Miscellaneous travels on Corregidor

[fots2]

The past two days I had the pleasure to accompany a WWII liberation veteran and his family to Corregidor Island. It was his first return to the island since the war and both days were spent on a private tour.

As a 24 year old member of the 503rd PRCT Company ‘H’, Sgt. John Teffenhart was among the first to jump onto Drop Zone ‘A’ (the Topside Parade Ground). Sometime after 8:30am on February 16th 1945, his stick exited the C-47 transport plane and two swings later, he was on the ground. Aerial photos taken that day show most paratroopers landed a bit south-west of the Parade Ground towards Battery Wheeler but he was right on target landing near the NW corner of it. He was in command of a 60mm Mortar squad.








Parachutes litter the Topside Parade Ground. Mile Long Barracks are in the background.

Today, Mr. Teffenhart is 93 years old and as far as I know, the most senior veteran to return. He is an amazing man to talk to and understandably did not prefer any fuss made about his trip. A simple CFI honor guard on arrival was appreciated though.




Note that this active young paratrooper took a bad fall just days before his trip to the Philippines so his son assisting him is usually not required. He is temporarily limited in what he can do but I hope he is back out chopping wood and salmon fishing very soon.




In the Corregidor Museum, Mr. Teffenhart is explaining a mortar to his daughter and grand-son.




For transport, the 60mm mortar was disassembled and each man carried a piece of it. Mr. Teffenhart dropped onto Corregidor with the square base plate strapped to his chest.




Mr. Teffenhart at the 503rd memorial plaques on Topside. The Parade Ground is behind him.

I suppose that anyone can eventually rise to display their full potential but imagine many of today’s generation having to experience what these guys went through. After Corregidor, Mr. Teffenhart fought in Negros where he witnessed events that will haunt him forever. Later in Negros he was seriously wounded.

The whole family were great people to meet and I am sure their visit was something that none of them will forget. To see and walk the ground where they had only read about before is quite an experience.

I am fortunate to have met another one of the Corregidor Island’s WWII veterans. Thanks to the family for letting me share their dad/grand-dad’s return trip.

[pdh54]

What a memorable experience for his family and you.

Thank you for sharing some of it with us FOTS.

Patty

[okla]

Hey Fots....Good stuff. I am always amazed when considering the very short minute (or maybe seconds) that elapsed between leaving the transport planes, the shoot "popping" and the actual hitting the ground. No time to "sight see" in that descent. These guys had more guts than a United States Senator and damned sure more of my admiration. Thanks for posting.

[fots2]

Here is a bit of gossip that I was told by a couple of Sun Cruises’ guides during my last trip to Corregidor. On the ferry ride to the island we have time to chat before they go to work and I wander off somewhere else. I forgot about this until Phantom and chadhill made posts today about the Japanese Memorial Garden and Denver Hill.

A few days earlier a former Japanese sailor who fought on Corregidor in 1945 had returned to the island for a one day visit. He was accompanied by an NHK (Japan Public Broadcasting) film crew, an interpreter, an author writing a book about him and various other press people. The crowd attracted attention so here is what was told to the guides.

This man had been stationed on Corregidor and was a member of the Shinyo suicide boat units. During the retaking of Corregidor in 1945, a number of Japanese tried to escape by swimming. He was in the water for about 24 hours but made it to Bataan. The "victor’s" accounts of shooting and strafing these swimmers do not mention any enemy successes in reaching land but according to this man, a few including him did make it.

It would be interesting to hear his stories. Perhaps someday the book will be available.




Wall plaque at the Japanese Memorial Garden on Corregidor.



Type 1 Shinyo

Specifications:

Tonnage 1.35 tons
Dimensions 19.7' by 5.4' by 1' (6m by 1.64m by 0.30m)
Maximum speed 18 knots with warhead
Complement 1
Armament 551-661 lb (250-300 kg) explosive charge
Propulsion (1) Toyota KC Special Type automobile engine, (2) 120mm SO-RA rockets
Production 6197 of all types

The Shinyo ("Sea Quake") were small motor boats intended for suicide attack. They were built of plywood and powered by automobile engines and carried a large explosive charge in their noses. The pilot was expected steer the boat into an Allied ship, using the SO-RA rockets for last minute acceleration, with the charge exploding on impact.

(Info courtesy pwencycl.kgbudge.com/S/h/Shinyo_motorboat_class.htm)

[chadhill]

Very interesting, fots. Japanese survivors of Corregidor are a scarce breed. Thank you for passing this on to us.

[fots2]

You are welcome. I have another interesting story regarding a Japanese Corregidor veteran but I have to get more details before I post it.

[EXO]

I really don't have the time just now to go through each of the books and give page number references, but I do beg to differ concerning there being a silence in the victors' accounts concerning attempts to prevent swimmers from making it to Bataan, straffing by aircraft, swimmers being shot at from PT boats etc. The details are well disclosed, and from multiple sources, and I have seen a photograph of a POW who agreed to be taken aboard a PT Boat.

The comments generally were that those who agreed to be captured, were - and those who did not were not allowed to make landfall on Bataan - provided they could be found.

I deliberately use the word "agreed" because from the accounts concerning the episode usually included how swimmers refused to be captured, even when exhausted and unable to swim further.

However, Fots, yours is a very good observation post, and thanks for making it.

[fots2]

I have also read that after a few incidents where Japanese in the water with hand grenades or guns resisted capture, from then on the swimmers were just shot. It was war, I would do the same.

[okla]

Hey Fots....Do you not find it ironic, that back in May 1942 the Japs moved heaven and earth to get on the "Rock", and then, in 1945, some of them were busting their butts to get off. Just sayin'. Cheers.

[darthdract]

Awesome story about Mr. Teffenhart. I hope I can meet some Veterans in Corregidor before its too late. It would be nice to hear his stories. I remember those Mortars and Machine Guns at the Museum when I visited last year. I can't wait to return.