Layac Junction, Bataan

[fots2]

Last week I joined Karl for two days of hiking in the area of the 1942 Bataan “First Line of Defense.”



View of the two GPS Track Logs overlaid onto Google Earth

According to my GPS, we walked a total distance of slightly over 19km. The terrain was relatively flat with numerous low rolling hills. The walking was hot but very easy and we encountered only a few wet spots to bypass.

Links to Karl’s photo albums are in this thread:
corregidor.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=discussions&action=display&thread=703&page=2#

He has excellent maps and labels on his photos so there is no reason to duplicate any of that. Here are some photos I took as we wandered around.

[okla]

Hey Fots....Another great job by you and your running mates. Hard to believe that so much happened on these tranquil acres way back in 1942. Looking at these latest pics has prompted me to reread "Bataan, Our Last Ditch" and "The Fall of the Philippines". Of course, I will be hoping for a different ending, but that never happens even with my over active imagination. Thanks again to you folks for your efforts on this website. Cheers. Postscript...Methinks that those helmets on the statues look more like those of our enemy than the World War I model in use at the time, but I won't sweat the small stuff. It is a nice monument.

[fots2]

Hey okla, when I was sorting the photos I was thinking the same thing about the helmets.

[EXO]

I was wondering if they were a representation of helmets produced locally and issued to the Filipino Army at the time - woven cane helmets? I was trying to find an image of the helmet style. (Am I imagining it?)

Here's a photo of Dan Dizon, from pinoyhistory.proboards.com which does come close to my unreliable recollection.



Dan really seems to do a good job at what he does.

There's got to be some reason why the artist did it the way he did.

[fots2]

EXO,

I agree. Considering the amount of detail in the rest of the memorial there must have been a reason to use that style of helmet. It is an interesting piece of work.

[okla]

Hey Fots. Karl, Battery, Vic or any other on site folks in the PI. Have any of you ever prowled, crawled, hacked your way about the bushes in the "Pocket" battle site(s)? I am sure the area has changed completely due to land clearing,etc. This according to John Toland in his 1960s book, "But Not in Shame", but I betcha you guys could still come up with some interesting stuff. As I understand it, Vic (Vee Vee) is currently scoping out the site (Morong???) of the "last mounted Cavalry charge" by US Army horse soldiers. The area of I Corps where Skinny Wainwright's forces were outflanked is about the last battle location on Bataan that you good folks have left to check out or am I forgetting some? Maybe you can start at the beginning and do it all over. Whatever, I certainly enjoy and appreciate your excellent efforts. Never thought I would actually see photos of these places. Karl, I think, inadvertently, shot a pic of the location of Hospital Number One (Little Baguio) not knowing the significance, at the time, of where he was standing. Wonder if the site of Hospital Number 2, on the Real River near Cabcaben (sp???) is marked by some type plaque or stone??

[fots2]

Sorry okla, I do not have a lot of exploring experience in Bataan. Hopefully others can help you out here.

P.S. I have been having computer problems lately so I'll get some photos online soon.

[Karl Welteke]

TWO LOCAL HEROES AT WORK AT DEATH MARCH MARKER #68 AT THE LAYAC JUNCTION



W334 anyone who has looked at our forum should have gotten to know Bob Hudson and his bride by now. He is a tireless volunteer who is trying to keep alive the history of the Battle of Bataan.

He is a son of Bataan veteran and survivor and maintains a blog about his father’s experience, he and his bride have cleaned and repainted at least one half of the Death March Markers on Luzon, along the route of the infamous Death March:

bataanson.blogspot.com/


URLs for the Layac Junction, First Line of Defense Marker, 38th Inf. Div. Monument and the Death March Marker #68

Corregidor Proboard, Layac Junction, 4 pages already, from Vic and Karl

corregidor.proboards.com/thread/703/layac-junction


Layac Junction from fots2 aka John Moffitt.

corregidor.proboards.com/thread/741/layac-junction-bataan

DMM #68, Layac Junction Monument, Photobucket. The First Line Defense Marker has been seen by many, anyone traveling to Bataan, Zambales or Subic Bay got to thru this intersection and passes this marker. But how many had a closer look? In 2007 I stopped by when I walked the Death March and posted these images

s74.photobucket.com/user/PI-Sailor/library/Death%20March%20Markers%20Death%20Camps%20and%20Memorials/DMM%20No%2068%20Layac?sort=9&page=1


38th Div. Facebook; 38th ID Monument in the Philippines album; Photos from Steve Mitchell who saw this 38th Infantry Division monument at a roundabout in the Phillipines. It's dedicated to the Cyclone Division, the Avengers of Bataan.

www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.889868204392404.1073741899.152461594799739&type=3


2013 Bataan Memorial Death March from the 38th Inf. Div Facebook page.

www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.512253262153902.1073741826.152461594799739&type=3

FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE MARKER (Rotunda, Layac, Dinalupihan), Phil Gov. says it was built by the 38th Inf. Div.

www.bataan.gov.ph/ragingpeninsula/firstline.html





First Walk to the Layac Battle Area.
Several friends of mine are interested in the First Line of Defense at Layac. I am planning to walk there several times. This was the 1st walk and was with my Army friend Chris. We drove to Culis, Hermosa and looked at the rice fields between the National Hwy and the Culo River from the new Hermosa Public Market. That will be another walk, that is were the Philippine Army 71st Div was manning the defense line. Then we parked at the entrance of the Hermosa Economic Industrial Park (HEIP). We basically walked the road along the north perimeter of HEIP towards the village Little Baguio and continued west to Bacong and then returned checking out the low ridge line running towards Layac which come from the Mt. Natib Volcano. This area was manned by the 31st Inf. US Army, 26th Cav. Philippine Scouts and the 23rd and 88th FA Philippine Scouts. We wanted to look for possible artillery positions that may have been used.

s74.photobucket.com/user/PI-Sailor/library/Walk%20in%20the%20Philippines/No%202%20Walk%20PI%20Group/Layac%20Project/HEIP%20to%20Bacong%202010-06-15?sort=9&page=1
or
tinyurl.com/nwujdlf


Second Walk in Layac!
On the 19th of June 2010 I did my 2nd walk in the Layac Battle area. My Army Buddy Chris was my partner again. This walk was in the area where the Tama River flows into the Colo River and I believe we were at or right behind the front line which the two Battalions of the 31st Inf. manned. We came across some spots that made us wonder whether they were Artillery impact holes. In the album above I recommend that you look close at the hill I labeled CP Hill. I think it was important for observation and placing artillery behind it.

s74.photobucket.com/user/PI-Sailor/library/Walk%20in%20the%20Philippines/No%202%20Walk%20PI%20Group/Layac%20Project/to%20Colu%20Rv%202010-06-19?sort=9&page=1
or
tinyurl.com/o574c4y


Third Walk in Layac, 21st June 2010 This walk had the purpose to look deeper into the rear for the possible Artillery Positions and to have a closer look at holes in the ground near the Culo River at Layac. Where they Carabao wallows or WWII artillery impact holes? John, fots2, had come to join in this effort. We had a good walk and considered several locations where the artillery positions might have been.

s74.photobucket.com/user/PI-Sailor/library/Walk%20in%20the%20Philippines/No%202%20Walk%20PI%20Group/Layac%20Project/Around%20rear%20of%20Arty-Positions%202010-06-21?sort=9&page=1
or
tinyurl.com/o7ybm8g


Fourth Walk in Layac, 2013-06-22
My friend John and I decided to scout out and get a picture of the area the Philippine 71st Div. defended. Basically this area was between the national Highway and the Culo River.
We walked a circle around the area where the 71st Division of the Philippine Army had their positions

s74.photobucket.com/user/PI-Sailor/library/Walk%20in%20the%20Philippines/No%202%20Walk%20PI%20Group/Layac%20Project/71st%20PA%20Div%20area%202010-06-22?sort=9&page=1
or
tinyurl.com/ncoed2y


Here's a good background on the battle, lifted from the John Whitman book. Good for reference.

www.historynet.com/battle-of-bataan-brigadier-general-clyde-a-selleck-commands-the-layac-line.htm


This album is from the visit of Victor Verano and his friends to Bataan. We visited the Layac Defense Position of the 88th FA PS, the Mabatang MLR Marker, the Balanga Church, the Alangang River Last Defense Line Marker, the Gen. Wainwright Surrender Marker, the Death March Zero Marker in Mariveles and the Longos Kawayan Point Battle area. Most of the images have been upload with a high resolution.

s74.photobucket.com/user/PI-Sailor/library/X%20for%20HR%20Albums/Bataan%20HR%20images/Bataan%20w%20Victor%202013-07-08?sort=9&page=1


The Death March Markers are a constant reminder to us in the Philippines of the tragedy of the defeat in the Philippines and the immeasurable sacrifices there by the Philippine and US Forces. There are 10 pages already.

corregidor.proboards.com/thread/813/death-march-markers


As I said Vic is a most energetic man, his first priority is his family and his job of course. Whenever he has time he is contributing to this bulletin board but he also participates on the Facebook Battle of Bataan page, is the secretary of the Philippine Scout association and has his own web page:

www.facebook.com/groups/bataanbattle/

www.philippine-scouts.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl

pinoyhistory.proboards.com/

[Karl Welteke]

LAYAC JUNCTION ROADWORK IS COMPLETE; FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE MONUMENT IS OK

All year roadwork has been going on at the Layac Junction, all around the First Line of Defense Monument, built by the 38th Inf. Div according a Bataan Government webpage. It was difficult because of the heavy traffic that has to pass here into and from Bataan and Zambales. The roadwork is completed, not only around the First Line of Defense Monument but also several bridges have been widened and that work is complete also. Recently, 2015-11-21, I had reason to visit Death March Marker Km 67 which is only 1 Km south of the Layac Junction First Line of Defense Monument. So we also visited this monument and these pictures are from this visit.

Twelve images have been uploaded into this Photobucket album:

s74.photobucket.com/user/PI-Sailor/library/Death%20March%20Markers%20Death%20Camps%20and%20Memorials/Memorials%20and%20Markers-any%20other/Layac%20Junction%20Monument%20Nov%202015?sort=9&page=1
or
tinyurl.com/oddoa4y

6 images are presented here but they are much smaller than in the album above:



W 331 all year roadwork has been going on at the Layac Junction, all around the First Line of Defense Monument, built by the 38th Inf. Div according a Bataan Government webpage. It was difficult because of the heavy traffic that has to pass here into and from Bataan and Zambales at all times.



W350 (R3) the roadwork is completed, not only around the First Line of Defense Monument but also several bridges have been widened and that work is complete also. I indicated it on this section of a 1:50000 map.



W351 (R2) a visit to the Layac Junction First Line of Defense Monument 2015-11-21, I took the young people from my household along for a history lesson. Death March Marker Km 68 is also located here.



W352 (R5) the Layac Junction First Line of Defense Monument, the grass and or weed is mended, in front we see the metal 38th Inf. Div. Memorial Marker, the Bataan Avengers. The road at left goes to Bataan, right to Zambales.



W353 (R9) the Layac Junction First Line of Defense Monument is basically a triangle and at this corner, pointing north, in the direction of Zambales is the Battle of the Layac Memorial Plaque honoring all the defenders and a few special ones.

Note: readable copies of these plaques are in the album above or in this thread, just scroll up/ back a little (good fots2 images are available)



W354 (R11) a view of the Layac Junction First Line of Defense Monument from the south, left it goes to Bataan, right to Pampanga, straight ahead to Dinalupihan, then makes a left turn and heads for Olongapo and Zambales.