Lt., 112, 143, 182, 185, 188 Casey, Gen., 120 Catmon River, 75, 77, 81, 167 Catmon Trail, 168, 175, 179, 182, 193 Castillo, Capt., 136-137, 171, 183 Cavite, 10-11, 119 "Cease Firing", 53 China, 4, 61 China Sea, 26 Chinese campaign, 50 Chioco, Capt., 10,34,67,74-75, 96, 127 Chong, Capt., 10, 81, 125, 173 Christmas Day, 1941, 14-17,23, 26, 72 Christmastime, 15 Clark Field, 5, 20, 68 Colorado, 115 Command Post, 33, 51, 53-54, 58, 60,68-69,74,79,81,84,106, 123-124,126-128,139,147, 154, 157, 164, 182, 199 Command Post of the 42nd Infantry, 150 Corps G-2, 84, 92, 139 Corregidor, 85, 203 Crisol, Lt., 77 Cruz, Col., 154, 163-164, 166, 168 D
Deacosta, Capt., 179 Del Pilar, 131 Distinguished Service Cross, 12, 138 dita, 122 "Ditalimina", 122 Division Command Post, 26, 33, 58,81,95,123,137,147 Division Headquarters, 25 Division Inspector General, 13, 78 Division Observation Point, 107, 111, 157 Division Reserve, 59, 78 Divisional Staff School Baguio, 9, 96 230
Domaoal, Maj., 9, 13,59,67-68, 72,74-75, 123, 126, 147, 154, 174, 178, 196 Donio, Cpl., 18,39,40-41 E
Enfield, ca1.30, 7 Enfields, 81 Engineer Battalion, 46, 78-79 Engineers Command Post, 78 England,4 Erlinda, 85-86 Europe, 4 Executive Commission, 132 Executive Officer, 78-79 F
Far Eastern Fleet, of, America, 4 Britain, 4 China, 4 Dutch,4 Federated Malay States. 12 Feria, Lt., 127 Filipino, Common man, 20-21 Common masses, 20 Lieutenant, 117 People, 20 Soldiers, 7, 20, 24, 34, 116, 119 "Filipino lugao", 107 Filipino(s) 21,28,61, 70, 109, 115, 116, 205 Fire Direction Center, 143 1st Battalion of the 1st Infantry, 77, 79 1st Regular Division, 22, 36 41st Division, 8, 10, 13, 19, 24-25, 33,36,57,69, 120, 136, 146 41st Engineers, 48-49, 68, 101 41st Engineer Battalion, 25, 78, 104 41st Engineers Camp, 78 41st Field Artillery Regiment, 3 41st Infantry, 5, 56, 77, 94, 111 41st Infantry of the 41st Division, 93 42nd Command Post, 181 42nd Infantry, 3, 5, 43, 111-112, 138, 139, 144, 147, 157, 163 42nd Infantry Command Post, 82,
149, 153, 190 42nd Infantry Regiment, 33 42nd Infantry's Regimental Command Post, 180 42nd Regiment, 184 42nd Regimental Staff, 165 43rd Infantry, 3,15,111-112,136, 145, 147, 164, 181 , 184 43rd Infantry Command Post, 42 43rd Infantry's Outpost Line of Resistance, 111 43rd Regiment, 111 51st Division, 33, 58 51st Engineers, 94 57th Infantry, 39, 46, 56, 187 Flash-shaped foxhole, 64-65 Formosa, 128 Fort McKinley, 6, 84 Fortier, Col., 59--60, 115, 140, 153, 170,175,178,180,193,196, 207 Fortune Island, 11 Foxholes, 13, 33,38,49,57,64,66, 79 France, 4 Fraser, Maj ., 99 Frondoso, Lt., 165
G G-2, 69, 77, 85 Headquarters, 92 Intelligence, 6 Men, 107 Reports, 50, 95 General Headquarters, 66 General Main Line of Resistance, 84 General Officers' School, 9 Gozar, 12 Grantland Rice, 202 Guagua, Pampanga, 22 Gua-gua-Porac line, 34 guinit,7 guinit helmet, 20, 24, 64
Hagonoy, 105-106 Harriman index, 84 Harris, Lt., 3, 46 Heroism in Bataan, 41st Division, 134-137 Holmes, Maj., 168 Homma , Gen ., 92 Suicide, 92 HongKong, 128 I
Ibanez, Lt., 187-188 Hong Castila, 1 Infantry School, 138 Interlude, 90 J
Jalandoni, Col., 195 Japanese, 20, 28, 70, 73, 83, 107, 109,111-115,117-119,121, 129, 131, 137, 139, 150, 177, 194, 202-203 Japanese atrocities, 87 bombers, 12 bombing, 68 guns, 105s, cal., 27, 53,139-140 government, 21 landing boats, 7 mountain climbers, 30 navy, 66, 128 officer, 106, 209 patrol, 6, 97, 106, 109 pilot, 75 planes, 3, 11, 19,21, 67--68 propaganda, 114, 116, 122 soldiers, 28, 48, 76, 82, 88-89, 103, 109-110, 132, 134-135, 144, 208-209 Japanese Imperial Forces in the Philippines, 92 Johore, Straits of, 12 Jones, Capt., 181
H
K
Hacienda Abucay, 29, 33, 43, 57, 67 Hacienda Abucay Road, 24, 33. 46. 56.68, 78
Kalaw, Lt., 25, 27-29, 118, 124-125 Kapot, 93 Kassel, Sgt., 166 King, Gen., 203 231
Kra, Isthmus of, 12 Kramer, Capt., 150, 154, 158, 163 Kraut's Hotel, 1 Kuala Lumpur, 12 kundiman, 61 KUfUsu,4 L
Laguna, 10 Laguna de Bay, 1,2 Lake Bombon, 4 Lake Taal, 1-3 Lamao FUver, 196 Lara, Lt., 124, 126, 191 Las Piiias, 18 Lemery, 2, 5, 11, 14 Leuterio, Capt., 153, 163, 176 Leuterio Command Post, 190 Lewis, Col, 170, 207 Liaison Officer, 13 Lim, Gen., 9-10, 13,25-26,40, 46, 54, 59-60, 63-64, 66, 69, 72, 74-75,78,80-82,91,107,120123, 127-132, 146-148, 157, 178, 180, 187, 193, 196, 203204, 2~ Limay,93 Limay trail, 75 Little Baguio, 200 Lizardo, Col., 150-153, 157, 164, 170, 172-176, 178, 180, 182184, 191-193, 200 Looc,5,14 Louisiana, 12 Luneta, 115 Luzon, 8, 85 airfield, 5 M
Mabatang, 23, 25, 30, 43, 48, 58, 64 Mabatang Battle Line, 35 Mabatang-Natib--Moron Line, 36 Mabatang Trail, 25-26 MacArthur, Gen., 8, 12,59-50,93, 96, 114, 131 MacDonald, Col., 154, 157-158, 163-164, 170, 181,204 Macatangay, Sgt., 134-135 Magtoto, Maj., 68-76, 147, 150, 232
154, 158, 163-164, 166, 190-193 Main Line of Resistance, 25-26, 33, 36-39, 42, 51, 56, 63, 74, 79, 85, 96, 111, 117, 142, 146147,153,160 Malantic, Lt., 182, 187 Malaria, 121 Manila, 11, 14, 17, 19, 105-106, 116, 132, 208, Bay, 23, 25, 175 Hotel,117 Open City, Jan. 1, 1942, 36 Manlimas, 12 Mariveles, 200 Mass, 15,21, 23 Mata, Lt., 3 Mauban landing operations, 11 Mauban, Tayabas, 22, 36 Medical Aid, 70 Medical Corps, 100, 102-103 Message Center, 59 Mindoro, 10 M L R see Main Line of Resistance Mobilization, 3 41st Field Artillery Regiment, fully mobilized 41st Infantry, partly mobilized 42nd Infantry, fully mobilized 43rd Infantry, on paper Mojica, 317-318 Montelibano, Capt., 10 Montemayor, Capt., 10, 125 "Morale: .Excellent", 104 Motor Pool, 74 Motor Transport Unit, 13 Mt. Mariveles, 192 Mt. Natib, 25-29, 33, 35, 53, 58, 73 Mt. Samat, 63, 68, 71, 77, 93, 100, 107, 113, 179, 186, 191,206 Line, 91 Last withdrawal, 66, 77 N
Nagahista, Gen., 94 Narvaez, Capt., 117, 123, 125, 130, 149 Nasugbu, 7--s Beach,18 Nasugbu, Batangas, 13-14 Nasugbu, Bay, 5, 11 Nayda, 18
Negrito Community, 27 Houses, 28 Negritoes, 77 New Line, Old trails, 72 New Year's Day, 1942, 33 Nichols Field, ~,68 nipa, 192 nipa shacks, 23 Nomura, 4
o Oboza, Col., 179 Official G-2, reports, 83 Ojeda, Capt., 10, 13, 27, 29-30, 33, 59, 75-77, 81-82, 111-112, 117, 124-128, 155, 157, 162, 172,175-176,184,187,194, 196 . Old Command Post, 168, 170 Old Negrito's war philosophy, 27, 30 Oreta, 53-54 Orion, 105 Orion trail, 75 Ortega, Pvt., 113 Outpost Line of Resistance, 36, 39, 77,80,90, 100, 108, 111-112, 138, 142, 145 reported no enemy activity, 183 P
Padialan, Lt., 76 Pagbilao bridge, 12 Palawan, 10 Palico, 5, 8 Palileo, 186, 201 Pampanga, 19, 34 Pampaguenas, 22 Panciteria antiguas, 117 Panopio, Maj. , 205 Paraftaque, 6, 18, 36 Parker's headquarters, 13 parois, 15 Pasig, Rizal, 86 pasion, 149 Pearl Harbor, 34, 50, 66 bombed by Japanese, 3 Perez, Lt., 22 Philippine Army, 4, 54, 79, 91, 132,
138,202 Corps of engineers,S Deputy chief of staff, 9 41st division, 2, 9 41st engineers of the 41st division, 3 training camps, 20 Philippine Army Headquarters, 109, 132 Philippine Constabulary, 9 Philippine Constabulary Division Headquarters, 199 Philippine Division, 58-60 Philippine Islands, 8 Philippine hardwood, 24 Philippine revolution, 10 Philippine Scouts, 9, 25, 56 Philippine skies, 20, 82 Philippines, 4, 8, 24-25, 28, 66, 113, 115, 119,201, 203 falls, 66 Pierce, Col., 30 Pilar, 73, 105 P-i1ar-Bagac Line, 93, 136, 138 Pilar-Bagac Road, 63, 66 Pinkian River, 202 Primary Training planes, 12 "Piripino rugao" 107, 142 Plaza Goiti, 19 Plaza Lawton, 18 Post Office building, 18 pula, 23 Purple Heart, 77 puti,23
Q Quartermaster of the Philippine Army Headquarters, 207 Quezon Pres., 96, 132 Quiamson, Maj., 17 R Real River, 199 Rear Command Post, 59 Regimental Command Post, 167, 168, 171 Regimental Executive Officer, 148 Regimental Reserve Line, 46, 56, 139-140, 142, 153-154, 156, 160-161, 164 233
Regimental staff, 120 Remember Erlinda, 81, 85-86, 94 Remember Erlinda propaganda, 85 Retreat, 69 Retreat to Samat, 63 Reyes, Capt., 193 Rillo, Lt., 40, 150, 154, 158, 163164, 166, 178 Rizal, 10, 18, 115, 131 Romulo, Col., 120 Roosevelt, Pres., 4, 115 Roxas, Gen., 120 RRL see Regimental Reserve Line Rufino, Capt., 193 Russia, 4 S
Sabayan, River, 56 Saint, Capt., 33 "Sakura Hei", 85 Salakot, 118 Salazar, Col., 150, 154, 157-158, 163-164, 168 Salgado, Col., 152, 154, 156, 163, 170,174-175,180-181,192193, 207-208 Salian, 25, 87, 106-107 Samar, 114 Samurai, 40-41 San Fernando, Pampanga, 22-23 San Pablo, 12 Santa Cruz bridge, 19 Santiago Point,S, 11 Santos, Lt., 63, 124, 126, 149 Sariaya, 12 Scare tactics, 50-51 School for Reserve Commission, 10 See You in Manila, 109-110 Sevilla, Lt., 150, 164-165, 176, 191, 200
Shipping lanes to Australia, 66 Signal Company Commander, 118 Signal Message Center, S8 Silang, 2, 17, 204 Singapore, 128 Sniper Patrol Company, 98 Snipers, 48 Solidum, Maj., 10, 126 Southern Luzon, 13, 35 Spain, 25 Tyranny of, 20 234
Spaniards, 115 Spanish rule, 24-25 Standard Operating Procedure, 81 Steele, Col., 59 Stotsenberg, 5 Subic,139 T
Taal Vista Lodge, 1 Taal volcano, 1 Tagalog(s), 27-28 Tagaytay, 1-3, 16-17, 77, 96, 138, 150,208 Cantonement area, 3, 17 Talisay, 1 Tan, Lt., 123-124, 191 Tarlac,34 Tayabas Beaches, 36 3rd Battalion, 147, 149 31st Infantry, 25, 33, 3S, 53, 59 33rd Infantry, 170 Tiaong,12 Tiawer River, 73, 79, 81-82, 123, 147, 158 Tightening Defenses, 90 Ticket to Surrender (leaflet), 118119 Tinio, Lt., 3, 25, 48-49, 53-54, 126, 130, 179, 200-202 Torres, Maj., 194 Triangulation Point, 26 Training Regulations, 111 21st Infantry, 49
u United States, 25, 66 Army, 9, 33, 56, 85 Finance officer, 132 Declaration of war, 50 Navy, 66 Treasury warrant, 132 United States Armed Forces in the Far East, 9, 12, 36, 50, 56, 78, 84,91,106,114,116-117,119, 123, 132, 181, 203 United States Military Academy West Point, 9 USAFFE see United States Armed Forces in the Far East
USFIP see U.S. Forces in the Philippines U.S. Army War Department Map, Bataan area, 84 U.S. Forces in the Philippines, 141 U.S. War Dept. Scale 1:20, 000 Topographic Map, 84
v Valdez, Gen., 120 Valeriano, Lt., 182-185 Verbatim, 85 Verde Island Passage, 5, 11 Villacorta, Capt., 122 Villamor, Jesse, 12 Villaluz, Col., 179 Villanueva, Sgt., 124 "Voice of Freedom", 85 Volunteer, 13
w Wainwright, Gen., 123, 128, 132, 141 , 152 War Comes to the Philippines, 3 War Plans Division, 9 Webb, Capt., 63 West Point, 9 William, 70
z Zablan Field,S, 12 Zobel, Capt., 79
235
ISBN 971-10037-0-8
9
'J~I~J\III~~W~~i