Post by chadhill on May 9, 2019 10:21:15 GMT 8
Back in 2014, there had been some discussion in Karl's thread “Death March Markers” about the location of the Pantingan River Massacre. Since then, information has come to light establishing a location for the atrocity, which I will present here. I believe that there was actually more than one massacre site, and updates will be made as evidence unfolds. Here is a link to the previous discussion:
corregidor.proboards.com/thread/813/death-march-markers?page=8
John Eakin of bataanmissing.com recently told me that he had come across some interesting documents concerning the massacre, and was kind enough to forward them to me for review. I was astonished at what I saw. First, let me digress with a bit of background information.
When the war ended, Master Sergeant Abie Abraham, a former POW who had served with the US 31st Infantry, was tasked by MacArthur to aid in the search for and recovery of remains of American servicemen and Philippine Scouts. As recounted in his 1971 book “Ghost of Bataan Speaks” (p. 223-225), Abraham first became aware of the Pantingan Massacre when it was brought to his attention by Jose Vitanzos of Barrio Cupang. The site was near Trail 29, one of the major north-south Bataan trails, and while it would eventually transpire that the vast majority of those murdered were from the Philippine Army's 91st Division, Vitanzos stated that a number of Americans had been executed also.
Here is the statement Vitanzos furnished to Abraham. ABMC and other sources list Harold L. Lawton as a Second Lieutenant with HQ, Philippine Department and a SN of O-890046, so he may have received a battlefield commission while continuing to wear his original dog tags.
(courtesy of John Eakin)
(courtesy of John Eakin)
Although unlabeled, the crooked dashed line that roughly parallels the Pantingan River is Trail 29. Note that the ravine is immediately east of the trail, and is 8 km south of the Pilar-Bagac road. Crucial information is found at the lower right, consisting of a grid coordinate 20.1 – 61.5 taken from map sheet 3254 – IV. This 1000 yard grid map, dated 1944, can be viewed online at the link below. By clicking your mouse on the chart, you will be able to see it full scale. I will post sections taken from it.
legacy.lib.utexas.edu/maps/ams/luzon/txu-pclmaps-oclc-6528802-bagac.jpg
First, here is an overview taken from sheet 3254 – IV, where I have plotted the grid coordinate 20.1 – 61.5. (To view the horizontal axis at the bottom you will need to download the map from the utexas link above). The coordinate falls nearly on top of the Pantingan River.
Next is an enlargement of the area surrounding the point. Note the four bends in the river.
Below is a google satellite photo of the area. Abraham wrote that his recovery team became lost in the jungle on the first day. It was late when they finally discovered the grisly site, and soon decided to set up camp at the river. I suspect that the coordinate 20.1 – 61.5 may have originated from the campsite. I have also labeled what I believe to be the remnants of Trail 29, and a ravine which is immediately east of the trail. I believe this is the massacre site.
The next photo is looking the opposite way to the south, which offered the best view of the ravine relative to the surrounding terrain. It would appear that Trail 29 ran along the ridge at the top of the ravine. East of the river and east of the trail, the ravine clearly slopes downward as mentioned by Abraham. Similar recollections were made by three former Japanese soldiers from the 122nd Infantry Regiment, 65th Infantry Brigade, who participated in the massacre and were interviewed in 2000 by Michael and Elizabeth Norman for their book “Tears in the Darkness” (p.202-214). In addition, the Japanese remembered being bivouacked down along the river and recalled the execution place was in a ravine above them. One Japanese also remembered seeing some sunburned Americans among the doomed POWs.
I was able to get distances from the google satellite computer. Seen below, it indicates 6.6 route miles from Pilar to the road junction for Trail 29 shown on Abraham's chart (versus 7 miles on the chart). The straight line distance from this junction to the ravine is 8.21 km (versus 8 km on the chart).
Many thanks to John Eakin for providing me with these documents.
corregidor.proboards.com/thread/813/death-march-markers?page=8
John Eakin of bataanmissing.com recently told me that he had come across some interesting documents concerning the massacre, and was kind enough to forward them to me for review. I was astonished at what I saw. First, let me digress with a bit of background information.
When the war ended, Master Sergeant Abie Abraham, a former POW who had served with the US 31st Infantry, was tasked by MacArthur to aid in the search for and recovery of remains of American servicemen and Philippine Scouts. As recounted in his 1971 book “Ghost of Bataan Speaks” (p. 223-225), Abraham first became aware of the Pantingan Massacre when it was brought to his attention by Jose Vitanzos of Barrio Cupang. The site was near Trail 29, one of the major north-south Bataan trails, and while it would eventually transpire that the vast majority of those murdered were from the Philippine Army's 91st Division, Vitanzos stated that a number of Americans had been executed also.
Here is the statement Vitanzos furnished to Abraham. ABMC and other sources list Harold L. Lawton as a Second Lieutenant with HQ, Philippine Department and a SN of O-890046, so he may have received a battlefield commission while continuing to wear his original dog tags.
(courtesy of John Eakin)
The next document, also prepared by Abraham, is the one that really caught my attention.
(courtesy of John Eakin)
Although unlabeled, the crooked dashed line that roughly parallels the Pantingan River is Trail 29. Note that the ravine is immediately east of the trail, and is 8 km south of the Pilar-Bagac road. Crucial information is found at the lower right, consisting of a grid coordinate 20.1 – 61.5 taken from map sheet 3254 – IV. This 1000 yard grid map, dated 1944, can be viewed online at the link below. By clicking your mouse on the chart, you will be able to see it full scale. I will post sections taken from it.
legacy.lib.utexas.edu/maps/ams/luzon/txu-pclmaps-oclc-6528802-bagac.jpg
First, here is an overview taken from sheet 3254 – IV, where I have plotted the grid coordinate 20.1 – 61.5. (To view the horizontal axis at the bottom you will need to download the map from the utexas link above). The coordinate falls nearly on top of the Pantingan River.
Next is an enlargement of the area surrounding the point. Note the four bends in the river.
Below is a google satellite photo of the area. Abraham wrote that his recovery team became lost in the jungle on the first day. It was late when they finally discovered the grisly site, and soon decided to set up camp at the river. I suspect that the coordinate 20.1 – 61.5 may have originated from the campsite. I have also labeled what I believe to be the remnants of Trail 29, and a ravine which is immediately east of the trail. I believe this is the massacre site.
The next photo is looking the opposite way to the south, which offered the best view of the ravine relative to the surrounding terrain. It would appear that Trail 29 ran along the ridge at the top of the ravine. East of the river and east of the trail, the ravine clearly slopes downward as mentioned by Abraham. Similar recollections were made by three former Japanese soldiers from the 122nd Infantry Regiment, 65th Infantry Brigade, who participated in the massacre and were interviewed in 2000 by Michael and Elizabeth Norman for their book “Tears in the Darkness” (p.202-214). In addition, the Japanese remembered being bivouacked down along the river and recalled the execution place was in a ravine above them. One Japanese also remembered seeing some sunburned Americans among the doomed POWs.
I was able to get distances from the google satellite computer. Seen below, it indicates 6.6 route miles from Pilar to the road junction for Trail 29 shown on Abraham's chart (versus 7 miles on the chart). The straight line distance from this junction to the ravine is 8.21 km (versus 8 km on the chart).
Many thanks to John Eakin for providing me with these documents.
