The Expendable - by John Lewis Floyd
Apr 30, 2024 10:52:29 GMT 8
EXO, Karl Welteke, and 1 more like this
Post by beirutvet on Apr 30, 2024 10:52:29 GMT 8
The Expendable
The true story of Patrol Wing 10, PT Squadron 3 and a Navy Corpsman who refused to surrender when the Philippine Islands fell to Japan.
By John Lewis Floyd
THIS GUY WAS EVERYWHERE!!!
Charles Conrad Beckner was a Navy Corpsman who after 2 years in the Navy reported aboard the Cavite Naval hospital on 5 November 1940.
By June of 1941 he was transferred to Patrol Wing 10. On his first flight in a PBY he was hooked and managed to get himself checked out as a gunner with the 50 cal.
And obviously he was there to witness the first bombings there of the war and the complete destruction of Cavite. He was then transferred to Corregidor, attached the the 4th Marine Regiment and witnessed bombings there, but there were so many Corpsman on the tiny island that there was not much to do.
He soon, though, renewed a friendship with a 50 cal gunner on one of the PT boats from PT Squadron 3, and because he was qualified on the 50 cal, he was able to wangle his way into the squadron. That is right, Lieutenant Bulkelyes squadron. The same one that took MacAurthur on his escape from Corregidor to Mindanoa, but not before he saw plenty of action with that small but tough group as they fought the Japanese until they took Mac to Mindanao. Many people do not realize but after their trip to take Mac to Mindanao, they continued the fight there until all of the boats were completely destroyed.
He was one of the last members of his squandron to escape to Australia. It took some time for him to recover from his wounds and tropical diseases but managed to get himself back in the war. He was assigned as a corpman with the 1st Marine Division and spent the rest of the war fighting for and occupying Okinawa.
So he was there at the very beginning seeing the first land engagement of the war and closed it out being part of the last land engagement of the war.
This story is told by his son-in-law and is a very worthwhile read for sure.
* * * * 1/2 stars
The true story of Patrol Wing 10, PT Squadron 3 and a Navy Corpsman who refused to surrender when the Philippine Islands fell to Japan.
By John Lewis Floyd
THIS GUY WAS EVERYWHERE!!!
Charles Conrad Beckner was a Navy Corpsman who after 2 years in the Navy reported aboard the Cavite Naval hospital on 5 November 1940.
By June of 1941 he was transferred to Patrol Wing 10. On his first flight in a PBY he was hooked and managed to get himself checked out as a gunner with the 50 cal.
And obviously he was there to witness the first bombings there of the war and the complete destruction of Cavite. He was then transferred to Corregidor, attached the the 4th Marine Regiment and witnessed bombings there, but there were so many Corpsman on the tiny island that there was not much to do.
He soon, though, renewed a friendship with a 50 cal gunner on one of the PT boats from PT Squadron 3, and because he was qualified on the 50 cal, he was able to wangle his way into the squadron. That is right, Lieutenant Bulkelyes squadron. The same one that took MacAurthur on his escape from Corregidor to Mindanoa, but not before he saw plenty of action with that small but tough group as they fought the Japanese until they took Mac to Mindanao. Many people do not realize but after their trip to take Mac to Mindanao, they continued the fight there until all of the boats were completely destroyed.
He was one of the last members of his squandron to escape to Australia. It took some time for him to recover from his wounds and tropical diseases but managed to get himself back in the war. He was assigned as a corpman with the 1st Marine Division and spent the rest of the war fighting for and occupying Okinawa.
So he was there at the very beginning seeing the first land engagement of the war and closed it out being part of the last land engagement of the war.
This story is told by his son-in-law and is a very worthwhile read for sure.
* * * * 1/2 stars