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Post by Steve U on Mar 22, 2018 15:17:12 GMT 8
In the Book "The Ghost of Bataan Speaks", Abie Abraham mentions (pg 104) my grandfather and speaks of a time when together they set fire to a sugar cane field to drive out the Japanese. I have not found any mention of that event in any other Bataan book that I have. Anybody know where I can read up on this and find out more about it? Was this at Layac Junction or Abucay Hacienda? Thanks, Steve Unwin Grandson of Major James J O'Donovan
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Post by chadhill on Mar 23, 2018 10:48:51 GMT 8
Hello Steven,
I'll bet that Abie Abraham was writing about the sugar cane fields south of the Balantay River and near the Abucay Hacienda. The cane stalks were tall and could hide troops, and restricted fields of fire. Permission to level the fields had been requested before action began, but Colonel George Clarke, C.O. of the 57th Infantry (PS), thought that doing so would reveal the positions of USAFFE troops and denied it. Unfortunately, this turned out to be an area from which the Japanese staged attacks and posted snipers.
Later, efforts were made to ignite the Japanese-occupied cane fields with white phosphorous containers but, according to John Olson in "Anywhere, Anytime, The History of the 57th Infantry (PS)" p. 86, the stalks were so green and sap laden that the flames would not spread. Attempts to mine the field had little success. The most info I have seen about the cane fields is in Olson's book, but unfortunately he barely mentions the 31st Infantry (US) in it.
According to Morton in "Fall of the Philippines" p. 286, and Whitman in "Bataan, Our Last Ditch" p. 186, the 31st Infantry (US) counterattacked in this area on the morning of 1/17. Whitman notes on p. 189 that your grandfather was WIA by grenade shrapnel (and wounded again on 4/6, p. 511). Perhaps your grandfather and Abraham tried to burn the fields about this time, or during combat over the next several days. For a diagram, see Whitman's book, p. 194. Whitman also writes of "burning cane fields" during the chaotic retreat of the 2nd Corps, p.235 and 237.
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steveu
Member
Grandson of Maj James J O'Donovan XO 3Bn 31st Inf Reg
Posts: 14
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Post by steveu on Mar 23, 2018 14:54:40 GMT 8
Thank you Chad, Good information. I have both books, but not Olsen's, so I was able to see these passages. A brutal 8 or so days of battle. We have an index of his hospitalization, and it states he spent the days Jan 19-21 at hospital #1. So that grenade did put him out of action for a few days. There is no hospital stay associated with the shelling he endured with Thompson on April 6th, so perhaps he was uninjured in that attack.
Thanks for your thoughts on this. I appreciate it a lot.
Steve
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steveu
Member
Grandson of Maj James J O'Donovan XO 3Bn 31st Inf Reg
Posts: 14
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Post by steveu on Apr 5, 2018 12:33:08 GMT 8
I think I found a reference to the fire in question in the Monograph written by Maj Henry PierceOn pg 13 section "Withdrawal" he states 1st Bn 31st is Abie Abraham's battalion. So I think this is the event he spoke of in Ghost of Bataan Speaks.
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steveu
Member
Grandson of Maj James J O'Donovan XO 3Bn 31st Inf Reg
Posts: 14
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Post by steveu on Jun 7, 2018 23:52:58 GMT 8
Found this entry in the book by Donald Knox, Death March: The Survivors of Bataan The major in this account is almost certainly James O'Donovan. Time and location are a fit with Abie Abraham's account, family history has it that grandfather was burned in the war, and the description of the major having (2) .38's agrees generally with a description of O'donovan in "Bataan: Our last ditch" wherein he's described as carrying (2) .45's and a .38. I think the mystery is cleared up now.
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Post by chadhill on Jun 10, 2018 20:13:21 GMT 8
Great find, Steve! I will wager that there are more books containing passages referring to Major O'Donovan, too, though not directly by name. Through your efforts his heroic deeds are being revealed and preserved for history.
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steveu
Member
Grandson of Maj James J O'Donovan XO 3Bn 31st Inf Reg
Posts: 14
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Post by steveu on Jun 11, 2018 15:03:06 GMT 8
Thanks Chad. I appreciate that. This has been a very rewarding quest - Finding out about my grandfather's exploits
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