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Post by tmayer on Dec 3, 2013 9:14:39 GMT 8
He are some more images from New Guinea. The picture below appears to be a native climbing coconut tree, or perhaps demonstrating how to climb a coconut tree. The picture below shows what appears to be American procuring coconuts? Notice village huts on stilts in the bay at the bottom of the photo.
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Post by rik on Dec 4, 2013 10:55:22 GMT 8
I happened to be on Corregidor last week trekking through the jungle wit hSteve and Marcia. At one point we trekked through to the old senior NCO barracks which are not easily accessible and lo and behold, inside one was spray-painted "F Company 503d P.R.C.T. Command Post 16 FEB 1945" I would post a pic but I'm not sure how to post pics on here...
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Post by fots2 on Dec 4, 2013 11:36:38 GMT 8
Hi Rik, You were adjacent to the Topside Parade Ground when you saw that spray paint in Senior Officer's Quarters building 28-D. Ask EXO to about it.
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Post by rik on Dec 4, 2013 11:45:57 GMT 8
That's right Fots, not an easy trek and the buildings are dangerous, riddled with shell holes. I took a couple pictures there because I happen to work on the base where the 503rd is currently stationed so I got a kick out of finding it.
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Post by Registrar on Dec 4, 2013 21:43:20 GMT 8
It is my guilty secret, the marking inside 28-D. (No, it wasn't a spray can, it was a brush.) This was solemnly applied in the presence of Paul Turley, also of the F Co Mortar Platoon, who spent his first night on Corregidor in a shell-hole immediately to the rear of the building. Paul was present for the commissioning of the artwork, and assisted. It also ties in with the death of Pfc John Prettyman, who was killed upstairs on the veranda, attempting to clear a line of sight for the 75mm pack howitzer they had manhandled there in an attempt to fire upon Battery Wheeler, where some of their men were trapped by a Japanese ambush.
Knowing where 28-D was, also allows me to go into 27-D, where Pfc. William W. Lee was killed. The company history does not give the date nor circumstances of his death, but I can tell you of them. The 2nd platoon was withdrawn from the NCO Quarters the morning of the 18th. They moved in and around 27-D. Lee and several others were in one of the first floor rooms. Lee slipped off his webbed harness and let it slide to the floor. Speaking of Ed Flash's 'Hornet's Nest' from which he had just come, he exclaimed, "Boy, I'm glad to be out of there!" He lay down on the floor, put his head on his musette bag and, as he did, a large chunk of concrete fell from the wall, crushing his skull and killing him.
28-D was marked, because if it wasn't, you wouldn't now know these things. It establishes a human connection to "real" people doing real things. Each time I visit Corregidor, I like to visit these places.
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Post by tmayer on Dec 6, 2013 10:49:31 GMT 8
Thanks for sharing some your experiences you had with Paul. Seeing how my grandfather and Paul were in the same squad, they could have spent the night in the same shell hole together or within a few yards of each other. My grandfather once told my aunt of how at night, they would sleep (or try to sleep may be more like it) in a circle with their trench knife poke in the ground to their front for easy access, in case it was needed. Below is a picture from my grandfather's collection. Paul Turley had the same image. It can be found on 503d Heritage Battalion website under the Paul Turley GI collection. This image of my grandfather's was not labeled, but Paul's is label with the following caption; Battery Smith, Paul Turley is on the right, February 19, 1945.
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Post by tmayer on Dec 16, 2013 8:21:28 GMT 8
Anyone know the location? Corregidor Island, Philippines
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Post by fots2 on Dec 16, 2013 12:49:14 GMT 8
Hi Todd,
I would say that this photo was taken very close to where your previous Battery Smith photo was taken. We are now looking in a northerly direction.
The “lay of the land” looks correct for this view. There is no question that we are seeing Mount Mariveles on Bataan in the background. The little ravine may be the upper part of Grubbs Ravine. Also, there is a road that passes beside the ravine which you can see in the photo.
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Post by Registrar on Dec 16, 2013 22:34:03 GMT 8
I believe that is a photo across "Maggot Valley" from atop Battery Hearn. Essentially, it is picture of the area where McCarter won his CMH. It is thus a historically significant picture.
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Post by fots2 on Dec 17, 2013 7:13:41 GMT 8
Hi Registrar,
The photo looks to me to have been taken at ground level and not on top of Battery Hearn. In fact he may be standing in a foxhole or a little crater judging by what I see at bottom right.
From a vantage point on top of Hearn and seeing Mount Mariveles in the distance, you would also be seeing a depression in the terrain (or part of) Battery Grubbs ahead of you. Grubbs would be outside the field of view on the right in this photo. To see Mount Mariveles and not either Grubbs or Smith in the view you would have to be closer to Smith. Have a look at Google Earth to see how the three batteries are aligned w.r.t. Mount Mariveles.
However, we are in agreement about the general area as the “Valley” in the label “Maggot Valley” IS the upper part of Grubbs Ravine. Where the photographer was standing is difficult to pinpoint exactly but I would narrow it down to between Smith and Hearn. It is an interesting view for sure.
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