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Post by Bob Hudson on Feb 6, 2014 8:55:42 GMT 8
We put ashore at Quinawan and Karl took off along the rocky shore around the point and had a look around. He reported he found nothing. We went to the cove just north of Quinawan and spoke with a lady who discovered an American body buried under her nipa hut 15 years prior. The remains included a helmet with a skull inside and a 45 Cal pistol. The jaw had gold inlays which were removed and sold along with the helmet and the 45. The lady said they reburied the remains a few yards away but was unsure exactly where. We dug for a while but did not find the remains. On a ridge to the north is one set of tank tracks still laying on the ground. We did not have the time to check it out. Plans are now being entertained on returning there soon.
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Post by chadhill on Feb 23, 2014 10:55:19 GMT 8
From Abie Abraham's 1971 book, "Ghost of Bataan Speaks", pages 201-202:
"We dismantled camp and sailed to Quinauan Point...we set the landing craft upon the beach and established another camp.
"When I awakened the following morning I saw my guide talking to a group of very small black men {Negritos-CH} who sat in a circle around our fire. Monson spoke their language.
"Ask them if they know where the cemetery is", I said as I looked down at the tiny men.
"Yes, they know. They always pass the cemetery when out looking for roots to eat".
"I decided to walk through the jungle northward and cross the Anyasan River. The Negritos led the way and before long they pointed to a group of mounds.
"We disinterred twenty-one Filipino Scouts and one American. At a place north of the river, near Quinauan Point, we found many graves. At the cross trails {Trail 23 and the West Road?-CH} we picked up two unknowns, probably the remains of Majors Jones and Erickson".
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Post by chadhill on Feb 24, 2014 1:32:13 GMT 8
Late addition to my last post above...
Bob, I also have wondered if those tank tracks you found on the ridge to the north were from the M3 Stuart of C Company, 192nd Tank Batallion, that was destroyed on 2 February '42 near Anyasan. The Japanese disabled the tank, set it afire and then strangely filled it with dirt, entombing the cremated crew inside (Morton, "Fall of the Philippines", p. 320 and Dioso, "The Times When Men Must Die", p. 88). Maybe they disabled it by blowing off the tracks.
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Post by chadhill on Feb 28, 2014 7:02:14 GMT 8
...On a ridge to the north is one set of tank tracks still laying on the ground. We did not have the time to check it out. Plans are now being entertained on returning there soon. This quote of Bob's caught my eye. I remembered reading many years ago about the 192nd Tank Battalion Company C tank lost in this area. Its crew was buried inside the tank by the Japanese, which struck me as being very odd. I've checked my library and researched the 'net for more information. There is some conflicting info about the loss of that tank. For example, some sources say it was lost on 2 February and others state it was the 3rd. There also seems to be a question as to whether the tank was lost on a trail leading to Anyasan Point or on a trail leading to Silaiim Point; in any case the trail was narrow and surrounded by tall jungle which severely limited the tank's maneuverability and field of fire. A group of nine tanks (some sources say less) proceeded down the trail in single file. For various reasons, their Scout infantry support followed 100-150 yards behind them, too far to deter Japanese soldiers lurking in the jungle from assaulting the tanks. The lead tank was commanded by Sergeant Emerson P. Smith (SN 35001740) and driven by Private Robert L. Young (SN 35002365). The remaining crewmen were Privates Vernor Deck (SN 38040761) and Sidney M. Rattner (SN 38054111). The following account of what happened next comes from Gene Salecker's 2008 book "Rolling Thunder Against the Rising Sun". It is the most detailed account I found and is based on writings by 192nd TB survivors Alvin Poweleit and Lester Tenney: Lieutenant Poweleit recalled, "The Japanese made an attack on Pvt. Young's tank which had gone farther than the rest. The tank hit a mine and blew a track off". When the crew tried to get out, the Japanese hit the tank with a flame thrower, killing two men and badly wounding two others.
That night, the Japanese counterattacked and recovered most of the ground they had lost during the day. With the disabled tank now inside their lines, the Japanese figured the Americans would be coming back for their wounded comrades and therefore set a trap. Digging foxholes under the tank, the Imperial soldiers threw the dirt inside the tank to hide the telltale signs of foxholes from the Americans. In doing so, the piled up dirt suffocated the two wounded crewman. Wrote Private Tenney, "By burying the men in the tank, the Japanese were able to plan a surprise attack on our rescue tank and crew. The Japanese hid in holes beneath the tank, and as soon as our rescue efforts started, they began firing at us. Luckily, being under the tank did not allow them clean shots, and within minutes the rescue team eliminated the small Japanese contingent under it". This photo of a captured Stuart shows the tank track up close. I wonder if it may resemble the one found laying on the ground on the ridge to the north.
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Post by westernaus on Feb 28, 2014 10:23:15 GMT 8
Gday Chad , Interesting photo . I notice the tracks seem to have rubber inserts . I notice that the tank has Japanese writing on the side and I assume that it doesn't read drink Coca Cola ( maybe Drink Saki ) . The Japanese in front is holding a shot for the cannon . At first I thought maybe the two honcho's behind him were Filipino , but maybe they are Japanese military , the one furtherest to the right is wearing the split toe sandle or boot . Is that a Japanese helmet that guy is hanging on to on top of the turrent ?. Further investigation and research by Bob , Karl and company may find something of heritage value . Thanks for the photo .
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Post by chadhill on Feb 28, 2014 11:10:50 GMT 8
Good eyes, westernaus! I wondered about those two honchos, too, but did not notice the split toe footwear on the right guy. Good catch, you must be correct that he's Japanese. I think that's a Japanese helmet, also. Here are more photos of an M3's tracks. They are courtesy of Jeremy Wee, from a World War 2 Army show in Auckland, New Zealand. I don't know much about tank tracks. Are the rubber inserts worn thru on the outside of the tracks in these photos below? In the bottom pic they seem to look pretty much intact on the track insides, where less wear might be expected. It could be interesting to see how these tracks would compare with the tracks on that Bataan ridge to the north. (photo courtesy Jeremy Wee) (photo courtesy Jeremy Wee)
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Post by Bob Hudson on Mar 1, 2014 0:07:34 GMT 8
Sorry, I don't get back here often. We are planning an overniter to Anyasan.Probably early next month, weather permitting. Primary focus will be to dig up the remains of either a Filipino or American soldier who was buried in a sitting position in 1942. When the remains were discovered some 20 years ago, there was a folding shovel, a canteen, a rusted pistol, a messkit and dog tags as well as a doughboy helmet. The dog tags were given to the village children to play with and were lost. Yhe other artifacts were confiscated by Government troops who were in the area looking for the NPA.The old lady remembered a name on the dog tag as Rafael. He was reburied some 10 meters from where he was discovered. We have not discovered his remains as yet.
The tank track is of secondary concern and on our last trip, Sherwin...or Sherwino on this board spent a couple of hours searching for the track but did not come across it. One of the villagers knows exactly where it is but was not present during our last visit. The area, although not jungley, is overgrown and trekking through the underbrush to look for it would be difficult at best.
When the track is discovered, rest assured that photos will be posted here.
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Post by chadhill on Mar 1, 2014 7:24:50 GMT 8
Thanks, Bob. Best of luck in recovering those long lost remains. If you are able to do so and he is ID'ed, that will mean a lot to a family that gave up hope long ago.
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Post by okla on Mar 1, 2014 9:19:26 GMT 8
Hey Chad and Sly Aussie Fox....Regarding those two possible Filipino guys in the photo of the Stuart Tank,etc. I gotta believe those two men are Japanese. For one reason I would think, at that point in the Bataan Campaign, collaborators would not be too plentiful. This is just conjecture on my part. Besides the split toed footwear on the one guy, his pants look to be Japanese Army issue, minus the wrap around leggings. The shirts worn by all these guys are of various appearance, but uniformally sloppy. The Japanese soldier was a fanatical, brave, and brutal foe, but they were the worse outfitted, dressed and equipped troops in the war, in my humble. This takes nothing from their fighting skills, of course. Those slouch hats may have been formerly worn by Filipino field/paddy workers. Wonder what happened to them? Personnel in combat areas tend to wear some weird clothing,etc. My Fighter Wing, of course, wasn't in an extremely exposed, forward area, but many of my fellow unit members, both Pilots, ground Officers and Enlisted wore everything from St Louis Cardinal baseball caps (in my case), rubber Korean "papa-san slippers, old high school football jerseys (again in my case). Of course, there was the inevitable Texas F-86 Pilot with his Cowboy Boots and the Pilot from New Jersey who donned a black Derby hat when not flying to the Yalu and Mig Alley. Maybe those two guys in the rear are just following suit, although I have seen photos of Japanese offices donned in white, short sleeve shirts. Front line guys in most Armies probably all do this silly stuff. Again just my humble. Cheers.
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Post by Bob Hudson on Mar 1, 2014 10:11:30 GMT 8
The guy in the photo on the extreme right has the same shirt an the Japanese with his foot up, it's just not buttoned. The one who wears the big hat has a collar on his shirt. No telling who he is but there were plenty of collaborators in the Philippines.
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