Then and Now Photos

[xray]

What is the "gruesome event" that took place at the Ordinance Machine Shop in 1945 ?

[Registrar]

May 30, 2013 13:08:59 GMT 8 xray said:

What is the "gruesome event" that took place at the Ordinance Machine Shop in 1945 ?

(Photo: We were on a break when hell broke loose. The Machine Shop is built into Way Hill)

75mm howitzer shells from the 462d Artillery Battalion hitting Japanese machine gun positions in support of the attacking parachute infantry. Corregidor, 19 February 1945. (U.S. Army Photo SC 380674)

Lee had taken the two squads of the 2nd Plt and the two squads of the mortar Platoon back to the company on Way Hill. I was commanding 3d Platoon to finish destroying the bunch of Japanese machineguns and the rifles and then join the company. When I got to Way Hill the Company had moved and left orders that we follow them.

When we made the turn around the hill and approached what I now know to be the Machine shop, smoke was coming out of the south part of the building (see photo).

Notice all but one of us in this attack do not have any webbing on, not even rifle belts. We'd dropped belts and suspenders when we took the break. We were all wearing a solid mass of flies. During the break, Fred Morgan walked over and looked in the Machine shop. A rifle shot rang out, and he dropped dead.

We brought in one of the artillery 75's which opened up direct fire over their iron sights. Henry McCrory opened up with his flat trajectory 60mm. Burl says the artillery did get some rounds in, but they did not fire nearly as many as did McCrory. Red Horse said the artillery never got a round into an opening, but that McCrory got a hit with every round. Burl Martin and Red Horse said 50 rounds were fired.

The Japanese inside there, some dozens of them, all of them concussed, eventually had to be dispatched by cold steel.

William T. Calhoun

more detail, see: Bless 'em All - 19 February - Day 4

[okla]

Hey Fots....As a matter of fact I just received an EMail from the Sly Australian Fox and he said that he and his wife would be on Corregidor tomorrow. Now what date that is over there and whether it coincides with your jaunt out to the Rock I don't know. That International Date Line thing always blew my mind. I remember a guy on our troop ship who had two Birthdays in a row and one who missed out completely. Don't remember which one was going over and which event was coming home, but it still gives me "brain blisters" when I try to get it straight in my mind. It would be great if you all could hook up. I suppose you could check the manifest,etc at Sun Cruise. They might even have his Manila Hotel address. His name is Terry Oglevie-ONeil if you already didn't know. He would be the distinquished gent with the lovely Filipina wife, but I suppose this description would fit about half the folks on the tour. Cheers.

[fots2]

I was out most of today so did not have time to reply earlier. Thanks to Registrar for taking care of that for me, he has quoted the event that I was referring to. For me, the paragraph below is the most gruesome one.

“When Lee's force got inside they realized that it was too dangerous to fire within the vault-like room because of the danger of ricochets; consequently, they attacked with trench knives and bayonets killing about 27 Japs in the room. They came out with very bloody fatigues. When our platoon arrived the action was over but smoke was still coming out of the openings. There were billions of flies on the island by this time (bloated corpses everywhere) covering every square inch. The poor guys in the bloody fatigues looked like they were wearing a mat of flies”.

[fots2]

Thank-you for the information okla. I will ask about him tomorrow when checking-in. I hope it is the correct tomorrow.

[Registrar]

The Ordnance Machine Shop is but one of a number of instances which occurred on Corregidor which illustrates that the retaking of Corregidor was nothing glorious, but was instead a tragedy for all concerned. Indeed, the words which I have used, approved by Bill Calhoun, have played the episode down. I cannot pass it by without thinking of what they had to do, and yet, all I did was retell the telling of it.

It is well that war is so terrible, otherwise we should grow too fond of it - Robert E. Lee

[wwalker]

Hello,

I am alittle late in responding, but in regards to the approximate location of Battery Globe on the golf course:

From A.A. Abston writings in the National Archives:

"About 9:00am next morning I went up to the Golf course with my First Sergeant for a detailed reconnaisance of the position. I desired as much mask from the South Shore as was obtainable, so I located the gun emplacements on the lower edge of the golf course to take advantage of a very thin screen of trees along the road. I had previously decided that the best camouflage is in the open, bomb-packed golf course with bomb craters. So I picked conveniently located real craters for the beginning of pit emplacements for guns and instruments. For missing facilities we arranged to ration with Battery H, 59th CA at Battery Geary."

In regards to Abston's CP:

"I was in my CP with my BN section located on a ridge near the center of the golf course and directly overlooking and about 20 yards distant from No. 1 Green."


WW

[fots2]

Hi WW,

Thanks for the information. That is the best description of where Battery Globe was located that I have seen. Near the road is where we found what looked like an emplacement or two. There are many craters further onto the golf course but I never considered them as being used by Abston’s men. It may be worth another look for any evidence of something there other than just a hole.

I am not aware of anything near the center of the golf course that would resemble a CP. There is what looks like a man-made fox hole near there but I would expect a CP to be more elaborate. I have no idea where No.1 Green would have been.

[fots2]

Okla,

Earlier you mentioned about the “Sly Australian Fox” going to Corregidor tomorrow. Well, his tomorrow was also my tomorrow and we met up at the ferry terminal. We had a good chat all the way to Corregidor. He is a very nice gent and hopefully we can meet for a hike someday. Thank-you for the heads up. (By the way, he has tried to reply to you online but his Manila internet connection was bad).

[okla]

Hey Fots....Well, that's great news. Two proud members of the Commonwealth, a "Mountie and an Aussie", hooking up, way out there in the PI. Outstanding.!!! Everything worked out as if it was planned from the "git go". Once in a blue moon, this old goat does something in a correct manner. Hopefully, someday, you all can plan on joining forces for a "real" outing on the Rock. Cheers.