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Post by victor on Apr 8, 2009 10:27:45 GMT 8
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Post by okla on Apr 8, 2009 23:28:38 GMT 8
well, even at almost 77 years of age, i remember it like yesterday. i had gone with an older neighborhood boy, who had a newspaper route to pick up his bundle for his delivery rounds and the headlines just screamed out "bataan surrenders". we hadnt been near a radio and this was the first we had heard about the disaster in the far off philippines. my fragile, ten year old mind absolutely could not fathom the fact that the japanese had beaten us. you must remember that this was back in the era when " one american (or filipino for that matter) was worth ten of the enemy" or so we thought. it just could not happen in our collective minds, especially for a 10 year old kid. so long ago, but remembered so well by this old geezer. have been hooked on that historic era ever since. this website just fuels the fire as does the philippine scout board. cant get enough of it. keep up the good work.
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Post by victor on Apr 9, 2009 0:52:39 GMT 8
It was true, one of us was worth ten of them... but they had 20 men plus 50 bombs for each one of us There goes the balance sheet... Great story Okla.
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Post by victor on Apr 9, 2009 1:11:42 GMT 8
www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&fi=p090408.htm&no=03&r=&y=&mo= Ambassador Kenny addresses veteransBy Alice Nicart Manila (8 April) -- United States Ambassador to the Philippines, Kristie Kenny spoke with her heart yesterday before a host of veterans and their sons and daughters on the occasion of the 67th Bataan Day Celebration at Mt. Samat, Bataan. Seeing the elderly who sat prominently in the audience yet wearily, Kenny's word directly spoke about their sacrifices which according to her were a lot of inspiration. For a start Kenny greeted the old folks (some have fallen asleep in their chairs), in Tagalog with rather a foreign twang, yet to those who heard her say, was a demonstration of great friendship. "Magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat, magandang umaga mga beterano," was her well-applauded warm greetings to all who gathered for the Bataan Day. Kenny admitted that she was humbled by the many Filipinos who stood for the Philippines and for other peace-loving nations. But perhaps she said, many did not know that their service will represent the face of freedom around the world. "Perhaps you did not know then, that you stood up for the future," was continued guess. She even presumed that many Filipinos did so, not because of the many geo-physical issues at that time but because they knew the country needed them. "Perhaps you did not know that your sacrifices will inspire generations later or perhaps, you did not know that many of you will not survive. These things we know today," she said, because then, you knew that your family, your neighbors and friends needed you.. their future needed you to be strong. Kenny emphasized that the celebration honored not only those who survived but also who didn't; the many civilians who helped out those who were weak; those who were failing. The lady top ranking officer reminded her audience that the celebration of the Bataan Day fell on the Holy Week which is an important week, when we all recognize new beginnings born of sacrifice when we recognize triumph over despair and light over dark. In acknowledging the efforts of the veterans, Kenny said that as their courage and heroism were being celebrated, it was also a celebration of the light and freedom the veterans have given them. The joy of inspiration, that we still feel today whenever we hear from them, see them, or read what they have done, and most of all, "we celebrate the new beginnings, a new era, a better friendship of peace-loving countries who now work together inspired by the services of the veterans", the lady concluded. (PIA-Eastern Samar)
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Post by victor on Apr 9, 2010 13:04:57 GMT 8
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Post by okla on Apr 9, 2010 22:00:06 GMT 8
Hey Vic....This day never goes unnoticed in this household. I remember those days of April-May 1942 like they were yesterday. The emotions of the folks back then ran the full gamut during those few weeks. Bataan, Corregidor, the Doolittle Raid, Coral Sea and to top it all off Midway in June. Man, did we need that stunner. It had been a rough six months, but things were turned around when those 4 Japanese carriers went to their ancestors. What a roller coaster we had been on. Many rough, bloody months were to come, but the tide she had turned.
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Post by victor on Apr 13, 2010 1:16:36 GMT 8
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Post by victor on Apr 6, 2011 22:23:08 GMT 8
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Post by okla on Apr 7, 2011 0:18:34 GMT 8
Hey Vic....You can bet your life that this old coot ain't letting this day get by without a little, private meditation. I believe I expressed my feelings about this in a couple of posts, in this thread, a year or so back. Cheers.
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Post by victor on Apr 9, 2012 10:26:46 GMT 8
Thank you
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