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Post by chadhill on Sept 30, 2015 8:03:59 GMT 8
I also found an interesting passage in "I Am Alive!" (page 60), the memoirs of the late Sergeant Major Charles R. Jackson, 4th Marine Regiment. As we know, USMC sergeants Thomas F. Sweeney and John E. Haskin were both killed at the "short" tank, or fresh water tank, Building 601, while tossing grenades down on the Japanese below. Haskin's remains were recovered after the war, but Sweeney's were not. John Eakin found a sworn affidavit stating that Sweeney's remains were seen after the battle (see earlier in this thread).
According to Jackson, three mornings after the surrender (i.e; May 9th) it is likely that one of the deceased sergeants was still atop the tank:
"We passed the battered water tower where Supply Sergeant Haskell (Haskin-CH) of our regiment had died in the darkness, throwing grenades at the foe beneath him. There was still a body lying on its face, with the arms hanging down along the walls. The clutching fingers were outlined blackish-green against the alabaster white of the walls. We wondered who the dead man was. We could not see his face because it was turned away from us at a crazy angle".
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Post by chadhill on Oct 1, 2015 3:15:38 GMT 8
Japanese records say that on the morning of May 6th two Type 97 tanks, under the command of LT Shigeo Tsuchida, left the Kindley Field area and traveled on the North Shore Road towards Malinta Hill. Type 97 tank on Corregidor (1942) Along the way, the tanks fired on the "sakura" position, a term used to describe an American defense point. At this time, the fighting centered around the Denver Hill area and in particular the two water towers. It seems likely that the two Type 97s on the North Shore Road would have fired on targets here, and possibly on the "tall" tower, where a particularly deadly US machine gun was placed. Although some sources state that the Japanese attempted to set up light artillery on Denver Hill mid morning, these positions were attacked and there seems to be little or no historical record that these weapons were used to any extent by the Japanese during the Denver Hill fighting. The accounts overwhelmingly emphasize the Japanese usage of knee mortars and machine guns. Looking up from inside the tall water tower (1986) I'll go out on a limb and hazard a wild SWAG that the shell damage Dick Bilyeu found at the top of the water tower, along its northern edge, was caused by rounds fired upwards from a Type 97 tank down on the North Shore Road. The damage does not strike me as being caused by heavy, arcing artillery fire from Bataan. In fact, the Japanese at this time were concentrating most of that fire between Denver Hill and Malinta Hill. But then again, some of the damage done to the water tower may have occurred during the 1945 battle, too-
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Post by chadhill on Apr 12, 2017 7:39:11 GMT 8
The following sketches were found in the "Unit Histories, 60th Coast Artillery" file in the Philippine Archives Collection. There is an incredible amount of research material available here online: collections.pvao.mil.ph/BataanDiary/CollectionsThe 60th CA histories were written by various authors and compiled in Cabanatuan during October 1943. The sketches below detail the area of the water tanks and Battery Denver. Another mystery I have wondered about is which water tank the colorful First Sergeant Dewey G. Brady was killed atop. On page 82 of the file there is this entry: "On April 24th First Sergeant Dewey G. Brady was killed at his post on top fresh water tank near guns". A .30 caliber machine gun is depicted on the fresh water tank. Some books state that Corporal Martin G. Rogers was killed with Brady on top of the tank, but this account says Rogers was killed in the #1 gun pit. See burial report below courtesy Bob Hudson. (courtesy Bob Hudson) I am glad these documents have made it to the Philippines. I published a number of them, including maps, in the book and on the website. Some of our members have purchased a copy, but generally the publication remains a secret. - EXO
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