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Post by Ron Hilton on Feb 16, 2009 12:54:09 GMT 8
Hello - love the website... Was on the island late January and snapped some photos...thought I'd pass along my FLICKr set for those interested. www.flickr.com/photos/hilton_photos/sets/72157613745217690/Of particular interest to the members here might be the recent attempts to stabilize and reinforce the Middleside Barracks. Regards & Thanks to All the Veterans, RH
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Post by EXO on Feb 28, 2009 12:05:20 GMT 8
Nice Photos, Ron. Thanks for adding the link. Particularly nice telephoto of Ft. Drum too. I see the tour guides are still spinning the BS about:- Many Japanese soldiers were seen jumping en masse off this cliff committing harakiri (suicide) as per the Bushido code of non-surrender. And they aren't even doing it at the cliff they used to. I suppose that's some improvement. We have, on one hand, the statement of "D" Company 503d PRCT paratrooper Tony Sierra, who himself threw bodies over a cliff: "Suicide Cliff" is a fairy tale. I was one of the most active of troopers in the so-called two platoons who were assigned to heave the bodies of the killed Japanese soldiers early on the morning after the 19 February. I never saw a single Japanese "leap" over the cliff or any sign that any had done so during the night attack. Any of them that ended on the beach either fell during the attack (which is pure speculation) or were thrown over.
One of us would grab the feet and another the arms and swing them over as far as we could. I believe this was done to reduce the smell of decaying bodies in that tropical setting, if that was ever possible. We were so desperate to get this chore over with that I can't even recall any of us worrying in the least with searching their bodies for souvenirs or even military information. I hope this sets to rest this small item once and for all, brochures notwithstanding.
And then there's the curious statement of paratrooper Bob Flynn, who was with the 161st Parachute Engineers: On or about Feb 20 I was with a partial squad of engineers assigned to an infantry company unit. We were patrolling the beach when one of the scouts reported enemy activity on the beach below Wheeler point. The officer in charge cautioned us not to make noise and to keep out of sight while he and the scouts moved forward to assess the situation. When the officer returned, he spoke softly, admonishingly.
He stated that a large number of Japanese soldiers had jumped from the cliffs near Wheeler point in an act of mass suicide. The patrol was motioned to move forward cautiously. I noted that some of the bodies sprawled on the rocks were alive. I examined the general appearance of some of the bodies and noted that some were wearing clean white socks and were not armed, nor were they wearing any ammo belts. They were, for a combat operation, rather clean, almost as if they had participated in a ceremonial activity of washing and preparing to die.
I do not for a minute dispute John Lindgren's account of disposing of the bodies because of the impracticability of burying the dead on "Topside." But I do believe that some of the Japanese soldiers jumped to their death from that point. Either way, the nice picture looks to be Ramsey Ravine. It's not easy to take a photo of that ravine. Part of the problem (tour groups being given incorrect information) seems to be that some tour guides know SFA about the 1945 campaign, and the most important thing for some is to always ensure they "hit the mark" - which means that they have to get the timing right for dropping tourists to the sound and light show, and for the lunchtime refreshments. Many is the time that the busses simply zip past some of the actual attractions and linger at the feigned ones. Given that in 1941-42, there was NO fighting west of Malinta Hill (only bombardments), the actual sites of the 1941-42 battlefield are pretty much ignored. I doubt if many (any?) tour guides could tell you where any of the incidents of 1945 took place.
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Post by okla on May 14, 2009 2:49:12 GMT 8
hi EXO....these are great shots indeed. after viewing the area of the parade ground, HQ, etc a question arose in my mind. these little questions are starting to run me crazy, but they do intrigue me. i worry fots, battery boy, phantom to no end about the most trivial things, but being a bataan/corregidor geek does this to people, i suppose. anyhow, are the dimensions of the present parade ground approximately the same as in december 1941. i have the impression (probably in error) that the tree line on the west end and to some degree, the south side have encroached on the prewar area. i can understand the upkeep of such a large area (mowing, etc) would be easier if the groundskeepers let the jungle creep in a few yards on the boundary lines furtherest from the old theatre, HQ, etc. just wondering, but it seems i am always wondering. senility does this to folks. thanks for any info you might shed on this highly unimportant query.
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Post by fots2 on May 14, 2009 10:08:44 GMT 8
Nice photos Ron, I missed this thread before. My little pocket point and shoot cannot capture some of those. Good work.
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