Then and Now Photos

[okla]

Hey Chad....It definitely would appear that troops taking cover behind those things were pretty well protected. After all these years, corrosion, decay and rot be damned, they still are standing tall and hanging tough. Again, I say, I love these "before and after/then and now" pix. Do keep them coming as long as you have them to post. Cheers.

[chadhill]

Thanks, okla. The bullet holes in the upright barrel on the right struck a nerve in me as I walked by. I remember carrying a copy of the Belote "Saga" book as I explored Denver Hill and Water Tank Hill, and on this trip I also found the two water tanks. I was alone, the only person exploring this side of the island, and an eerie, spooky feeling came over me as I thought of what had happened in this spot so long ago. That same feeling struck me later when I walked on top of Quinauan Point, and at Iwo.

[okla]

Hey Chad....Seems that your imagination acts up as does mine when prowling historic sights, especially old battlefields. I realize that it's not a World War II site, but if you ever get the opportunity, visit the Little Big Horn Battlefield. Nothing to really see, but maybe that's what makes the place so eerie. Just open country, the white grave markers, and a lonesome, mournful wind usually blowing. One of the Park Rangers told me that "Ghosts literally walk at midday" on those ridges. I would imagine that trudging over the "sands of Iwo Jima" would certainly provoke one's imagination. I used to know a former US Marine who had an urn of sand from the island sitting atop his fireplace mantel in his home. He had fought on the island in 1945, returned in the 1980s and scooped up a jar of the black stuff and brought it home. "Bloody Ridge" near Henderson Field on Guadalcanal would be another place that I am sure would fire up my imagination. I could imagine Japs still lurking in the jungle all around the perimeter of that barren elevation. There are so many places that I would give my front seat in Hades to visit, but Corregidor (with side trips to Bataan) still sit at the very top of my list of places I will never have the opportunity to explore. Keep the good stuff coming. Cheers.

[chadhill]

Okla, I've always wanted to visit the Little Big Horn. My wife did years ago, and she was spellbound. Yes, Iwo was a humbling experience. I was struck very much. Unfortunately, I was only there an afternoon in 1986 to refuel. Like your friend, I scooped up some blackish volcanic sand to take home. I walked over halfway from the new airfield to Suribachi and at the time I did not realize it, but I was just south of the old airfield #1 and near where Gunny Basilone fell.

[okla]

Hey Chad....Your very excellent photo of Iwo depicts, with the greenery, a much more inviting looking locale than the scorched earth pix from 1945 that we are so familiar with. Another place that is supposed to be rather"spooky" is Wake Island. You probably have been there in your Pacific travels. My cousin, a retired, career USAF M/Sgt, spent a day on Wake back in the early 1960s while his MATS transport was being refueled,etc, enroute to Okinawa. He spent 8 or 9 hours prowling the beaches, especially the landing areas on Wilkes and Wake's southern shoreline. As with the Little Big Horn, nothing to really see, but he said his imagination ran away with him (must be in our family DNA) and he could hear the Japanese landing craft motors even with the wind blowing. I inquired if he had spent too much time in the Wake Lounge (if, indeed, there was such an establishment handy). Cheers.

[chadhill]

Okla, nope I never made it to Wake, unfortunately, but always wanted to. Besides my trips to Corregidor and Bataan, I spent several weeks on Guam (had a rewarding time prowling some old battlefields there), a few days on Okinawa (saw Shuri but not much else, and got lost looking for Sugar Loaf Hill in a housing subdivision), a couple days at Pearl (another somber event) and the afternoon stop at Iwo. Flew low-level over Peleliu, Tinian, and I think Saipan and Yap, and other PI sites.

In September 2001 I was all packed and ready to go on a twelve day expedition to Peleliu for the battle's 1944 anniversary. I'd been researching it for five years, had all the arrangements made, all necessary gear, with maps, photos and guidance courtesy of Eric Mailander, without doubt the world's leading authority on the battle. Then 9/11 put it on ice for several years, and due to other developments I've not been able to try again. Maybe someday. Peleliu is one of the more relatively undisturbed WW2 battlefields in the world due to its remote location.

[okla]

Hey Chad....My boss of many years (I am a retired computer operator) was a USMC Corporal on Peleliu. He didn't make the initial landings, but was there in time for plenty of combat. He said that the Japanese positions, at one time, were so close to the captured airstrip that the Marine close support aircraft barely had left the runway before they dropped their ordnance on the enemy caves,etc. Another yarn he spun was after the island was declared secured there were still some pockets or resistance. One in particular was becoming a "pain in the butt" and needed to be eliminated. Some CP personnel who felt that they had missed the real fighting volunteered for the mop up detail. The First Sergeant of the HQ Company told these guys to "have at it" since they were so "Gung Ho" to get their bayonets,etc bloodied. A Squad strength (8 or 10 guys) unit attempted to seal the cave and lost 6 or 7 men dead and wounded. Regular "grunts" were thrown back into action and the mission was accomplished. Thought you might be interested in these little tales about that battle that some said should never have been fought. I am sure you have heard about all that and the controversy about by-passing the place since it had very little strategic value by the time the invasion was to be kicked off. You spoke of SugarLoaf on Okie. Another cousin of mine who had fought as Infantry thru New Guinea, Leyte and finally Okinawa was wounded at said locale. He had received a Battlefield Commission on Okinawa due to all the Officers and NonComs ahead of him having been knocked out, either KIA or wounded. On his first mission as a Commissioned Officer (Platoon Leader) 90 percent of his unit were casualties, including himself. He always said that his career as a Commissioned Officer was a flop. He lived till 84 years of age, sporting a pretty good sized scar on his hip and ribs. We have wandered far afield from Corregidor/Bataan, I fear, but did manage to remain in the Pacific Theatre. Maybe we won't get into any hot water for our transgressions. Cheers. I always enjoy BS-ing with you.

[chadhill]

Thanks for passing those interesting stories to me, okla. I enjoy reading your posts and BS-ing with you, too....I hope we're forgiven for drifting a bit "off topic" here, too, but as you said, we did stay focused on the Pacific.

[fots2]

Hey, you two keep it up, those are great stories.

I was lucky enough to get to Peleliu once. Although some people live there, if you get away from the roads it is still a battlefield. A few photos of that trip and other areas are here:
www.pbase.com/fots2/pacific

I'll get some more "Then and Now" photos posted when I get some time. A few other things to come first.

chadhill, when are you coming back to Corregidor?

[okla]

Hey Fots....Thanks for posting those pix of the Marianas,etc once again. I enjoyed viewing them once more. The shot of Truk Lagoon is almost in the same league as the one of the sun setting behind Mt Mariveles (your avatar and my PC screen backdrop). In fairness the Truk pic is as excellent as the Mt. Mariveles one, but Truk ain't Corregidor ( if you get my drift).