Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2011 11:26:54 GMT 8
2nd day on the Rock, walked past MacArthurs statue, could`nt resist a pic, "I SHALL RETURN" hmmm that i will, lots still to see.
As i walked along under the burning sun i thought of MacArthur leaving his men in Corregidor, i know he was ordered to leave, but he had a choice, a commanding officer leads his men, i wonder what was going through his mind, "An order to leave for Australia from the president! yipee, lets get the hell out of dodge" or did he begrudge been ordered away, to leave his men to there fate?
Trudging up that bloody road behind Malinta hill i thought of other instances where officers had scarpered to save there skins, general Gordon Bennett running for it at Singapore, Lts Melvill & Coghill at Isandlwana and both being awarded the VC for attempting to save the colours, but getting caught at the river by the Zulu`s and killed, they faced certain death with there men, but mounted there horses and scarpered under the pretence of saving the regimental colours.
A top of Malinta hill standing under the table eating a well deserved orange i tried to put myself in there places, first reaction, hell yes lets get outta here, but having run off and survived could i live with the guilt of having saved my own skin and leaving my men behind who died or suffered as prisoners of war..................... not being in that situation its hard to say what was right or wrong, i guess its an individual decision. More thought required.
Trekked back down to the road after rooting around the hill, made my way to kindley field, the navy tunnel, couple of bunkers, Japanese peace garden, the resort where i stripped naked and lay in the water to cool off dried off under the sun before heading off back to the hotel via the coast road and the south dock, came a cross a tunnel entrance that was not there on my last visit, I`d love to dig into those tunnels................
That last climb up the steps to the hotel showed my age, it doesn't seem that long since i was in my twenties, i stopped at the zip line, hmmmm that looks fun, i know you guys are up in arms over that zip line, but i thought i may have to try it out later in the week.
Later that night after stuffing my face from the limited menu i relaxed in the restaurant sipping a San Miguel light bear and troughing a fruit platter of water melon ( cover with sugar, by me ) fresh pineapple and mango`s, my thoughts wandered back to those earlier in the day, leaders/officers who scarper....... An officer is obliged to stay with his men, and in my opinion MacArthur should have stayed and led the defence, even if it meant defying orders.
Everyone is expendable, there would have been another officer to take MacArthur`s place in the fight against the yellow peril.
And with that weighty decision made, off to bed i did go, head on the pillow, hmmm where shall i go tomorrow........ battery Ramsay methinks, zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
As i walked along under the burning sun i thought of MacArthur leaving his men in Corregidor, i know he was ordered to leave, but he had a choice, a commanding officer leads his men, i wonder what was going through his mind, "An order to leave for Australia from the president! yipee, lets get the hell out of dodge" or did he begrudge been ordered away, to leave his men to there fate?
Trudging up that bloody road behind Malinta hill i thought of other instances where officers had scarpered to save there skins, general Gordon Bennett running for it at Singapore, Lts Melvill & Coghill at Isandlwana and both being awarded the VC for attempting to save the colours, but getting caught at the river by the Zulu`s and killed, they faced certain death with there men, but mounted there horses and scarpered under the pretence of saving the regimental colours.
A top of Malinta hill standing under the table eating a well deserved orange i tried to put myself in there places, first reaction, hell yes lets get outta here, but having run off and survived could i live with the guilt of having saved my own skin and leaving my men behind who died or suffered as prisoners of war..................... not being in that situation its hard to say what was right or wrong, i guess its an individual decision. More thought required.
Trekked back down to the road after rooting around the hill, made my way to kindley field, the navy tunnel, couple of bunkers, Japanese peace garden, the resort where i stripped naked and lay in the water to cool off dried off under the sun before heading off back to the hotel via the coast road and the south dock, came a cross a tunnel entrance that was not there on my last visit, I`d love to dig into those tunnels................
That last climb up the steps to the hotel showed my age, it doesn't seem that long since i was in my twenties, i stopped at the zip line, hmmmm that looks fun, i know you guys are up in arms over that zip line, but i thought i may have to try it out later in the week.
Later that night after stuffing my face from the limited menu i relaxed in the restaurant sipping a San Miguel light bear and troughing a fruit platter of water melon ( cover with sugar, by me ) fresh pineapple and mango`s, my thoughts wandered back to those earlier in the day, leaders/officers who scarper....... An officer is obliged to stay with his men, and in my opinion MacArthur should have stayed and led the defence, even if it meant defying orders.
Everyone is expendable, there would have been another officer to take MacArthur`s place in the fight against the yellow peril.
And with that weighty decision made, off to bed i did go, head on the pillow, hmmm where shall i go tomorrow........ battery Ramsay methinks, zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz