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Post by okla on Jun 17, 2011 8:59:39 GMT 8
Hey WW....I may have something for you., after all, that is a bit more definitive. I did some searching of my brain cells (which evidently let me down, at least partially on this, and some of my other material and have come to the conclusion that the Life Magazine in question hit the news stands just prior to Pearl Harbor. Ironically, it is dated December 8, 1941 (with no mention of the Pearl Harbor attack), but magazines,etc in those days (and maybe it still is the practice) were published a few days before the date shown on the cover. With war with Nippon looming Life came out with this spread, and lo and behold Pearl Harbor was attacked just days after said periodical hit the streets. Today, if a person picked up the magazine with its date of Dec 8, 1941 plastered on the front cover, one would expect to read all about the bombs falling on Battleship Row and what they got instead, is a very comprehensive article on the buildup in the Pacific. If memory serves, there was also some shots of the Philippine Scouts out in the "bush" on maneuvers. I hope I am not giving you a bum steer again. If this isn't quite up to snuff I am going to quit depending on deficient memory. Hope this is some of the correct info you are seeking. Cheers.
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Post by wwalker on Jun 19, 2011 23:42:16 GMT 8
Thanks for the info Okla, I think you are right, because that specific issue does have MacArthur on the cover. I appreciate the help.
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Post by robert2010 on Jun 28, 2011 23:32:28 GMT 8
The live round still in mortar breech at Geary. Taken June 2011. Attachments:
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Post by robert2010 on Jun 28, 2011 23:34:15 GMT 8
Live round at Geary magazine. Taken June 2011. Attachments:
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Post by beirutvet on Jan 29, 2015 0:31:42 GMT 8
Hello wwalker
I was reviewing old posts ( a new hobby) and found your question of the dates of the photos of the men drilling at Battery Geary.
I seem to remember reading, perhaps it was Steve's book, not sure, but I believe the man standing directly behind the gun that is about to be fired is Sgt Walter Kwiecinski, Steve Kwiecinski's father who was manning the last firing mortar on Corregidor at Battery Way. If memory serves, he was brought over to Battery Geary for the photo shoot because of his stature,(tall, handsome, recruiting poster soldier).
Steve may be able to help you with the dating of the photos.
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Post by wwalker on Jan 29, 2015 5:01:34 GMT 8
Hello beirutvet,
Thanks for the reply. I believe the photo was taken sometime in April 1941. This was before the reorganization and re-assignment of some of the coast artillery batteries which seems to have begun in August 1941. In August 41' Battery Geary was manned by Battery H 59th Coast Artillery Regiment and would continue to be until May 2, 1942. In the peacetime days, before this reorganization occurred and the clouds of war loomed closer, some units manned and practice fired multiple seacoast batteries. Apparently this photo was taken before Battery H was assigned to Geary, which would mean that the men shown in the picture belonged to a different unit than the one that manned it during wartime. Nevertheless, its an excellent photo of what Geary looked like before it was blown to smithereens. Its also a nice example of what the coast artillerymen wore in the pits. White undershirt with blue trousers. Sometimes the guys wore their matching blue coats but as one veteran who was a member of Geary once told me "It was hotter than the hubs in those pits man."
Its been awhile since I've posted on the forum but have been following the activity closely. Glad to see that you are a member of the crew.
Best,
WW
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Post by oozlefinch on Jan 29, 2015 8:48:56 GMT 8
Some good pictures here. I'm not sure I had been in this thread before, so I started at the beginning. I have a further thought on the picture with long corridor and the cots on the walls: how about Battery Hearn? Battery Greer's tunnel, if I recall correctly, starts with a curve, and this one doesn't. It's a fairly long tunnel which I believe would fit Hearn's entrance tunnel (now collapsed). What do you think Batteryboy?
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Post by Karl Welteke on Jan 29, 2015 14:55:02 GMT 8
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Post by fortman on Jan 29, 2015 22:54:52 GMT 8
Hi Guys,
This is a very interesting discussion. The Life photos were indeed taken by Carl Mydans, who also took fascinating photos of the airfields and fortifications of Singapore in the same year. There are / were photos on the Net of the US Army during manoeuvres in the Philippines in 1941 as well as photos of USAAF planes and personnel, also taken by him. He and his wife were interned by the Japs, but later repatriated.
Fortman
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Post by oozlefinch on Jan 30, 2015 10:05:09 GMT 8
Those are some wonderful pictures. Thanx for posting them again.
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