Villa Verde Trail, Balete or Dalton Pass

[Karl Welteke]

Missing Plaque Discussion on Facebook!

I made several entries in the last 4 days:

Here is my 1st of March entry with two pictures but I don’t repeat the two pictures here; go to this Facebook page:

www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2484595518281457&set=a.112205692187130&type=3&theater

or this one:

www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2484595518281457&set=a.112205692187130&type=3&theater


This is the text:

Karl-Wilhelm Welteke to Dave[/p]

I think I have the answer but no 100% proof.
We have proof that the one you are referring to was built in 1945, right next to the river and the actual start of the trail. Until recently it was half buried and was laid over in a about 45 degrees. It apparently got broke when the contractors, building the new Villa Verde Trail, tried to move it and it sits nearby on this side of the river now.

A new monument was built (see first attachment) but I don’t know when and it is located at the very SE corner of the large San Nickolas Plaza and that corner is an important intersection. It has a plaque (2nd attachment. I speculate it was transferred from the old one; you are referring to, to this new one. I have no proof.

On the 32nd Association web page they have a page that list a whole bunch of 32nd Monuments, including yours but not the new one in the Plaza.
Cheers, I hope that helps.

Across the street from the new Monument is the town High School with the Name Red Arrow.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Here is my 4st of March entry with one picture:

I’m 99% sure that the missing plaque of the 1945 32nd Inf. Div. Monument is now located at the new monument in the SE corner of the San Nicolas Plaza. Open this URL of the 32nd Div Association and it is a list of the known monuments. The 1945 monument is listed with the exact same words that are now at the new monument.

www.32nd-division.org/history/monuments/monuments.html

“Erected by the officers and men of the 32D Infantry Division, United States Army, in memory of their gallant comrades killed along the Villa Verde Trail. January 30, 1945 – May 28, 1945.”





Zo024. Copy of the list of the 32nd Inf. Div. Monuments and Memorials which shows the 1945 Monument at the Villa Verde Trail.


The problem is that the new monument is not listed. I tried to contact the association several times to find out about the new monument but never got any answers.

[Karl Welteke]

Location and Condition of the 32nd Inf. Div. 1945 Villa Verde Monument.

Missing Plaque Discussion on Facebook continued, 2nd entry:



Zo025. This was the condition of the 32nd Inf. Div. 1945 Villa Verde Monument in Aug. 2014. It was located at the former bridge (bridge already gone then) over the Cabalisian River at the beginning of the Villa Verde Trail. This is my photograph from when I was exploring the Villa Verde Trail.

In June 2016 we received reports from residents in San Nicolas that road work is going on the Villa Verde Trail and that the 32nd Inf. Div. 1945 Villa Verde Monument was damaged and moved to this side of the river.



Zo026. This is a 2017 dated Google Earth image of the new Villa Verde Bridge being constructed. In Nov. 2016 a Canadian Friend and I went to San Nicolas and explored the Villa Verde Trail further. We had a look at the damaged monument. We talked to the workers and one engineer; we got the impression that the 32nd Inf. Div. 1945 Villa Verde Monument was moved by them to this side of the river. Perhaps it was in the way of the new bridge being constructed.



Zo027. This is how the Villa Verde Trail over the Cabalisian River looked in Aug. 2014 when I explored the trail. Notice that an older bridge had existed but was gone and look at the location of the 32nd Inf. Div. 1945 Villa Verde Monument next to it, across the river. Then at that time a hanging foot bridge was used. The new bridge is being built exactly at the same place as the previous one.

The question now is, what can be done next, that will be my next entry.

[Karl Welteke]

Old 1945 32nd Div. Monument, what could be done?

Missing Plaque Discussion on Facebook continued, 3rd entry:


Establish a Memorial Park like the one at the Balete Pass (aka Dalton Pass) when the new Villa Verde Trail Road is finished. Establish it at the Salacsac Passes. The Allied Soldiers and Pilipino helpers, possible suffered more casualties here than at the Balete Pass.

The Malico Village at the Salacsac Passes and area belongs to Pangasinan. When the new Pangasinan to Nueva Viscaya Road, along the former WWII Villa Verde Trail is finished, people traveling here should enjoy a WWII Memorial Park and monument, just like at the Balete or Dalton Pass.

At the Malico Village and the Salacsac Passes was the site of the heaviest fighting in breaching the Salacsac Passes of the Villa Verde Trail. Read this Chapter XXVI, The Bambang Front--I, The Villa Verde Trail from Hyper War: www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-P-Triumph/USA-P-Triumph-26.html

The Japanese already have a Monument here (they knew where the fighting was). The old 32nd Div. 1945 Villa Verde Trail Monument should be repaired and moved up here. The new 32nd Div. 1945 Villa Verde Trail Monument should remain at the San Nicolas Plaza. For this new Memorial Park, the WWII US Army tank (nearby) could be moved here. Along the Balete Pass Road is a WWII Japanese howitzer in a DPWH compound, which also could be utilized.

All the items, landmarks and the progress of the Villa Verde Trail construction, mentioned in here, can be found in this URL:
corregidor.proboards.com/thread/1694/villa-verde-trail-balete-dalton

Zo028. I marked the location of the landmarks in this Google Earth image but not all the names show up on one image, so two more Google Earth images follow with the landmarks along the Villa Verde Trail.




Zo029. The Malico Village and the Salacsac Passes area.



Zo030. Santa Fe, the goal of the 25th and 32nd Divisions and the Balete or Dalton Pass area.

[Karl Welteke]

Stop Over at the Balete Pass 12th of June 2019.

Three Musketeers (my friends Charlie Moser, Randy Anderson and I) went to the Villa Verde Trail to walk from Malico Village at the Salacsac Passes down to the bottom at Pangasinan. We stopped by at the Balete Pass on our way to Santa Fe. I only took 4 pictures because I posted many already in this forum. The other 6 images came from Randy Anderson the main creator of the Hell Ships Memorial in Subic Bay. This pass is also called the Dalton Pass because the Division Commander, Gen. Dalton was killed by a sniper.





Z759---this image from the Army publication Triumph in the Philippines [Chapter 26] Villa Verde gives you the big picture as to where the Balete Pass, the Salacsac Passes and where Santa Fe is..



U219. This picture was shot on the 12th of June 2019 by Randy Anderson. It shows a great overview of the Balete Pass Memorial, right is the Nueva Viscaya Welcome Gate and the road at left leads down to Santa Fe.



U220. This picture was shot on the 12th of June 2019 by Randy Anderson. It shows the valley we followed up from San Jose City in Nueva Ecija; this is the view from the Balete Pass Memorial.



U221. This picture was shot on the 12th of June 2019 by Randy Anderson. It shows the first Memorial Marker there, it must have been put up by the troops of the 25th Div. My home state Army Division, it is stationed in Hawaii.



U222. This picture was shot on the 12th of June 2019 by Randy Anderson. It shows the first Memorial Marker there, it must have been put up by the troops of the 25th Div. This is my home state Army Division, it is stationed in Hawaii. And how much else did the troops suffer and scarified?



U223. This picture was shot on the 12th of June 2019 by Randy Anderson. This is on the 3rd level up at the Balete Pass, at this level are several Japanese Memorial Markers remembering their Fallen

.

U224. On the top, the 4th and 5th level are the visitor facilities, parking, tables to rest and view the scenery, toilets and this Zip Line gadget.




U225. On the top, the 4th and 5th level are the visitor facilities, parking, tables to rest and view the scenery, toilets and this Zip Line gadget.



U226. This Memorial Marker is on the 2nd level of the Balete Pass Memorial. It was put up by Filipino-Chinese Nationals who fought with the 25th Div. They had reasons; remember Singapore, Hong Kong, National China and the Rape of Nanking.



U227. This Memorial Marker is on the 2nd level of the Balete Pass Memorial. It was put up by Filipino-Chinese Nationals who fought with the 25th Div. They had reasons; remember Singapore, Hong Kong, National China and the Rape of Nanking. Two of name plaques are now missing.



U228. This picture was shot on the 12th of June 2019 by Randy Anderson. This is a close up of the English language plaque from the last two pictures. It is about the Filipino-Chinese Nationals who fought with the 25th Div.

I uploaded the same pictures into these two albums:

Uploaded to Photobucket:

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[Karl Welteke]

Overnight on Villa Verde Trail 2019-06-12


Camping out in the Malico, the Salacsac Passes on top of the Villa Verde Trail, 2019-06-12

Two friends and I wanted to walk down the Villa Verde Trail from the top to the bottom at Pangasinan. We drove to Santa Fe Nueva Vizcaya and stopped by the Balete Pass (Dalton Pass) Memorial. We checked out commendations in Santa Fe but decided to check out a place in Malico before the final decision. We decided to stay at the Malico Country Inn in Malico and the next day start our descend marsh.

This endeavor will be divided into 5 albums and or segments. The first one, Balete Pass, is done and this second album or segment is called Salacsac Passes of the Villa Verde Trail in Malico Village.

My partners were Charlie Moser who sailed across the Pacific ALONE from Hawaii to the Philippines twice. The second partner was Randy Anderson who was the main creator of the Hell Ships Memorial in Subic Bay and who is also the author of the book: Subic Bay. From Magellan to Pinatubo.

It took the 32 Div two month to fight its way thru the passes from March to May 1945. Today the whole road from Santa Fe up to Malico (about 20 km) is concrete now. A new concrete bridge is being built now, just east of Salacsac Pass #1 over a creek there.

The prices were right and we stayed. Malico Country Inn.



Ze371. (-01) THE MALICE COUNTRY INN, WE DECIDED TO STAY HERE, RATHER THAT IN SANTA FE.



Ze372. (-03) this is a full view of the Malico Museum and Country Inn. Malico is located at the Salacsac Passes of the Villa Verde Trail.



Ze373. (-05) at the Malico Museum and Country Inn; left to right Karl, Charlie, our driver and Randy. The Inn prepared food for us per our request.



Ze374. (-08) the Malico Museum and Country Inn had a large collection of artifacts and WWII memorabilia. This picture is from Randy Anderson.



Ze375. (-10) left of the Malico Museum and Country Inn, up some steps, the WWII memorabilia included a Japanese light piece of artillery. This picture is from Randy Anderson.



Ze376. (-11) this is a Google Earth image as the where the Malico Village and the Salacsac Passes of the Villa Verde Trail are. It took the 32nd Div two month to fight their way thru these passes.



Ze377. (-12) this is a Google Earth close-up image as the where the Malico Village and the Salacsac Passes of the Villa Verde Trail are. It took the 32nd Div two month to fight their way thru these passes.



Ze378. (-13) in the middle of Malico Village and the Salacsac Passes of the Villa Verde Trail are the Japanese built this monument. My idea is that Pangasinan and Nueva Vizcaya build a memorial like the one in at the Balete Pass. They could use the US. Tank on the Villa Verde Trail, combine it with the Japanese Monument. Add the Japanese Artillery piece near the Balete Pass and use the Old 32nd Div Monument, fix it and install it here.



Ze379. (-14) in the middle of Malico Village and the Salacsac Passes of the Villa Verde Trail are the Japanese built this monument. If a memorial like the one in at the Balete Pass is built, it could include the tank and the old 32nd Div monument on the Villa Verde Trail.



Ze380. (-15) this plaque on the Japanese Memorial says that between Feb.-June 1945 4600 Japanese died, 3200 Americans died or were wounded and many Filipino Inhabitants died in the vicinity of this Salacsac Pass.



Ze381. (-18) this is a larger view of the Malico Village fields; they are between a line of low hills and the foot hills of Mt. Imugan at right. This image is from Randy Anderson.



Ze382. (-19) this is a larger view of the Malico Village fields; they are between a line of low hills and the foot hills of Mt. Imugan at right. This image is from Randy Anderson.



Ze383. (-20) this is a shot across the Malico Village fields; they are between a line of low hills and the foot hills of Mt. Imugan are in back; the GIs called it the Yamashita Ridge. Fog was often present; it is about 1300 meter elevation here.



Ze384. (-21) we tried to check in with the barangay office but today was a National Holyday and we learned there are two barangay Malico offices, one belongs to San Nicolas in Pangasinan and one belongs to Santa Fe in Nueva Vizcaya.



Ze385. (-23) following the new concrete road towards west about one km, at a point where you can see the Pangasinan Plain the Baguio Cordilleras is this place and it is called Malico View Point. At this moment the clouds blocked our view.



Ze386. (-24) we did get this glimpse from the Malico View Point, between clouds coming and going; this is the new Pangasinan-Nueva Vizcaya Road descending, following the Villa Verde Trail. This section is on the west side of the Caraballo Mountain Spur. This picture is from Randy Anderson.



Ze387. (-25) this is the new Pangasinan-Nueva Vizcaya Road descending, following the Villa Verde Trail. This section is on the west side of the Caraballo Mountain Spur. This project is like holding a tiger by the tail; they are dealing with this kind of problem at several places already.



Ze388. (-26) this is one of several images of little shops having been developed within the last year, just outside the Malico Village Entrance, along the Villa Verde Trail Road. This is a view coming back from the Malico View Point.



Ze389. (-27) this is the entrance road and gate to the Malico Village, the distance from the new road is only about 50 meters. This copy is marked up.



Ze390. (-29) this is one of several images of little shops having been developed within the last year, just outside the Malico Village Entrance, along the Villa Verde Trail Road. Here are two new vendors at the right side of the entrance to Malico. We had a noon snack here.

[Karl Welteke]

Villa Verde Trail, West slopes, Caraballo Mountains Spur, 2019-06-13

The distance from Malico Village on top of the Villa Verde Trail, at the Salacsac Passes to San Nicolas in Pangasinan is approximately 23 Km. This section of the Villa Verde Trail is being reworked to make it the Pangasinan-Nueva Vizcaya Road and it will shorten the distance between these two provinces and regions.

The remaining road from Malico to San Nicolas is not finished yet, a long way to go. There is no public traffic yet only isolated local vehicles use it and seldom. Motorbikes are more common. They basically got a tiger by the tail; this is not an easy job.

This is the 3rd album out of five; the first two were Balete Pass and overnight at Malico. In this album we walk down the new Pangasinan-Nueva Vizcaya Road which follows the old Villa Verde Trail from Malico, down along the Caraballo Mountain Spur West Slopes to about the 1000 meter level. We started out in the clouds but it cleared before long. The distance of this section is about 4.5 Km, we had a little trouble with road blockage because of blasting.




U236. (-01) we started our marsh, down the new Pangasinan-Nueva Vizcaya Road which follows the old Villa Verde Trail, from Malico at the Malico View Point in the clouds. This picture is from Randy Anderson.



U237. (-03) is a Google Earth image showing the new Pangasinan-Nueva Vizcaya Road following the old Villa Verde Trail from Malico, down along the Caraballo Mountain Spur West Slopes to about the 1000 meter level.



U238. (-04) this is a section of an 1:50000 map of the Villa Verde Trail area. It is an old map and tracks of the original Villa Verde Trail are still indicated. I marked in some landmarks onto this map.



U239. (-05) this is the US tank on the Villa Verde Trail, about 2 km from Malico Village; I think the main line of attack came up this ridge where the tank is. This picture is from Randy Anderson.



U240. (-07) the cloud has lifted more and we can see more of the Pangasinan Plains.



U241. (-08) the US tank seems to be on private property, we had to go thru a fence and the owner has built a building there within the last year.



U242. (-12) we have a full view of Hill 1053 and much of the area were the Villa Verde Trail ascends or descends to or from Pangasinan.



U243. (-13) we continue our descent down the Villa Verde Trail or now the new Pangasinan-Nueva Vizcaya Road. I counted about 7 ravines and or 7 ridges in the distance from the tank area to where the road leaves the Caraballo Spur.



U244. (-20) this marked up copy tries to explain the big picture as to how the Villa Verde Trail or now the new Pangasinan-Nueva Vizcaya Road runs.



U245. (-22) left is Hill 1053 and right is the area where the waters drain to the north, it is the beginning of the Ambayoan River, the river then flows west and then south.



U246. (-24) this is a view of the Villa Verde Trail or now the new Pangasinan-Nueva Vizcaya Road on the west slopes of Caraballo Mountain Spur, work is going on.



U247. (-27) This is one many views from our descent down the Villa Verde Trail or now the new Pangasinan-Nueva Vizcaya Road. These pictures, in this album, are from the new road section that runs on the west slopes of the Caraballo Spur. Some things are broke already.



U248. (-33) this is a view of the Villa Verde Trail or now the new Pangasinan-Nueva Vizcaya Road on the west slopes of Caraballo Mountain Spur, blasting is going on. Later during the walk I heard about 30 blasts.



U249. (-38) our van overtook us and went ahead and then will wait for us on our descent down the Villa Verde Trail or now the new Pangasinan-Nueva Vizcaya Road.



U250. (-39) This is one many views from our descent down the Villa Verde Trail or now the new Pangasinan-Nueva Vizcaya Road. These pictures, in this album, are from the new road section that runs on the west slopes of the Caraballo Spur. This is looking NW at the headwaters of the Ambayoan River.



U251. (-47) one of several pictures that a fallen rock blocked the way, with a lot of help the rock was moved enough for us and them to continue the trip. This is on the Villa Verde Trail or now the new Pangasinan-Nueva Vizcaya Road. This picture is from Randy Anderson.



U252. (-52) one of several pictures that a fallen rock blocked the way, with a lot of help the rock was moved enough for us and them to continue the trip. This is on the Villa Verde Trail or now the new Pangasinan-Nueva Vizcaya Road.



U253. (-53) my partners were Charlie Moser who sailed across the Pacific ALONE from Hawaii to the Philippines twice. The second partner was Randy Anderson who was the main creator of the Hell Ships Memorial in Subic Bay and who is also the author of the book: Subic Bay. From Magellan to Pinatubo.

For this forum presentation I used 18 imaged but in the original albums there were 30 images. If you are interested they are here:

Uploaded to Facebook:
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Uploaded to Photobucket:
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[Karl Welteke]

Villa Verde Trail, Middle Section of the Pangasinan Side, 2019-06-13

This is the 4th album out of five; the first three were Balete Pass, overnight at Malico, down the West Spur. In this album we walk, follow the new Pangasinan-Nueva Vizcaya Road which follows the old Villa Verde Trail from the Caraballo Mountain Spur West Slopes at about the 1000 meter level. We will walk about 8 km following the watershed boundary of the rivers, Ambayoan and Cabalisian to the North-South Ridge, which runs parallel, east of the Ambayoan River to a spot at the about 900 meters level.



U254. (-03) we left the Caraballo Mountains Spur and advanced west on the plateau, watershed boundary of two rivers and get a full view of the Caraballo Mountains Spur in the south direction.



U255. (-06) a Google Earth image of the big picture, marked up. It shows the big picture of the new Pangasinan-Nueva Vizcaya Road which follows the old Villa Verde Trail from the Caraballo Mountain Spur West Slopes at about the 1000 meter level to the North-South Ridge, which runs parallel, east of the Ambayoan River to a spot at the about 900 meters level. The road runs about 8 km following the watershed boundary of the rivers, Ambayoan and Cabalisian. I wrote 10 km on the graph that was a wrong earlier estimate.



U256. (-07) this is a section of an 1:50000 map of the Villa Verde Trail area. It is an old map and tracks of the original Villa Verde Trail are still indicated. I marked in some landmarks onto this map.



U257. (-08) An image of my GPS Track, a walk on the Villa Verde Trail, Middle Section of the Pangasinan Side, 2019-06-13. It is marked up for your orientation.



U258. (-09) this is a view back at the Caraballo Mountains Spur which we just left.



U259. (-14) we are passing Hill 1053 on its south side.

U260. (-15) we are passing Hill 1053 on its south side.



U261. (-16) cattle can be seen on both sides of the Villa Verde Trail.



U262. (-18) we passed Hill 1053 and the trail leads to the north side of the watershed boundaries of these peaks and ridges.



U263. (-19) this is noteworthy, right is the ridge with the U.S. Tank and we see a road cut on the ridge, which is west ridge of Mount Imugan, I’m sure the U.S. Army attacked that way.



U264. (-21) this is noteworthy, we see a road cut on the ridge, which is a west ridge of Mount Imugan, perhaps the 126th Regiment, 32nd Div., U.S. Army attacked that way.



U265. (-25) we saw a lot of red ground; it must be rich with iron ore particles. Only at very few places was it muddy like this; slowly but surely the job is getting done. We are back on the south side of the trail/road.



U266. (-31) we are still on the south side of the trail and the North-South Ridge line is in view, which runs parallel, east of the Ambayoan River on a north-south axis. We are aiming at to a spot at the about 900 meters level on that ridge. We are still on the south side of the trail and the North-South Ridge line is in view. A lot of these hills remind me at the Lahars of Mt. Pinatubo but here they are redder.



U267. (-33) some people have fences, for cattle I assume and some people are conscious of their property and don’t like trespassing.



U268. (-35) some of the road cuttings exposed some strange or neat rock formations.



U269. (-37) our driver and my friend Charlie, he is younger and leaner and so beat me to the waiting van; we all caught up with the van. We always sent the van ahead a few clicks and have the van wait for us.



U270. (-40) the van has passed us again and we are getting close to the North-South Ridge. -41 the ridgeline 633 is coming into view.



U271. (-42) these are the headwater areas of the Cabasilian River and we are almost at the North-South Ridge. We have moved a good distance all the way from the Caraballo Spur in the back there.



U272. (-44) we have reached the North-South Ridge and the earth material has changed. This is a look back.



U273. (-45) a last look back where we came from, Hill 1053 and the Caraballo Mountain Spur.

For this forum presentation I used 20 imaged but in the original albums have 45 images. If you are interested they are here:

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[Karl Welteke]

Villa Verde 32nd Div. Red Arrow Monument updates 2019-06-13

I changed my mind and will make this 6th album of our walk down the Villa Verde Trail on the 13th of June 2019. This album is an update on the older and newer Villa Verde 32nd Div. Red Arrow Monument in San Nicolas, Pangasinan on the Villa Verde Trail. Everything about the Villa Verde Trail is now accessible because the Authorities building a new Pangasinan-Nueva Vizcaya Road along the track of the Villa Verde Trail. We started on top at Malico and walked down, the 32nd Div. Monuments was our last goal

Something I wish the authorities would do:

Establish a Memorial Park in Malico, in the Salacsac Passes, on top of the Villa Verde Trail like the Balete Pass Memorial when the new Pangasinan- Nueva is finnished. Like the Balete Pass Memorial it should be at the boundary between Pangasinan and Nueva Vizcaya. The park should or could incorporate the Japanese Memorial Marker in Malico; it could or should incorporate the US tank, about 2 km down the Villa Verde Trail from Malico. A small Japanese artillery piece is in Malico already, a heavier Japanese artillery piece is about half way between Santa Fe and the Balete Pass in a DPWH compound. The older 32nd Div Villa Verde 1945 Marker at the new Villa Verde Bridge in Santa Maria East could be repaired; missing plaques replaced and move it in this new Villa Verde Memorial Park in Malico.

The construction of the new Pangasinan-Nueva Vizcaya Road along the track of the Villa Verde Trail is making progress. The about 20 km from Santa Fe to Malico is concrete and is open for traffic. Near Malico a new concrete bridge is being built over a creek.
The about 23 km from San Nicolas to Malico is maybe 50 % finished, blasting is going and a few embankments in ravines or ridge point are not stable yet. Motorcycles are using it and once a great while someone is taking a great risk and uses a car.





Ze391. (-01) this is the older 1945 32nd Div. Red Arrow Monument, without a plaque, and it is broken now. It has been moved by the road contractor to the left side of the Cabalisian River within the last 2 or 3 years during the new road and bridge construction.



Ze392. (-02) my two friends and our friend driver are standing next to older 1945 32nd Div. Red Arrow Monument, without a plaque, and it is broken now. In back is the construction camp for the new Pangasinan-Nueva Vizcaya Road.



Ze393. (-03) this is the older 1945 32nd Div. Red Arrow Monument, without a plaque, standing on the left bank of the Cabalisian River. The monument is broken now. Before the road construction started the monument was resting on the right bank.



Ze394. (-04) this is the broken off red arrow tip of the older 1945 32nd Div. Red Arrow Monument, without a plaque, standing on the left bank of the Cabalisian River now.



Ze395 (-05) this is the new Villa Verde Bridge over the Cabalisian River, this is the start of the new Pangasinan-Nueva Vizcaya Road along the track of the Villa Verde Trail. The name of the bridge is actual Ville Verde.



Ze396. (-06) this is an Aug. 2014 image of the Cabalisian River crossing by the Villa Verde Trail. The older 1945 32nd Div. Red Arrow Monument, without a plaque, was sitting on the right river bank and was partially buried in a tilted way by the river sand. It was not broken yet. I was able to follow about 7 km up the Villa Verde Trail at that time and I walked to the point where the Villa Verde trail splits up according to my map.



Ze397. (-07) again here is a Google Earth image for your orientation as to where the two 32nd Div. Monuments are.



Ze398. (-08) this is the SW corner of the San Nicolas Plaza which has a newer Villa Verde 32nd Div. Monument and it has a plaque. I know that the old monument is recorded on the 32nd Div. web pages but the new one is not.



Z399. (-09) this is my speculation that the plaque of the original monument was put on this new monument, I do know the wording is exactly the same as it is recorded in the 32nd Div. web pages.



Ze400. (-10) this is my speculation that the plaque of the original monument was put on this new monument. This is the SW corner of the San Nicolas Plaza which has this newer Villa Verde 32nd Div. Monument and it has a plaque.



Ze401. (-11) these words on the plaque of the newer Villa Verde 32nd Div. Monument are exactly the same as on the older one by the Cabalisian River. The Monument record in the 32nd Div Web pages says so.



Ze402. (-12) this is really a very unique fact; the San Nicolas High School, even today has the name: Red Arrow High School. To me that means that the people of this town had a very, very close relationship with 32nd Div. in WWII. I asked about 10 people, grownups and students that it was named after the nickname of the 32nd Div. nobody knew.



Ze403. (-13) our van looks like it went thru some rough spots but it and we made is safely down the Villa Verde Trail from Malico. For safety we had the van follow us walkers. And we seen some impressive vistas and have a better appreciation of what the GIs and their Filipino comrades had to endure.

[Karl Welteke]

Villa Verde Trail, down the Pangasinan Side, end section

This is a shorter version (original album has 85 pics) of the 5th album out of six; the first three were Balete Pass, overnight at Malico, down the West Spur. Then I made the 4th album of the Middle Section Pangasinan side and I made a 6th album about the 32nd Div old and new Monuments. In this album we follow the new Pangasinan-Nueva Vizcaya Road which follows the old Villa Verde Trail down along the North-South Ridge which runs parallel east and next to the Ambayoan River. We did this on the 13th of June 2019.

These 15 images in this forum presentation are sample pictures of the state of construction at the Pangasinan-Nueva Vizcaya Road project which follows the old Villa Verde Trail.



Ze404. Concrete I laid down piece meal and this section of concrete is already at the about 850 meters level and near the 633meters Ridge connection with the new Pangasinan-Nueva Vizcaya Road which follows the old Villa Verde Trail down along the North-South Ridge which runs parallel east and next to the Ambayoan River. We did this on the 13th of June 2019.




Ze405. This is one of 15 images (in the album); we are passing the area of ridgeline 633, as we walk down the Vila Verde Trail along the North-South Ridge which runs parallel east and next to the Ambayoan River. We did this on the 13th of June 2019. Here we get glimpse back to Hill 1053 and in the very distance are the Salacsac Passes.



Ze406. This is a section on an 1:50000 map and shows the original Post WWII Villa Verde Trail tracks. It is marked up to give the big picture and it is one of 8 images (in the album) with geographic data as we walk down the Vila Verde Trail along the North-South Ridge which runs parallel east and next to the Ambayoan River. We did this on the 13th of June 2019.



Ze407. This is a Google Earth about the end walk in this album. It is marked up to give the big picture and it is one of 8 images (in the album) with geographic data as we walk down the Vila Verde Trail along the North-South Ridge which runs parallel east and next to the Ambayoan River. We did this on the 13th of June 2019.



Ze408. This is a sample picture of the tough Filipino workers, at a work camp, who can put up with hardship and very poor living condition on a job like this one, the new Pangasinan-Nueva Vizcaya Road which follows the old Villa Verde Trail down along the North-South Ridge which runs parallel east and next to the Ambayoan River. This picture was shot on the 13th of June 2019.



Ze409. Work is going on many places along the whole road project but this is a sample picture of workers on the new Pangasinan-Nueva Vizcaya Road which follows the old Villa Verde Trail down along the North-South Ridge which runs parallel east and next to the Ambayoan River. This picture was shot on the 13th of June 2019.



Ze410. Work is going on many places along the whole road project but this is a sample picture of workers on the new Pangasinan-Nueva Vizcaya Road which follows the old Villa Verde Trail down along the North-South Ridge which runs parallel east and next to the Ambayoan River. This picture was shot on the 13th of June 2019.



Ze411. This is one of 2 images (in the album) of the Kalanguya Tribe sign as we walk down the Vila Verde Trail along the North-South Ridge which runs parallel east and next to the Ambayoan River. We did this on the 13th of June 2019.



Ze412. Work is going on many places along the whole road project but this is a sample picture of workers on the new Pangasinan-Nueva Vizcaya Road which follows the old Villa Verde Trail down along the North-South Ridge which runs parallel east and next to the Ambayoan River. This picture was shot on the 13th of June 2019. Remember that these pictures and the pictures in the album are present in sequence they were shot.



Ze413. Work is going on many places along the whole road project but this is a sample picture of the problem this project has run into on the new Pangasinan-Nueva Vizcaya Road which follows the old Villa Verde Trail down along the North-South Ridge which runs parallel east and next to the Ambayoan River. This picture was shot on the 13th of June 2019. At many places it seem this project is like holding a tiger by his tail. Things don’t work out right and have to be done again.



Ze414. This is a sample picture of the tough Filipino workers, at a work camp, who can put up with hardship and very poor living condition on a job like this one, the new Pangasinan-Nueva Vizcaya Road which follows the old Villa Verde Trail down along the North-South Ridge which runs parallel east and next to the Ambayoan River. This picture was shot on the 13th of June 2019.



Ze415. Work is going on many places along the whole road project but this is a sample picture of the problem this project has run into on the new Pangasinan-Nueva Vizcaya Road which follows the old Villa Verde Trail down along the North-South Ridge which runs parallel east and next to the Ambayoan River. This picture was shot on the 13th of June 2019. At many places it seem this project is like holding a tiger by his tail.



Ze416. Work is going on many places along the whole road project but this is a sample picture of the problem this project has run into on the new Pangasinan-Nueva Vizcaya Road which follows the old Villa Verde Trail down along the North-South Ridge which runs parallel east and next to the Ambayoan River. This picture was shot on the 13th of June 2019. At many places it seem this project is like holding a tiger by his tail. At this particular spot there seems to be a problem with the quality of the concrete.



Ze417. Work is going on many places along the whole road project but this is a sample picture of the problem this project has run into on the new Pangasinan-Nueva Vizcaya Road which follows the old Villa Verde Trail down along the North-South Ridge which runs parallel east and next to the Ambayoan River. This picture was shot on the 13th of June 2019. At many places it seem this project is like holding a tiger by his tail. Things don’t work out right and have to be done again.



Ze418. This is the last shot; about 1 and ½ km more we quit the walk and decided to home to Subic Bay, we seen enough. At right, we believe, is the area the GIs of the 32nd Div called the Punch Bowel. If you like to learn more about the Battle of the Villa Verde Trail check out this URL: corregidor.proboards.com/thread/1694/villa-verde-trail-balete-dalton?page=1 T his is the new Pangasinan-Nueva Vizcaya Road which follows the old Villa Verde Trail down along the North-South Ridge which runs parallel east and next to the Ambayoan River. This picture was shot on the 13th of June 2019.

As I said 85 images of this walk have been put into these two albums, take your pick:

Uploaded to Facebook:
www.facebook.com/karlwilhelm.welteke/media_set?set=a.10216677796971025&type=3

Uploaded to Photobucket:
s74.photobucket.com/user/PI-Sailor/library/Manila%20Bay%20Forts-Other/Balete%20Pass%20and%20Villa%20Verde%20Trail/190613%20End-Walk%20VV-Trail

[Karl Welteke]

Villa Verde Trail and Road to Santa Fe Update Oct. 2023

This 3rd Oct. 2023 I drove to Malico Town at the Salacsac Pass of the Villa Verde Trail to get an update of the status of this new Pangasinan to Nueva Viscaya. I took these pictures to document the status of this new road and old trail.

For this Corregidor Forum presentation I chose these 30 images! The numbers used in the photo description are based on the 93 images numbers in the Photobucket album.

If you are interested:

Uploaded 93 images into this PhotoBucket album, Villa Verde Trail No 2, Philippine Historical Places No. 1,

app.photobucket.com/u/PI-Sailor/a/3c8ece99-e218-483b-83ab-d35aa5681fa7?field=TITLE&desc=asc

When the album opens, click on the first picture or the one you would like to view, then click the icon “i” and that will open the title and description of the image or images.


Uploaded 44 images to this FB album and shared with: WWII in the PI, Raging Main, and Battle Americans fought, CI Hist. Association, US Expats, SBH3, Advocates of heritage preservation,

www.facebook.com/karlwilhelm.welteke/posts/pfbid0Wjmags65BXhrsPiKd3FUrStnExsABz2evcXD8wKb1ry7mkkdefdqh8aYEM7kVxt5l

Album direct URL: www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10226902971193990&type=3

-Images #00 to #02 are 3 maps from the internet or I generated them with Google Earth to show you where the Villa Verde Trail, now the Pangasinan-Nueva Viscaya Road is.



00 Villa Verde Trail, Pangasinan-Nueva Viscaya Rd. 2023



02 Villa Verde Trail, Pangasinan-Nueva Viscaya Rd. 2023
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-Images #03 to #11 are of San Nicolas in Pangasinan. That is where the Villa Verde Trail started and this is now where the new Pangasinan-Nueva Viscaya starts. In Jan. 1945 the 32nd Inf. Div, with the logo: ”The Red Arrow Division” liberated San Nicolas from the Japanese Occupation. The Division based itself here and took 4 month to clear the Villa Verde Trail to Santa Fe. It was a brutal fight and with help of the local guerrillas and the people in many ways, it got done. The people named the high school, the Red Arrow High School and it still has that name. This visit had a big disappointment, the 32nd Div, Memorial Marker is now hidden under a Christmas decoration. That marker is in honor to the many gallant soldiers who lost their lives to liberate this corner and people of the Philippines, I think that is wrong to do so. I added two 2014 pictures of the 32nd Div. Marker.



05 Villa Verde Trail, Pangasinan-Nueva Viscaya Rd. 2023



06 Villa Verde Trail, Pangasinan-Nueva Viscaya Rd. 2023



07 Villa Verde Trail, Pangasinan-Nueva Viscaya Rd. 2023



11 Villa Verde Trail, Pangasinan-Nueva Viscaya Rd. 2023
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-Images #12 to #21 are images of San Nicolas on the 3rd Oct. 2023. One thing was great, the plaza had at least 2 clean and well maintain rest room2!!!!



17 Villa Verde Trail, Pangasinan-Nueva Viscaya Rd. 2023.
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-Images #22 to #32 show the Villa Verde Bridge over the Cabalisian River. The Villa Verde Trail and the bridges were only recently built. I learned from this visit the trail and road is now completely concreted; and it is open for traffic. I added a few older pictures about the original 32nd Div Memorial Marker which was located here, next to where this new bridge is. The original marker was damaged by the bridge construction. I believe the information plaque on the original marker was used at the new marker at the San Nicolas plaza but I don’t know when, many years ago. The broken original 32nd Div marker has now disappeared.



23 Villa Verde Trail, Pangasinan-Nueva Viscaya Rd. 2023.



28 Villa Verde Trail, Pangasinan-Nueva Viscaya Rd. 2023.



30 Villa Verde Trail, Pangasinan-Nueva Viscaya Rd. 2023.



31 Villa Verde Trail, Pangasinan-Nueva Viscaya Rd. 2023.

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-Images #33 to #39 show how difficult it was to build this road and how difficult it is to maintain it. Landslides are still frequent recurrences. I added to 2 pictures from 2019 when the road was not concreted yet. Both sets of pictures, 2023 and 2019, were shot at the same ravine; bend of the road, although at the opposite sides of the bend. This is the last or the first bend or ravine when the road leaves or reaches the Caraballo Mountains Spur.



33 Villa Verde Trail, Pangasinan-Nueva Viscaya Rd. 2023.



38 Villa Verde Trail, Pangasinan-Nueva Viscaya Rd. 2023.



39 Villa Verde Trail, Pangasinan-Nueva Viscaya Rd. 2023.

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-Images #40 to #43 are shot just a few hundred meters passed the entrance to Barangay Malico, Pangasinan, towards the east, towards Nueva Viscaya. In 2019, there were still two rough spots, no concrete and no bridge over a creek. Those two problems are gone and it looks like that the province of Nueva Viscaya is about to open a welcome and information building.



42 Villa Verde Trail, Pangasinan-Nueva Viscaya Rd. 2023.
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-Images #44 to #52 show the new development of businesses, information offices along the new Villa Verde Trail/Road at the entrance of Malico which belongs to San Nicolas, Pangasinan. I bought some vegetables to bring home.



48 Villa Verde Trail, Pangasinan-Nueva Viscaya Rd. 2023.



49 Villa Verde Trail, Pangasinan-Nueva Viscaya Rd. 2023.



50 Villa Verde Trail, Pangasinan-Nueva Viscaya Rd. 2023.

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-Images #53 to #64 are images of the Japanese Memorial Marker Shrine on top of one the east hills of the Battle of the Salacsac Pass. The pictures show the dirt road is going up to the shrine and down at the other side but I did not check it out. It seems a resort was started to build but seems to be on hold now for some reason. It is not easy to start a business. I added a picture I took in 2014 and I saw it in Santa Fe then. I can imagine that the Japanese saw them self like on this picture sign.



54 Villa Verde Trail, Pangasinan-Nueva Viscaya Rd. 2023.



57 Villa Verde Trail, Pangasinan-Nueva Viscaya Rd. 2023.



58 Villa Verde Trail, Pangasinan-Nueva Viscaya Rd. 2023.



59 Villa Verde Trail, Pangasinan-Nueva Viscaya Rd. 2023.

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-Images #65 to #73 show more development from the entrance to Malico Village down in the direction of San Nicolas, about 2 km. That is where the American Sherman Tank was left behind. It is on private propert6y. I did not go down to see it this time, but added an old image of the Villa Verde WWII Tank.



68 Villa Verde Trail, Pangasinan-Nueva Viscaya Rd. 2023.



72 Villa Verde Trail, Pangasinan-Nueva Viscaya Rd. 2023.

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-Images #74 to #85 show pictures of my down to San Nicolas drive. Businesses have opened and it shows that maintaining this road will be a long time affair. But it is being done! By now you have noticed we were in the clouds for most of the trip, this time. And I offered one look back for you to imagine how the road runs now.



76 Villa Verde Trail, Pangasinan-Nueva Viscaya Rd. 2023.



78 Villa Verde Trail, Pangasinan-Nueva Viscaya Rd. 2023.



81 Villa Verde Trail, Pangasinan-Nueva Viscaya Rd. 2023.



82 Villa Verde Trail, Pangasinan-Nueva Viscaya Rd. 2023.



85 Villa Verde Trail, Pangasinan-Nueva Viscaya Rd. 2023.

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-Images #86 to #93 show my effort to try to go upriver of the Ambayaoan River, in the first map it is spelled Ambayabang River. One battalion of the 126th Regiment, 32nd Div had the job of clearing that river valley of Japanese because from that valley existed a back way trail to Baguio, so to make sure that there were no surprise Japanese visitors from Baguio. Well, this exploration can’t be done by car; I will have to do it on foot sometime.


88 Villa Verde Trail, Pangasinan-Nueva Viscaya Rd. 2023.