[with
commentary by Bill Calhoun]
Army Regulations required that
each and every day, even during Combat operations, reports must issue
from each infantry company, artillery battery and all other basic units,
to higher headquarters. Though not always accurate, they were at
least supposed to be contemporaneous.
The E Co Journal was written by E Co's XO, Lt. Don Abbott, and again
rewritten by Abbott on orders of Lt. Hill. The difference,
Abbott later commented, was
to make any reference to Lt. Hill more satisfactory to Lt. Hill.
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2d
Bn "E" Company Journal
9
February 1945
2d
Bn "E" Company Journal
15
February 1945
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The Company has all been
briefed for the mission. We
have the honor of
jumping and recapturing
Corregidor. General McArthur
has sent his blessings
and wishes us Gods speed. |
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2d
Bn "E" Company Journal
16
February 1945
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0930 |
The company entrucked for
San Jose airstrip. |
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1120 |
The Battalion is enplaning. |
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1130 |
All planes are taking off.
Only half are taking off
from San Jose
strip. The other half is
taking off from Hill strip. |
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1230 |
The plane loads began
jumping. We are making three
passes because the
field is very short and the
wind velocity is high. This
jump area is un�doubtedly
the roughest any parachute
unit has ever jumped on.
There is a
cliff at one end, shell
holes, rubble, half cut-off
trees in between and at
the other end is a three
story barracks building.
Another unusual factor
is
that our
planes were fired upon by
light Ack, Ack while they
were making
their passes. The men on the
way down were under small
arms fire from over
the cliff and knee mortar
fire was being lain on the
jump field. |
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The platoons have organized
and are now in their
positions. The Company
C.P. has been set up in the
partially ruined barracks
once occupied by
the
59th C.A. The third platoon
moved
out with
the mission of seizing the
hospital. A
patrol out of the first
platoon went back to the
drop area to
bring in Rabinko and Pace
who were pinned down by M.G.
fire. |
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1415 |
The American flag was
raised. Five men are MIA
after the jump. One
Off. and 21 Em were WIA or
LIA |
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2d
Bn "E" Company Journal
17
February 1945
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Our platoons are pulling light patrols. S/Sgt Ledoux, formerly MIA,
was killed this morning by sniper
fire while a patrol from 'F' Co. was attempting
to get him to the aid station after being wounded on the jump.
Four men are still missing in
Action: S/Sgt Gulsvick, Pfc's High, Musolino and Rovolis.
Resupply has been coming in all day. |
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2d
Bn "E" Company Journal
18
February 1945
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0900 |
The
first platoon with one squad from the third platoon, an Engr.
demolition section and a section of
LMG's moved out to capture the water point in James Ravine.
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1100 |
Heavy resistance was met as they approached the main water point.
Three of the first platoon were KIA
(Segobia, Redding and Redfield) and
three men WIA. This position
required air and naval fire so we withdrew to high ground. RCT
reports 930 nips KIA.
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2d
Bn "E" Company Journal
19
February 1945
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0700 |
Two
Nips KIA as they were approaching the mortar platoon position. Lt
Whitson and six men were sent to the
water point to investigate the damage
done to the underground barracks in
James Ravine. P-47's dive bombed the
position with 500# bombs and they
returned with Napalm bombs. The patrol
reported heavy damage to the
barracks either as a result of the bombing or
demolition by the Nips. One prisoner
was captured and brought in for questioning. |
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2d
Bn "E" Company Journal
20
February 1945
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Last
night was very quiet, no enemy movement. 7 Nips KIA today. The
water point was occupied by the 1st
and 3rd platoons. The Engr. platoon
has closed up 18 tunnels and cave
entrances. The insignia taken from the
Nip bodies show they are the elite
of the Jap armed forces or Imperial
Marines. They have all been well
armed, well fed and they are excellent shots.
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2d
Bn "E" Company Journal
21
February 1945
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0800 |
The
Company, with
LMG
platoon
and Engr. platoon attached, started on
patrol along James Ravine to the beach and along the water to Cape Cor�regidor.
Engr's. closed 2 caves and company killed 16 Nips. PFC. Culpepper
WIA by grenade fragments. Before we moved along the beach a destroyer
laid fire along the high ground
overlooking the beach. On the way back
from Cape Corregidor, along the road
net, we found many vehicles disbursed by the Japs. There were
vehicles of all description: trucks, sedans,
motorcycles, the Jap version of the
Jeep, etc. and all were very well camouflaged. Most were in good
condition. |
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2d
Bn "E" Company Journal
22
February 1945
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Light patrol
work between Morrison Point and Rock Point. Area is
fairly clear, 6 Nips KIA. Lt Whitson and Pfc. Dvorsack
LIA
by a grenade concussion. The
first platoon, which was very short of men has been split up between the
second and third platoons.
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2d
Bn "E" Company Journal
23
February 1945
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0800 |
The Company is leaving to take over "B" Co's area and patrol between
Searchlight and Wheeler Points.
When the company reached Searchlight Point the third platoon was
sent down to the beach while the second platoon
stayed on the road. While advancing
on unnamed point the second platoon
killed about three or four Nips
hidden under some vehicles along the road.
The third platoon began to advance
to unnamed point and ran into a cave at
water level. They killed 37 Japs
and had no casualties. Pvt. Robinson was
killed on the Point by a sniper.
The second platoon advanced on Wheeler
Point along the road to the tunnel
entrance. While just a short distance
from the entrance they came under
fire. White phosphorus grenades were
thrown into the entrance and a
large number of Nips ran out so we could mow them down, Then
snipers began to fire at us from small tunnels on the three different
sides. Our ammunition was running low so we had to withdraw. Pvt. Jandro
and Second Lt. Ball were KIA. Pfc. Brown was
seriously WIA. We estimate the
Company killed between one hundred and a hundred and twenty Japs.
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2d
Bn "E" Company Journal
24
February 1945
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The Company is remaining on the perimeter today to rest up and get all
its ammunition resupplied.
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2d
Bn "E" Company Journal
25
February 1945
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One patrol from the third platoon worked the area of James Ravine. No
enemy activity. Several Nips have
been spotted trying to escape to Bataan by swimming. PT boats and
planes have been getting most of them. |
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2d
Bn "E" Company Journal
26
February 1945
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Three short patrols today. The second platoon returned to Unnamed
Point to pick up the body of Pfc.
Robinson. The third platoon patrolled the area in and around
Morrison Point and captured one Nip.
Pfc. Brown died of wounds received in action on the 23rd.
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2d
Bn "E" Company Journal
27
February 1945
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The third platoon patrolling Morrison Point found a small cave oc�cupied
by the Japs. 7 Japs KIA. The Engr. section was called to blow up
the entrance. On approaching the
entrance again, a sniper in the cave shot
Pfc. Edwards through the shoulder.
Pfc. Edwards died shortly after being brought to the hospital. |
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2d
Bn "E" Company Journal
28
February 1945
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The platoons made short local patrols.
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2d
Bn "E" Company Journal
1
March 1945
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No patrol activity today.
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2d
Bn "E" Company Journal
2
March 1945
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0900 |
General McArthur, Admiral Nimitz and many high ranking staff officers
came to inspect the island. The
General seemed very well pleased with our actions. We furnished
one squad for guard of honor.
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2d
Bn "E" Company Journal
3
March 1945
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0900 |
No
patrolling
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2d
Bn "E" Company Journal
4
March 1945
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No patrolling |
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2d
Bn "E" Company Journal
5
March 1945
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No
patrolling today
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2d
Bn "E" Company Journal
6
March 1945
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A large Ammo dump approximately 100 yards from the Company C.P. caught
fire.
The C.P. was moved to a safe
position.
The dump exploded but caused no casualties.
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2d
Bn "E" Company Journal
7
March 1945
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Presentation of awards took place.
Lt.
Hill
was presented the
Silver
Star and Pvt. Jandro the
Silver
Star posthumously.
Pfc.
Cubbage and 1st Lt Corder were awarded the Bronze Star.
Preparations are being made to move back to Mindoro.
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