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Post by Karl Welteke on Mar 3, 2016 10:09:08 GMT 8
MOH awarded to Pfc. McKinney for action at Dingalan Bay The 33rd Inf. Div reports the blow and the URL is provided Prior to the final dash towards Baguio, Company A was designated as a special task force and sent to Dingalen Bay on the far side of Luzon to act as a security force for the installations there. This force was commanded by Major Connolly and was called the "Connolly Task Force" A member of this force, Pfc. John McKinney, staged a one man war and killed 39 Japs in a half hour battle. He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. www.33rdinfantrydivision.org/123rdhistory.htmA few years a friend, Craig Wick out of Chicago, gave this book and I got interested in the story as to how and where Pfc. John McKinney earned the MOH. This is the Book and URL at Amazon: www.amazon.com/Phantom-Warrior-Private-McKinneys-theJapane/dp/0425227626W694 this is the view of the book cover. W695 Sgt. (later) John McKinney’s story is covered in Wikipedia; this is the URL and this picture came from it: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_R._McKinneyThe Geography of WWII in the Philippines is most interesting to me since I live in the country. W696 Task Force Connolly area of operation, this map also came from the above 33rd Inf. Div URL. On the 24th of Feb 2016 a friend and I finally made a short exploring trip to the Dingalan Bay. We did not make it to the actual battle site but I will go there again soon. I took these 20 images and posted them into this album: s74.photobucket.com/user/PI-Sailor/library/Walk%20in%20the%20Philippines/No%202%20Walk%20PI%20Group/Dingalan%20Bay/Dingalan%20Bay%202016-02-24?sort=9&page=1or tinyurl.com/zau95enHere are 4 sample images but they are smaller than in the album: W697 the Google Earth image of Dingalan Bay with my modest 6 km PPS track on the 24th Feb. 2016. W698 this shot is from the rocky point between the two coves, I indicated on the Goggle Earth image, that I took pictures of (in my album). This is Dingalan Bay, looking south, on 2016-02-24. W699 this is Barangay Paltic at the shore of Dingalan Bay; apparently here was the place where the Connolly Task Force, 6th Army, set up their CP. Next time I will look for any ruins of the saw mill where the CP was set up. W700 this was a surprise, a gate to Fort Magsaysay; it was between our resort and Dingalan Town. From Cabanatuan we saw 3 signs or gates to Fort Magsaysay. This fort must be a huge military reservation.
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Post by Karl Welteke on Mar 4, 2016 19:37:00 GMT 8
DINGALAN BAY HAS NOT BEEN FORGOTTEN BY US FORCES W701 US and Philippine Forces train jointly in Dingalan Bay and the Fort Magsaysay area 2004. This picture came from this 15th April 2012 news paper story, from this URL below: (The above picture did not open for me, I had to click on it, Karl) globalnation.inquirer.net/33355/philippines-us-war-games-kick-off-mondaySeveral things got my attention on the drive from Cabanatuan to Dingalan Bay. It was a very wide valley, with a very rocky riverbed. The river was flowing inland too, into the Pampanga River and not the Pacific Ocean. And from every mountain ravine a river of rocks has flown down in the past when heavy rains occurred, because deforestation? FORT MAGSAYSAY INDEED IS A LARGE MILITARY RESERVATION. Here is an URL for a short description of the Fort FROM THE BELOW Wikipedia URL: On Dec 10, 1955, President Ramon Magsaysay, through Proclamation 237 created the 73,000-hectare base centered in Laur, Palayan. The reservation covers portions of the provinces of Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, and Aurora. The reservation is to be used for military training and live fire exercises. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_MagsaysayTWO FRIENDS WROTE ME THIS ABOUT THE FORT: : Lieber Karl, Yes, Fort Magsaysay is HUGE! I was the Assistant Division Commander of the 7th Infantry Division in Fort Magsaysay for 6 years (1989-95). Fort Magsaysay was also my first assignment as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1963. At that time, the military reservation was still 73,000 hectares -- and the unit there was the 1st Infantry Division. Since then, several Presidential Proclamations have apportioned off big tracts of land -- today, the military reservation has only 35,000 hectares. But it is still big and stretches from Cabanatuan City boundary to the Pacific Ocean. Ray Hi Karl, Yes Fort Magsaysay is a big military reservation. I reckon Fort McKinley back then was as expansive. Fort Magsaysay is IIRC the home of the Philippine Light Armored Division which recently got a lot of M113s from the USA. Though, like other military bases, it seems that some parts of it will be sold off to private buyers as part of the bases conversion program. The place is where the armored force trains. Sometimes, US and Philippine troops also train there during Balikbayan exercises. Regards, Tomas
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Post by Karl Welteke on Mar 5, 2016 21:11:51 GMT 8
THE FORMER CABANATUAN POW CAMP IS ON THE WAY TO DINGALAN W705 Image of the Cabanatuan POW Camp from the report of the American Prisoners of War in the Philippines by the Office of the Provost Marshal General November 19, 1945. An account of the fate of American prisoners of war from the time they were captured until they were established in fairly permanent camps. This is the URL: www.mansell.com/pow_resources/camplists/philippines/pows_in_pi-OPMG_report.htmlW706 a 2008 image of part of the wall with the names of the perished. The Cabanatuan American Memorial Philippines list these numbers on one of their websites: It is reported that these plaques will be replaced this year during the renovation. In sum, there are 2,756 names listed on the Cabanatuan Memorial. The service breakdown is as follows: U.S. Army and Army Air Forces – 2,602 U.S. Navy – 76 U.S. Marine Corps – 58 U.S. Coast Guard – 1 Civilians – 19 I believe, that I read, that most of the perished souls were Bataan Veterans! Cabanatuan American Memorial Philippines Is run by the American Battle Monuments Commission and here is the URL: www.abmc.gov/cemeteries-memorials/pacific/cabanatuan-american-memorial#.VtrKnvnzq70 W707 the Cabanatuan American Memorial Philippines is temporally closed until July 2016. I had hoped to get in anyhow but the place was locked and we did not see a soul, maintenance man, security guard or contractor. This is the URL and it says the below news paragraph: Thursday, November 12, 2015 To ensure the safety of visitors, the memorial is closed during the renovation process. The memorial is expected to reopen in July 2016. For more information, contact Manila American Cemetery at 011-632-844-0212 ormanila@abmc.gov(link sends e-mail). www.abmc.gov/news-events/news/ongoing-renovation-cabanatuan-american-memorial#.Vtvm-vnzq70W708 an image of the magnificent Raid to rescue the 500+ remaining POW from the clutches of the Imperial Japanese Army by the US army and Philippine Guerillas occurred here. This picture came from this Wikipedia URL: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raid_at_Cabanatuan
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Post by Karl Welteke on Mar 8, 2016 13:20:01 GMT 8
PRESIDENT QUZON WAS BORN IN BALER, AURORA The Aurora Province has many interesting Points; not only the MOH received by Pfc. McKinney in Lingalan Bay. Here is and extensive article on this important Philippine President: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuel_L._Quezon W714 President Quezon, with some of his family members, is welcomed in Washington, D.C. by President Roosevelt. He worked tireless in paving the way of the Philippines from Colony to independence. He set up the Commonwealth Government on Corregidor and assured that the Philippine Forces stayed on the Allied side and then formed the Philippine Government in exile in the USA. That certainly gave all the Filipino Guerrillas a legal reason to fight for their freedom of their country.
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Post by Karl Welteke on Mar 8, 2016 17:19:16 GMT 8
On April 28, 1949, Mrs. Aurora Quezon, wife of the late President Quezon, was murdered by the Hukbalahaps More history from the Aurora area. W715 on April 28, 2013, The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) together with the descendants of Mrs. Quezon unveiled and rededicated a historical marker in Bongabon, Nueva Ecija at the site of the ambush where Mrs. Quezon was killed. The marker is a replacement of the missing old marker. (This image of the memorial marker and this paragraph came from the below URL) kahimyang.info/kauswagan/articles/1406/today-in-philippine-history-april-28-1949-mrs-aurora-quezon-was-murdered-by-the-hukbalahapsIn March 1991 I drove with my Toyota Corolla to Baler in Aurora. The place being so far out of the main stream Philippines attracted me. At that time I did not know much about Philippine history. It was a rough road and one of forward chocks busted loose from the car frame. I had a soldier with me who needed a ride to Baler. About half way from Cabanatuan to Baler we stopped at a memorial Marker that remembered the murder of Mrs. Aurora Quezon, wife of the late President Quezon. It must have been in English then that is the reason I know it was about the murder of Aurora Quezon. Apparently that marker disappeared since then. I thought to myself then, how can people assassinated women, wives or other family members of politicians. But then, coming from Nazi Germany and being a Neighbor to Soviet Russia and East Germany, all these revolutionary movements claim to do things in the name of the people but don’t know the meaning of humanity. It was an exciting trip on this long and rough road with hundreds of sharp bends and curves and I said to myself you got to come back. This year I almost made it but the book Phantom Warrior took me to Dingalan, the southernmost Municipality of Aurora. W716 in memory of a senseless murder here is another picture of Aurora Quezon; it came from the below Wikipedia URL: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurora_Quezon
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Post by cbuehler on Mar 9, 2016 1:51:19 GMT 8
The murder of Mrs. Quezon and others was one of the truly nauseating episodes in Philippine history. The Hukbong laban sa Hapon were a big guerilla outfit during the war, but they also did illustrate the bandito and extremist nature of so many of them.
CB
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Post by Karl Welteke on Mar 15, 2016 20:42:32 GMT 8
ANDERSON’S GUERILLAS HELPED AT DINGALAN BAY I tried to copy some pictures and paragraphs from the book about Pfc. McKinney but it did not work. I did some research and learned that indeed Anderson’s Guerillas were operating in this area and even received a Submarine resupply mission. This web page is about the Reedsburg Veterans and shows a few pictures of Bernard L. Anderson: reedsburghistory.blogspot.com/2012/04/bernard-l-anderson.htmlW717 Colonel Bernard Anderson, leader of Anderson’s Guerillas prepares to meet a US supply submarine on Luzon 1944. Coutesy of Col. Anderson. W718 shows several well known WWII Guerillas after they received their decoration from Gen. MacArthur. This picture is from the above URL. Good reading about the Philippine Guerillas is Gen. MacArthur’s report, Chapter 10. Here is the URL: www.history.army.mil/books/wwii/macarthur%20reports/macarthur%20v1/ch10.htmThis paragraph and graph came from the Gen. MacArthur Report, Chapter 10: Shortly after the American landings, Colonel Anderson was requested to form a Filipino battalion to be attached to General Krueger's Sixth Army forces. Colonel Anderson responded by taking the best personnel at his disposal to form the first "Anderson Battalion." This unit performed efficiently and valiantly throughout central and eastern Luzon and built a battle record of 3,000 Japanese killed and 1,000 captured. (From page 321 of the above report) W719 cropped from Plate No. 91; Guerrilla Forces on Luzon, October-November 1944, page 319 from the above URL. THERE IS MUCH WRITTEN ABOUT THE ANDERSON’S GUERILLAS, JUST SEARCH A LITTLE; COL. BERNARD L. ANDERSON.
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Post by Karl Welteke on Mar 16, 2016 13:53:48 GMT 8
THE CAPTURE OF PRESIDENT AGUINALDO STARTED IN THE AURORA PROVINCE. This is a most important historical event in the Philippine American War and it started in the now Aurora Province, north of Baler and south of Casiguran . THIS AREA IS FULL OF HISTORY! It was an outstanding and very daring Military Feat, conceived by US Army Officers and carried out with very loyal help of Philippine Officers and troops, the Macabebe Scouts. Macabebe is a town in the Pampanga River Delta, part of the Pampanga Province. It is not too far Subic Bay, my town, one day I have to visit there. This successful coop ended the Philippine American War 1899-1902. W720 Pres. Aguinaldo captured 24 March 1901 Philippine-American War, 1899-1902 by Arnaldo Dumindin The above picture came from this URL: philippineamericanwar.webs.com/captureofaguinaldo1901.htmIn my opinion the above web page Philippine-American War, 1899-1902 by Arnaldo Dumindin is the best source of information about this conflict. It contains hundreds of very rare images of the war, which was once called The Philippine Insurrection. This is another interesting webpage and tells the story of Pres. Aguinaldo’s capture philhistorypics.blogspot.com/W721 the marching route of Brig. General Frederick Funston capturing Pres. Aguinaldo in 1901. This image is from philhistorypics.blogspot.com/W722 this was Brig. General Funston, this picture came from this Wikipedia page: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Funston
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Post by Karl Welteke on Mar 19, 2016 20:00:45 GMT 8
HISTORICAL EVENTS IN THE TRIANGLE OF CABANATUAN, BALER AND INFANTA W723 terrain image of the Cabanatuan, Baler and Infanta Triangle. This is a list of some of the historical events that have taken place here, in this triangle, in the last 120 years that I am aware of; some I have covered already in this thread, the others will follow: Japanese escaping via Dingalan Bay President Quezon hails from Baler. Aurora Quezon, wife of President Quezon was assassinated here. Pfc . McKinney is awarded the MOH for action at Dingalan Bay The Baler Siege BGen Funston captures President Aguinaldo via the Aurora Province Operating area of Anderson’s Guerrillas Gen Luna is assassinated in Cabanatuan. The terrible Japanese POW camp was in Cabanatuan. The famous rescue of the POWs in Cabanatuan occurred here. Gen. Nakar, guerrilla leader, came from here and is honored here. US Navy Lt Gilmore and party from the USS Yorktown was ambushed and captured here. The USS Yorktown sailor Ora B. McDonald was buried alive after the ambush. USS Yorktown seaman George Arthur Venville led to his death by the hands of Ilongots.
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Post by Karl Welteke on Mar 20, 2016 14:54:09 GMT 8
THE SIEGE OF BALER W724 this is plaque at the present church in Baler. The Siege of Baler, from July 1, 1898 to June 2, 1899, was a battle of the Philippine Revolution and concurrently the Spanish–American War and the Philippine–American War. Filipino revolutionaries laid siege to a fortified church manned by colonial Spanish troops in the town of Baler, Philippines for 11 months, or 337 days All the words and all the images for this segment came from this Wikipedia page; come on, read the whole story: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_BalerW725 Baler was garrisoned by a fifty-man detachment of the 2nd Expeditionary Battalion "Cazadores" of Philippines, under Captain Enrique de las Morenas y Fossí, as the Principe district political-military governor. On June 1, 1898, Morenas began work to dig a well, stock food supplies and ammunition and to fortify the church compound of San Luís de Tolosa in Baler's town square against a possible attack. The church was the only stone building in the area. W726 Filipino troops of Colonel Tecson in Baler, May 1899. Tecson is to the right of the cannon, Novicio to the left. The first few days of the siege saw several attempts by the Filipinos to get the Spanish to surrender by leaving letters, while they surrounded the church with trenches. On July 8 the Revolutionary Commander, then Cirilo Gómez Ortiz, offered a suspension of hostilities until nightfall, which was accepted. On July 18, Calixto Villacorta took command of the Filipinos. He also sent a warning letter, which was rebuffed. W727 of the fifty men who entered the church, around thirty survived the 11-month siege. Fourteen men died from disease. Only two men died from wounds. There were four deserters from the garrison. Two men were imprisoned for helping in the desertion of another (Alcaide), and executed on orders of Martin Cerezo on June 1, 1899, the day before the surrender. BGen.Funston: The feat of the Spanish so inspired the American General Frederick Funston that he had Martin-Cerezo's memoir translated and gave copies to all his officers. It was published as Under the Red and Gold: Being Notes and Recollections of the Siege of Baler. President Aguinaldo General Emilio Aguinaldo, president of the Philippine Revolutionary Government - [First Philippine Republic], decreed that they were to be considered "Not as prisoners of war but as friends". He further stated that "They realized an epic as glorious as the legendary valour of the son of El Cid and of Pelayo".
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