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Post by EXO on Jun 13, 2018 10:45:41 GMT 8
13 June 2018
Kevin Maurer has joined at EXO's invitation. Kevin is researching matters which occurred February-March 1945 on Corregidor. Beyond that, what he tells you is his business.
If I may be permitted the following comment: Kevin, who has not visited the Philippines before, but is an experienced visitor to combat zones, and who has runs on the board, is looking to root his research on a more thorough knowledge of how Corregidor's geography governed individual actions during the retaking of the island. If I cannot be there to assist him personally, I commend his cause.
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Post by EXO on Jun 11, 2018 13:55:13 GMT 8
During the course of my research for Bless 'em All Vol III Corregidor, I believe I have found that Pfc. Frank Dugan is missing from the 503d Memorial on Topside. Dugan's grave is at the Manila American Cemetery, Section A, Row 2, Grave 118. His Date of Death as recorded by the American Battle Monuments Commission is 27 February 1945. I understand their headstones are based on the individual's "Death File" so we can't be too off if we accept that as gospel. Dugan was a member of the HQ & HQ Co., 1st Bn. He is recorded on the Honor List as dying of wounds. Bennett M. Guthrie ("The Three Winds of Death") has his date of death as 24th February. It is also possible that Dugan's wounds might have occurred 26 February when the Navy Intercept Tunnel at Monkey Pt. was blown up, I just don't know. I'll just have to "be on the lookout", so they say. Sometimes dates of death can be very difficult to track - and even the name of the individual involved, because when a man is wounded and evacuated, he is recorded as no longer being on the company roll as of the following Morning Report. Instead his name appears on the Hospital Report. Thus if a casualty dies after evacuation, or say, on a Hospital Ship, there is no direct record of his death in the unit. Hence the importance of the early research which my predecessor, Don Abbott, did in tracing people who were wounded and evacuated. For example, he came across an instance where someone was sworn black and blue to be dead, by a direct witness even, only to turn up at a reunion years later. Here are the images of the 503d Memorial on Topside.
I must admit, I don't know definitively who arranged the memorial, so if any of you know, can you be so kind as to refer them to this thread ? I will contact the 503d PRCT of WWII Association. The Killed on Corregidor February 16 to March 2, 1945 list which appears in the original Templeman's "Return to Corregidor", which is one of several listings that I have been working with, does not list DUGAN (although neither does it mention Pfc. HUSKEY, Harvey R., though HUSKEY is listed on the Memorial.) In every list, there's the possibility that someone may fall through the cracks.
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Post by EXO on Jun 3, 2018 13:24:08 GMT 8
Of course, in the great scheme of things, Karl, you are quite right - there are other, bigger issues. For example, in a time-frame relevant to the Arroyo government, I see it reported that the country lost P1.862 billion in cash advances to two government treasurers in the impoverished province of Maguindanao and P1.123 billion in payments to “spurious” suppliers to a Muslim self-rule area. Billions out the door, and the auditors are worried about breastfeeding facilities?
So Corregidor is small biscuits. I get it. Besides, it is only the courts that can make judgement of graft. I however, can judge "jerks of the world".
I see that the CDSG have concerns sufficiently to wonder if Corregidor is able to satisfy the same requirements they have been looking for (and getting) for the last decade or so. That's reasonable. WTF, here's a group of dedicated, special interest people, whose support for Corregidor has been longstanding, and undeniable, and what are they wanting to do? To do what they did before. To visit, to look, to see. To do it reasonably, and at reasonable cost. Who is there to help them, to assure them, to assuage their concerns? CFI? Sun Cruises? Pull your finger out, people!
(Full disclosure: I am NOT a CDSG member.)
But I am now become, essentially, a single issue activist. I want what's best for Corregidor, period. Stuff CFI. Stuff Sun Cruises. Stuff their incompetent middle management. (Except for Ambel, of course.) If the beheading of CFI, the firing of Art Matibag and Ron Benadero proves anything, it proves that things can always get worse. I really needn't care a square root for the momentous non-Corregidor related thievery in Manila, except for the fact that the Philippines and I go back a long way, the early '70's, and that my dad fought there in WWII. The country has so many good people, excellent people there, but they are being rooted up the arse by professional liars, grafters, plunderers, crooks and thieves. So I have a lot of angst for Corregidor, lest it may fall into the hands of people who care not a whit for its essence of history and heritage, and care only for their Tables of Organization & Equipment. What have we seen of them so far? What are their plans? Have they announce them? What's their view on the preservation of Corregidor's environment? Its batteries and buildings? A website that assures us that Corregidor is turning another page? Where is it? Exhortations encouraging the provision of low and medium-price accommodation for those who aren't wealthy but wish to learn the country's rich heritage? Where are they? Nope, haven't seen any. Respect for the environment? Not likely. Protection for the sea turtles? (What, Corregidor has turtles??) Removal of feral pests which prey on Corregidor's rich birdlife? (You mean, remove pet cats?) Dammit, what are they going to do to fix the errors of the past?
In the absence of public plans for improvement, I see no plans for improvement.
Rest assured, the auditors are on the job ensuring that there are facilities for visiting mothers.
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Post by EXO on Jun 2, 2018 18:08:49 GMT 8
This article was originally published 25 April 2017 - I would have added that date to the thread heading, but there's a limit on the heading length. I came upon it while trying to find whether CFI have a website which assists tourists by answering their queries - because there are tourists and tour groups who want to avail themselves of activities beyond those offered by the concessionaire. Two examples - "What is the current state of the walking trails?" "What transportation of size is available to take a group to visit Fort Drum, and is Fort Drum capable of being visited?' Recently, in the absence of timely information, a tour group of significant importance felt it necessary to ask us certain things, because they could not find the answers elsewhere. We are not here to do the job of CFI or its concessionaire. Frankly, we are having enough problems of our own ascertaining what the current state is of the facilities we used to depend upon.
This is something I will write about another time. For the moment, I am sure you are all concerned to know what the breastfeeding facility situation is on Corregidor.
As for medical emergencies, I note that the man who saved Tom Aring's life when he collapsed in a diabetic coma in his non-airconditioned alternative accommodation (after Tom had been chucked out of his reserved room because of a block booking took preference) had his employ terminated.
Corregidor Foundation hit for poor gender dev’t program
State auditors scored the poor implementation of the gender and development (GAD) plan of the Corregidor Foundation Inc. in 2016.
In its 2016 annual audit report, the Commission on Audit (COA) said the Corregidor Foundation’s GAD Plans and Budget and accomplishment report failed to comply with the required gender and development program.
For one, the Corregidor Foundation prepared six activities in its GAD Plan and Budget, but only allocated budget for three activities.
The GAD activities are the following – Film Showing for Women’s Month; Health and Wellness: First Aid lectures, Basic Life Support lecture/Demonstration, and Massage lecture/demonstration; Improvement of Corregidor Island (CI) clinic facility; Provision of breastfeeding area for lactating mothers in CI clinic; Provision of decent quarter for male and female staff in CI, and provision of first aid kit to different areas in Corregidor Island.
COA said a total budget of P40,000 was allocated for three GAD-related activities under health and wellness, but of this budget only P35,070 was actually utilized.
Meanwhile, the expenses for improvement of clinic facility, as well as the provision of emergency medicines and first aid kit, were shouldered by Sun Cruises, Inc. and GLS Security Services, Corregidor Foundation’s concessionaire and security agency, respectively, COA said.
The other activities (film showing, provision of breastfeeding area for lactating mothers, and provision of decent quarters for male and female staff), although included in the GAD Plan and Budget, were not actually provided with a budget, “thus no accomplishments were reported thereof,” COA said.
COA recommended the Corregidor Foundation management to comply with the requirements of the joint circular among the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), which required government agencies to allot five percent of its budget for gender and development.
The Corregidor Foundation is mandated to develop the historic island of Corregidor into a major tourist attraction, as well as to maintain all Corregidor’s facilities, memorial sites and World War II relics.
The island off the coast of Manila Bay was used as a garrison against the Japanese invaders during World War II.
________________________
Comment: If you are not earning money, you cannot provide facilities, particularly if maintaining an acceptable level of tourism depends on cutting the grass, and looking after the island's security.
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Post by EXO on Jun 2, 2018 6:48:59 GMT 8
2 June 2018
Welcome to "WWIIstudent" who lives in Pennsylvania and is "interested in WWII history."
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Post by EXO on May 31, 2018 19:13:05 GMT 8
EXO writes:
Got three pieces of Corregidor jigsaw here which I will share without attribution of the sources:
Occam's Razor requires that I should prefer the explanation which depends on the fewest assumptions, so I figure Corregidor lacks competent management.
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Post by EXO on May 29, 2018 13:20:34 GMT 8
29 May 2018
Welcome to a group of people joining under the collective name of art, who greet us as follows:
I encourage members to respond, particularly when it comes to explaining our motivation, the positives we've shared, and the difficulties we are encountering with the recent cluelessness which discourages us.
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Post by EXO on May 18, 2018 10:49:22 GMT 8
18 May 2018:
Welcome to Kelly Calhoun Taylor, daughter of the only dentist I ever admired, William T. "Bill" Calhoun. May be a little delay in working out which of her user names she prefers. So for the moment, she's both daughter503rder, and calhoundaughter.
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Post by EXO on May 17, 2018 19:40:18 GMT 8
It was a great thing for me to be able to accompany Tony Lopez on his return to Corregidor. I am particularly pleased he is still around, and active, and that his daughter Yolonda Lopez is active on Facebook. She writes: About 30 years ago I had a WWII plane made for my dad. Its actually a weather vane. Over the years my dad has refinished it with decals and even added the paratrooper. Dad is 93 and he just finished sanding and repainting it. My brother Steve did the art work for the decals. Dad loves this plane. Its been in several parades with the AIRBORNE guys. He wanted a very special Paul Whitman to see his plane so I am posting it for the whole world to see! Please share!! Here is to the 503rd PRCT WWII.well, I have seen them, and I will pass along her encouragement to share them. Tony was from "F" Company and was one of the four men who attempted to rescue Gulsvick. I don't know if these will show up, the links are ex FB, but here goes:
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Post by EXO on May 17, 2018 19:00:27 GMT 8
BIG ANNOUNCEMENT
There is information (not verified personally by me, but from Chad Hill, one of our most reliable old hands) that PHOTOBUCKET is under new management, and that a new board of directors has restored third-party hosting much as it was before, but at a price of $20 per year. See link here.
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