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Post by EXO on Mar 15, 2011 10:25:28 GMT 8
John, Yes, I am very much aware that the site is difficult to navigate - it happens because (a) I have been building it for more than a decade and (b) there are hidden doors everywhere. It's a bit like Disney World. Some things work - and get added to, others don't, and they languish. It is indeed a kind of Easter Egg Hunt, and I have actually hidden a few easter eggs deliberately. I like to reward people who range widely, and who dig deep. I don't want to show the treasures to people who just blow in, and blow out again, never to be heard from again. (By way of an afterthought, though I generally refer to it as a website (singular), it essentially has become ten websites across five domain addresses.)In fact, I actually CREATED the forum so that I could generate discussion about various of its areas, new stuff etc. It is true that, like the size of the world, trends can develop in some areas that other areas never know about. For instance, to address your criticism, which is taken positively, I created a "recent articles page" at corregidor.org/_nav/nav_01.htmlI am preparing a five-column version of this, plus trying to learn how to cycle pages throughout the breadth of the site. It IS a vexing problem. I am trying to address it, and I DO appreciate your inquietude when you say that you wish you had an easy solution to suggest. I wish there was one. If you do find a place you find interesting, and you feel that others haven't been there, DO mention it in the forum. I console myself by saying that something which has been built over a decade cannot, and should not, be capable of being read in an afternoon. Not even in a week or a month of afternoons, either. One cannot get from newbie to Masters Degree in a single semester.
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Post by EXO on Mar 14, 2011 8:23:15 GMT 8
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Post by EXO on Mar 13, 2011 21:18:08 GMT 8
Until relatively recently, our website concentrated on the 503d of WWII, leaving other people and other websites deal with the 503d of Korea, Vietnam and the Gulf Wars. This was partially because of geographical and geopolitical circumstances, and partially because I wanted to get as much done as I could whilst I had direct access to the men who did it. The 503d Heritage site that you see today isn't run by a 503d veteran, it isn't run out of the USA, and it isn't even run by a US citizen. Had I waited for someone who fulfilled those criteria to come along, it wouldn't have existed, and the opportunities would have been lost. For a number of years, the 503d PRCT Association of WWII declined to have anything to do with this website, for reasons which we hope passed with those who declined to open up the aspects it was dealing with. When the website became the official site of the WWII PRCT Association of WWII, I began to extend its vision, long term, to other member units of the 503d lineage. I am busy enough with the WWII aspects for a few years yet, and though I have started working with the 2/503d VIETNAM veterans, I let their newsletter do much of the talking on their behalf. I have helped them with a few articles but I don't want to stray too far from my comfort zone. A complete set of their 25 newsletters is on the site, specially prepared for ease of access and reading. corregidor.org/VN2-503/newsletter/HD_Version.htmSo far, I could find only TWO newsletters of the 2/503 ROCK REPORT, which are now hosted on the site. I got these from the official army site, and it looks to me like they discontinued the publishing of the Rock Report a few years ago. corregidor.org/VN2-503/Rock_Reports/issues.htm If there are more, or similar publications which reflect their current/historic role, I can publish them. Just right now, I don't know of them. I have kept a list of relatively recent 503d lineage casualties -- which is incomplete. We could do with research assistance, if you are volunteering. corregidor.org/taps/2_503/htm/kia.htmThe 503d PRCT of WWII Association is a last man standing organization, and so that there would be some group that who could deal with the matters involving the 503d lineage after their service in Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf, Iraq and Afghanistan, I have proposed to them that they create an Association specifically to deal with ALL matters of ALL 503d history and heritage, in accordance with the same rules as they have made in respect of their WWII service. This is in the process of being formed. One of the aspects of the creation of this Association is to locate a members of the lineage who will put their full efforts into this challenge. The Class A members must be of the 503d lineage. Much of the 503d Lineage's more recent history has been dealt with by the 173d Brigade Association, which does an outstanding job - but by its very nature, it reflects the 173d and does not concentrate upon 503d lineage except as a part of the brigade. I hope that with the formation of a 503d PRCT Heritage Bn association over the course of the next several months, there can be a team formed of 503d lineage veterans who can continue to purvey all aspects of the history of the 503d lineage. If you want to be amongst that team, send me a personal message, because we need people full of pep and vinegar and wild for the challenge, and tireless in its execution.
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Post by EXO on Mar 13, 2011 6:51:55 GMT 8
I sent this page link to Bill Calhoun who has responded thus: Now identified, Angelo Kambakumis spent his off-duty hours observing the goings on East of Topside. (ConcerningSC-111 SC 203068) which displays the light house and a man on top. We had had quite a few casualties, and following the action described in “My Day with the Rattlesnakes,” F Company was moved back to the Post Headquartes-light house-water tank area.
Remember on the third night we had no reserves (everybody was on the line). F Company was placed back as the reserve. On the night of the 16th the Japs from Endo’s force got almost to the 59th C.A, Barracks. Our medics were set up in these commonly called “mile long barracks.” My platoon was given the post radio tower and the light house.
With what we have I can not identify the men; however I will venture to say that is Angelo Kambakumis at the large Navy binoculars.
We patrolled daily with the healthy one left. Moose had a badly sprained ankle and was always left. He spent a great deal of time looking at Manila through the binoculars. I have lll-SC203068 which was taken my one of the Signal Corps men who jumped with us. Kambakumus spent the days lying on the water tower lying on parachutes looking across Manila Bay at the advancing of our army in taking back Manila. You could tell our progress advancing across Manila by the smoke of the burning buildings in the city.
At that time three of the tanks still had roofs. One had been blown off. There was some water in each tank. Water did not get through until the 3rd day. They had to break through the Japanese lines at the ice house to get it up there. We were moved back the afternoon of the 3rd day on the way to the light house. It was not drinkable. Some did and later suffered from hepatitis. All the water we’d had was what we had in or canteens, and our hopes were desperate due to thirst.
I will always remember that beautiful sight when we moved along the old street in front of the 59th Barracks—there was a full lister bag hanging from a tripod in front of us.
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Post by EXO on Mar 12, 2011 22:13:15 GMT 8
No, the tanks being discussed (there were two, but now there is one, courtesy of the powers that be destroying a battlefield to erect a battlefield memorial) were over on the eastern side of the island, beyond Malinta Hill. The three water tanks which you have pictured are on Topside, still, thankfully. Thanks for the posting! During the last week of February 1945, when "F" Company had been withdrawn from active combat, they were moved over to secure the perimeter around the lighthouse and water tanks. Bill Calhoun, who is still with us, and a tireless supporter of our 503d Heritage Bn concept, recalls about the time: "Big Navy binoculars which my platoon used daily, resting them on a block of wood. Lots of parachutes for padding. They watched the line of fires in Manila to determine our progress (last week on Corregidor.) We had strict orders not to damage or put away chutes. MacArthur's party carried all they could hold while we guarded them. Bless 'em All." Here's one right back at ya! The view from the top of the tank! Bill further recalls: "Sitting on top of the light house and tanks was a good viewing stand for observing the aerial naval bombardment of Caballo Island. P-47's worked it over daily. Soon some P-38's joined the attacks. The really spectacular attacks were made by two P-51's. We had heard about this new fighter being used in Europe. We really did not expect to see any over here. The most modern equipment went to Europe. Some Army Air Force people had said that the planes would never be able to operate off the dusty strips in the Pacific because of the big air scoop in front of the engine: none the less, two P-51's had shown up at Mindoro and were being given a thorough workout. Their bombing attacks were beautiful to behold. They would come flying over Caballo Island as though they were going on to Manila. Suddenly they would fall off on one wing and go into an apparent vertical dive towards the island. At a low altitude they would drop their bomb, pull out of the dive and gracefully climb for altitude.
Also, during the day two or three destroyers were usually steaming slowly around the island and firing at a slow, deliberate rate with their five inch guns."
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Post by EXO on Mar 12, 2011 21:45:22 GMT 8
There's more to Corregidor than History!! A complete change of view from the usual military aspects of the websites comes our way - Birds of Corregidor The permanent links will be from the REDISCOVERING CORREGIDOR index page within the Corregidor Then and Now Website and the RECENT AND FEATURED ARTICLES PAGE now within the 503d Heritage Bn Website.
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Post by EXO on Mar 7, 2011 8:21:52 GMT 8
Can anyone identify this item I picked up on Corregidor recently?
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Post by EXO on Mar 6, 2011 21:43:53 GMT 8
Not quite a new article, more like a new index. Trying to keep all of what we do available to people is one of the things I need to do, tedious as this keyboard work can get. On this board I believe that we get a whole lot of great articles, and access to interesting collections, and a month later, they are buried in new articles and hardly get seen ever again. So I have done an index page for Karl Welteke's photobucket collections. This index page is linked from the CT&N Corregidor Revisited page, and also the CAMS Bay Contents Page. Like all lists, it's incomplete and I will add to it from time to time.
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Post by EXO on Mar 6, 2011 16:46:04 GMT 8
Japan says sorry to former Australian POWs
ABC News Fri Mar 4, 2011 By North Asia correspondent Mark Willacy
Japan has apologised to a group of Australian former prisoners of war for the pain and suffering they endured as captives during World War II.
The apology was offered to the five old diggers in person in Tokyo by Japanese foreign minister Seiji Maehara, who told them he was sorry from the bottom of his heart for their treatment.
They came with walking sticks and in wheelchairs, five men the Japanese Imperial Army could not break - not in Changi nor on the Thai-Burma railway.
Once inside the Foreign Ministry in Tokyo, the group's oldest member, Rowley Richards, 94, sat across the big table from Mr Maehara and he did not flinch.
"The important thing to our members, there are many of them as you know, are looking for an official apology," he said.
After a 20-minute meeting with the foreign minister the old diggers emerged with something many POWs have been seeking for 66 years - a sincere apology for their suffering and pain.
"As I understood it, it was deep and expressed great remorse for the suffering that was inflicted on us and it was a very moving experience," said 89-year-old Norm Anderton, who was used as slave labour on the Thai-Burma railway.
"He said to consider it a formal apology from the government." Standing next to Mr Anderton was 90-year-old Harold Ramsey. He said before the meeting that an apology would be worthless because it would come from a generation of Japanese who were not the ones who beat and humiliated him.
But after his meeting with the foreign minister, Mr Ramsay's scepticism had melted somewhat.
"We waited a long time but it was sincere and much better time than when I was here before in 1944 ... this is really good, very sincere," he said.
Of the 22,000 Australian prisoners of the Japanese more than a third died in captivity.
The Japanese government realises time is quickly taking those Australians who survived the horrors of their captivity, so it is vowing to bring more former POWs to Japan to try to reconcile and offer remorse.
"I think we know that to have better future, it is very important to put right what was wrong in the past," said ruling party member Yukihisa Fujita.
For Mr Richards, who as a doctor treated thousands of his comrades on the Thai-Burma railway, the time has come to forgive.
"I believe very firmly if any individuals hold bitterness, there is only one person who suffers - that's the person who is being bitter and I've often said that if I feel bitter towards the Japanese country, they are not going to fall down on their knees and worry about it."
Last year the Japanese government offered a similar apology to a visiting group of American former POWs.
Records returned
Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd has welcomed the apology and also thanked the Japanese government for their offer to return historical records of Australian former POWs held by Japan during World War II.
"I welcome their offer which is made in the spirit of cooperation," he said.
"These index cards were originally offered to Australia by the Japanese government in 1953, but the Australian Government of the time chose not to take up the offer, believing that they would not contain any new information," Mr Rudd said.
Veterans' Affairs Minister Warren Snowdon says the Japanese records may shed light on the fate of the members of Lark Force, many of whom were lost when the Japanese transport Montevideo Maru was sunk by a US submarine in 1942.
"The Government recognises that there are families who remain uncertain about the fate of those captured by the Japanese during World War II," Mr Snowdon said.
"In recent years, the Rabaul and Montevideo Maru Society have maintained interest in the fate of Australian prisoners of war and have pressed the Australian Government to seek access to the card system."
The records are expected to be housed in the Australian War Memorial.
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Post by EXO on Mar 6, 2011 15:54:46 GMT 8
Noy leads detonation of 4,000 vintage bombs at Crow Valley
By Aurea Calica (The Philippine Star) March 06, 2011 (photo) President Aquino uses a radio firing device to detonate World War II bombs and other explosives at the Crow Valley Range in Capas, Tarlac yesterday.
MANILA, Philippines – President Aquino led yesterday the remote detonation of more than 4,000 World War II-era US bombs and other explosives and expressed relief that the American government finally granted his request for assistance in the cleanup of unexploded ordnance that had lain idle on Caballo Island near Corregidor.
The detonation was done in Crow Valley Range in Capas, Tarlac, as part of the Joint Explosive Ordnance Disposal exercise. US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. was also at the event.
Aquino had requested US President Barack Obama to help the Philippines in the cleanup effort when they met in New York in September during the United Nations General Assembly and in Yokohoma in November at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
The President pushed a button on a radio firing device, triggering a series of explosions that destroyed the vintage bombs.
The Philippine Navy said the safe transport of the unexploded ordnance from Caballo Island in Manila Bay and their detonation in Crow Valley through US help was a great achievement in itself. Detonating the shells on Caballo Island, the Navy said, could have created “a destructive blast lethal to humans within a 32-kilometer radius and the catastrophic effect would have endangered nearby populated areas and ships plying Manila Bay and can be felt up to Sangley Point, the Philippine Navy Headquarters and the US embassy.”
Aquino said the danger posed by the unexploded shells had been one of the major problems faced by his administration.
“More than anything, I feel that this was really one of my first nightmares upon assuming office – that there was something left over from (the Second World War),” he said.
He commended the Armed Forces of the Philippines for the timely disposal of the explosives.
“The target date for completion was March 26. They managed to complete it on March 5, three weeks ahead of schedule. It was really quite impressive,” he said.
“The transport from Manila Bay to Subic to Tarlac also was an impressive operation – no untoward incidents, nobody was harmed, no injuries whatsoever,” he added.
The US government, according to the Philippine Navy, contracted a commercial landing craft tank that transported the explosives from Caballo Island to Crow Valley. The transport was completed on Feb. 6.
The exercise spearheaded by the Naval Special Operations Group of the Philippine Navy was the last phase of the Joint Explosive Ordnance Disposal Operations. This phase began on Feb. 9 in Crow Valley with EOD teams from the Army, Air Force, Philippine National Police and Coast Guard.
The Navy said an aggregate net explosive weight of 364,348 pounds had been safely detonated.
(Thanks Karl for the info)
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