Post by The Phantom on Jan 10, 2009 21:58:55 GMT 8
When being toured around the Subic area last year by good friend, Karl, he drove me to the location of one of the last battles of Wainwright's 26th Cavalry.
Karl drove me to a small town(?) that has an ancient Spanish Church, with a large fenced in area in front, covered by ancient trees, looking as it has for hundreds of years I'd suggest. It's not far from the Agno River that was used to try and stop the Japanese onslaught coming from Vigan and the Lingayan Gulf.
Was the Church used for the wounded? As a base of operations? What did you tell me Karl?
At any rate this location rates a visit if you can arrange it while in the P.I. One of the last battle location of the U.S. Cavalry........
From "Corregidor"
by Eric Morris
"AS THE HORSE TROOPS SLOWLY RETREATED UNDER CONTINUING JAPANESE PRESSURE, WAINWRIGHT DEPLOYED A PLATOON OF TANKS FORWARD OF THE CAVALRY TO TAKE SOME OF THE STRAIN OF OF THE EXHAUSTED MEN.
AT NIGHTFALL, THE TANKS WERE ORDERED TO FALL BACK THROUGH THE CAVALRY.
THE LATTER, SOME 600 IN NUMBER, WERE DRAWN UP IN READINESS FOR A NIGHT MARCH, WHEN JAPANESE ARMOR RAN INTO THEM.
IT WAS A NARROW ROAD, WITH HIGH BANKS TOPPED WITH BARBED WIRE.
IN THE GATHERING DARK THERE WAS CHAOS, CONFUSION, AND CARNAGE. RIDERLESS HORSES BOLTED INTO THE NIGHT, AND THE CASUALTIES FROM JAPANESE TANK FIRE WERE APPALLING.
MANY MEN WERE TRAMPLED BY THEIR MOUNTS OR CRUSHED TO DEATH BENEATH THE TRACKS OF THE TANKS.
THE ROLL CALL THAT NIGHT REVEALED THAT THERE WERE ONLY NOW 175 MEN MOUNTED AND STILL ABLE TO FIGHT.
MANY MORE WHO WERE CUT OFF REJOINED THEIR UNITS THE FOLLOWING DAY. EVEN SO THE REGIMENT HAD SUFFERED GRIEVOUSLY. NEVER THE LESS THEY WERE STILL ABLE TO PLAY THEIR PART IN THE FIGHTING REAR GUARD, AND THIS SPEAKS VOLUMES FOR THEIR ELAN AND SPIRIT.
USED IN THE TRADITIONAL ROLL AS REARGUARD, THE 26TH CAVALRY
PHILIPPINE SCOUTS CONTINUED TO WRITE SOME OF THE FINEST CHAPTERS IN THE ANNALS OF CAVALRY WARFARE."
Karl drove me to a small town(?) that has an ancient Spanish Church, with a large fenced in area in front, covered by ancient trees, looking as it has for hundreds of years I'd suggest. It's not far from the Agno River that was used to try and stop the Japanese onslaught coming from Vigan and the Lingayan Gulf.
Was the Church used for the wounded? As a base of operations? What did you tell me Karl?
At any rate this location rates a visit if you can arrange it while in the P.I. One of the last battle location of the U.S. Cavalry........
From "Corregidor"
by Eric Morris
"AS THE HORSE TROOPS SLOWLY RETREATED UNDER CONTINUING JAPANESE PRESSURE, WAINWRIGHT DEPLOYED A PLATOON OF TANKS FORWARD OF THE CAVALRY TO TAKE SOME OF THE STRAIN OF OF THE EXHAUSTED MEN.
AT NIGHTFALL, THE TANKS WERE ORDERED TO FALL BACK THROUGH THE CAVALRY.
THE LATTER, SOME 600 IN NUMBER, WERE DRAWN UP IN READINESS FOR A NIGHT MARCH, WHEN JAPANESE ARMOR RAN INTO THEM.
IT WAS A NARROW ROAD, WITH HIGH BANKS TOPPED WITH BARBED WIRE.
IN THE GATHERING DARK THERE WAS CHAOS, CONFUSION, AND CARNAGE. RIDERLESS HORSES BOLTED INTO THE NIGHT, AND THE CASUALTIES FROM JAPANESE TANK FIRE WERE APPALLING.
MANY MEN WERE TRAMPLED BY THEIR MOUNTS OR CRUSHED TO DEATH BENEATH THE TRACKS OF THE TANKS.
THE ROLL CALL THAT NIGHT REVEALED THAT THERE WERE ONLY NOW 175 MEN MOUNTED AND STILL ABLE TO FIGHT.
MANY MORE WHO WERE CUT OFF REJOINED THEIR UNITS THE FOLLOWING DAY. EVEN SO THE REGIMENT HAD SUFFERED GRIEVOUSLY. NEVER THE LESS THEY WERE STILL ABLE TO PLAY THEIR PART IN THE FIGHTING REAR GUARD, AND THIS SPEAKS VOLUMES FOR THEIR ELAN AND SPIRIT.
USED IN THE TRADITIONAL ROLL AS REARGUARD, THE 26TH CAVALRY
PHILIPPINE SCOUTS CONTINUED TO WRITE SOME OF THE FINEST CHAPTERS IN THE ANNALS OF CAVALRY WARFARE."