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Post by dmether on Jun 24, 2012 9:20:55 GMT 8
Flask, liquid is still in it. Attachments:
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Post by dmether on Jun 24, 2012 9:20:20 GMT 8
Helmet Attachments:
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Post by dmether on Jun 24, 2012 9:19:56 GMT 8
Clip Attachments:
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Post by dmether on Jun 24, 2012 9:19:32 GMT 8
ID tag Attachments:
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Post by dmether on Jun 24, 2012 9:18:33 GMT 8
Went to Subic yesterday to take a look at some human remains that were found on a lady's property while digging a hole for a new septic tank. It appears to be about a 50% complete skeleton of a Japanese soldier. We figure he was Japanese due to the items found with the skeleton, which include an ID tag with Japanese writing (going to try to decipher it) a belt buckle that says "America Japan 1937" and has a relief of two guys wrestling, a flask of some sort that still has liquid in it, two Japanese helmets, and 5-round clips that we believe are Japanese as well. Two rifles were also recovered but we didn't see them. He was buried on top of a hill, probably in a foxhole. Since there are two helmets and two rifles, we think there might be another skeleton there. We'll contact a Japanese veteran's group to come and get the remains for a proper burial or ceremony. Attachments:
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Post by dmether on Jun 24, 2012 9:04:39 GMT 8
Lt. Nininger's commander was Colonel George S. Clarke. He left Bataan in January 1942. In 1944 he wrote Nininger's parents, detailing the circumstances of their son's death, the details were also included in his Medal of Honor citation. Col. Clarke also described the burial of Lt. Nininger, saying he had been buried in"Grave #9 behind the south wall of Abucay church." The AGRS investigated this and decided that "X-4685 AGRS Mausoleum, Manila...be identified as Lt. Nininger." However, this was turned down due to discrepancies in height and dental comparisons. Further investigation revealed that everyone Col. Clarke said was at Lt. Nininger's burial were in fact, not. Also, Col. Clarke had left Bataan before Lt. Nininger was supposedly buried. Most likely Lt. Nininger died in the field and was never recovered, and his commander wrote a nice letter to his family to console them, but he added details that just weren't true.
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Post by dmether on Jun 10, 2012 17:07:34 GMT 8
Lt. Nickell was never found. Probably still sitting in his P-51 at the bottom of Manila Bay. Attachments:
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Post by dmether on Jun 10, 2012 17:06:06 GMT 8
1st Lt. Charles Nickell, 342nd Fighter Sq, attacked Carabao Island on 11 April 1945. The 11 April 1945 mission report states "Fifteen bombs scored hits over most of the island and one fell in water off shore. Strafed entire island in one pass. Nil results observed other than bomb explosions and strafing hits. Our loss: 1 plane, hit by A/A, crashed in water about 500 yards to west of Calungpang Pt. Pilot Lt. Nickell killed in crash." It's kind of hard to read on the map, but the circled area says "target" Attachments:
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Post by dmether on Jun 4, 2012 9:37:47 GMT 8
Kind of hard to read the map, will email you a better copy. Attachments:
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Post by dmether on Jun 3, 2012 15:16:19 GMT 8
Been going through some MIA files for guys missing on Corregidor, thought I’d share what I’ve found so far.
On 19 Feb 48, one group of nine was recovered 50 feet directly south of the east end of Malinta tunnel. Personal effects found were a wallet with a Marine insignia, torn pieces of shoes, and 2 ID tags.
One of the tags was for a Forrest R. Rowland.
The original report states “...on 19 February 1948 we tried again and we accidentally came across some bones about 50 feet directly south of the east entrance to the tunnel and about 30 feet west of the spot described and shown by Col. Borneman to Sgt. Rosenfelt. This spot was never covered with debris from the tunnel and could have been dug by hand with a few men...two men, Stoos and Pulley, were recovered.
Although the report isn’t wholly accurate as later it says that Pulley was recovered in October (1948) from the east side of Denver Hill were the last stand was made on 6 May 1942. This place is about 1000 yards from the tunnel. Stoos, Otter, and unknown #13 have been recovered about 10 yards NE of water tower on Denver Hill Col (Chaplain) Borneman states that as men died of their wounds inside Malinta tunnel, they would take the bodies to the exit, as conditions did not permit burial. After the surrender and Japanese occupation of Corregidor the Japanese would not allow the remains to be buried but instead poured oil on to them and cremated the remains. By 1946 the ravine where the remains were located had approximately 20 feet of rubble on top of it from Malinta tunnel.
The following were declared non-recoverable as of March 1950: Brown, Wilbur C. Pvt 6927862 Decreto, Roman, Civ Drake, Samuel A, Cpl 34103884 Hearing, Raymond T, Pvt 39000285 Quihuiz, Rafael L, Pvt 18017490 Sayers, Bruce H, Pvt, 13024522 Sessions, Ralph, Pvt, 6283357 Turner, Robert D, Pvt 13030357
“The final area search and recovery operations conducted by AGRS in the Island of Corregidor P.I. have been completed. These include disinterment from the ‘post cemetery’ where casualties from the defense of Islands of Corregidor, El Fraile, Carabao, and Caraballo in 1942 were reported to have been buried...”
Report goes on to state “Even when records exist which are definite as to the death and disposition of the soldier named on Bataan, Corregidor, the Death March and the POW camps at Cabanatuan, and O’Donnell, the Japanese Army during its three years occupation of the areas made many efforts to blot out completely all American handiwork. They obliterated markers, burned crosses and plot maps, death registers, etc.
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