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.
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.