3. OUR OPERATIONS:

a. INFANTRY: By platoon and company action, enemy positions were assaulted in the following vicinities:

ICE PLANT (32.7-40.7), EMPLACEMENT, MORRISON POINT, BATTERY (30.9-40.4), BATTERY ((31.05-40.2), BATTERY (30.8-39.8), RIDGE LINE (32.0-39.2), BREAKWATER POINT, TUNNELS ON MALINTA HILL." 

4. OUR CASUALTIES:

a. OUR CASUALTIES: This Report- 8 KIA, 56 WIA, 19 IIA (Additional reported). 7 MIA.

b. ENEMY CASUALTIES: This Report- 729 NIA, 0 PW.

To Date- 1090 KIA, ) PW.

#52 1000

Navy shelled Rock Point and James gully, and Morrison Point and the 462 F.A. shelled ridge from land side preparatory to being attacked by our 2nd Bn. Enemy dug in caves and only entrance is by climbing down rope.

#53 1100

Mg opened up at 30.6-40.5) and immediately wiped out by direct fire from field artillery.

#54 1515

Air napon strike on NE side Malinta point and very effective setting off ammo & fuel dump. 3rd Bn 34th lnf still meeting strong resistance from eastern end of Corregidor. Malinta tunnel is still a secret.

#55 1100

Report on Breakwater Pt strike and estimate of enemy casualties of 720 to date sent to XI Corps Msg #55

#56 1200 Msg#2 (56)

Report of enemy positions in vicinity of ice plant (32.7-40.7) destroyed and road to beach open- reported to XI Corps.

#57 1430

Situation report to XI corps.   Msg. 3   (57)

#58 1800

Situation Report to XI Corps.    Msg. 4  (58)

#59 1855

       "          "    at end of period to XI Corps.   Msg 5

#60 2230

No change report to XI Corps.   Msg 6

#61 2300

Report on Malinta tunnels to XI Corps.   Msg  7.

I have messages from the 2nd Battalion S-2, 1st Lt C. J. Berry, to the Regimental S-2.  I wish I had all of them,  but I only have those for the 18 and 19 February. I will give what I have.

No 3

At 181000I (310.5-395.2). Five (5) enemy K.I.A. Physical condition & clothing & equipment good. It seems to be new. Documents, diaries, maps, etc is included with the delivery of this message.

No. 4

At 181030I (310.8-395.4). Fifteen (15) enemy K.I.A. reported by "F" Co. Physical condition good. Documents, diaries, maps etc are being sent with this message.

No. 5

At 1810301 (315.7-395.2) one (1) enemy M.G. reported Fox Co. Al observed two steel door entrances to caves at (315.3-390.4). No other intonation reported.

No. 6

At 181200I Pvt Keller and one (1) man from "D" Co. were stranded (310.5-390.4) since jump.  Night of 16th observed mortar firing in direction of C.P. from (310.5-390.5) It is estimated that twenty-five (25) enemy with mortar. Pot Keller believes that Jap mortar crew bivouac in vicinity of (315.3-395.2). Large tunnel also at (315.0-390.7) was searched. Equipment turned in with message.

No. 7

At181230I (310.4-395.3) "F" Co reported two (2) enemy K.I.A. Physical condition good. Documents etc turned in with this message.

No. 8

At 181230I (312.2-410.3).     Easy Co. reports small enemy water point secured by our troops.

No. 9

At 1809001 (305.6-395.7).      Fourteen (14) enemy K.I.A. reported by 2nd BN S-3. Enemy K.I.A.'s have not been searched. Impossible until later.

No. 10

At 181145I (305.6-395.4).    Forty two (42) K.I.A. reported by 2nd Bn S-3. Enemy K.I.A.'s cannot be searched until later. Other information will be sent in promptly as soon as it arrives.

No. 11

At 181725I in the vicinity of (305.8-400.9). Fox Co. reported twenty-(24) enemy K.I.A. no other reports in regards to enemy K.I.A.

No. 12

At 181730I In the vicinity of (31.8-40.8). Easy Co. reports twenty-one (21) enemy K.I.A. These bodies cannot he searched until enemy M.G. positions are knocked out. In the same position (310.7-405.7) it is estimated that at least seven (7)enemy M.G.'s are in operation.

No. 13

Easy Co reported enemy hold up in Inf. Barracks (31.41-41.1). Main pumping station at (31.45-41.7) still in enemy (hands).    estimated five (5) L.M. (G's)extended (31.4-40.9) to (31.4-41.15).     1 HMG & 2 LMG at Inf Barracks (31.41-41.1).

About 0230 the pillbox on the south that had been worked over, blew up in flames burning for about half an hour. About 0330 from our east we heard cries that sounded like a Jap banzai charge probably near the sea borne troops. In connection with same there was much firing. At dawn all was quiet. Our 3rd L.m.g. Platoon came back from perimeter- they had done some firing and claimed a few Nips to their credit. With the little water we had left we made some coffee and drew two "K" rations per man.     The best estimate we could get out of men. in the hospital was 36. Lt. Lee was transferred to "F" Co. due to their having only two left. Lt. MacKenzie assumed command of the 3rd Lmg Platoon. This morning a patrol of "E" Co., with some of our  machine gunners went after some infantry dugouts on the north shore. They were assisted by Navy shelling and 75's from our artillery. The remaining pillboxes on north were all shelled - quite a bit of artillery firing. Pfc Richard A. Guidice previously missing in action was reported brought in killed, our first. At 1130 we were issued 5 cans of water, enough for 1 canteen cup per man. The S-4 says that's all for today - I hope he's wrong.  they're starting to evacuate some of the hospital cases to the beach. The Nips have been identified as marines. The afternoon passed by more quietly than yesterday. "E" Co patrol lost 3 killed and 3 casualties on their patrols. One of our machine gun men was shot in the sane action. Prom reports they accounted for 35-40 Nips. I guess they'll go back tomorrow. Later in the afternoon there was considerable machine gun firing. The official report sent out today was that the reg't had accounted for 900 but our losses are bigger than usual- 125 casualties in the battalion. With the first battalion in tonight, we should have a much tighter perimeter . At 1810, the 3rd Lmg came in for more ammo‑they picked off several Japs trying to filter thru. They'll probably see some action tonight.

A platoon was sent out to relieve the platoon set up in the pillbox. Air corps bombed and strafed enemy positions on the shoreline just below Co. CP. One napon bomb overshot target and landed about 30 yds. from Co. CP but no one was injured. Ammo' dump on hill overlooking Co. CP blew up at 2315. Co. moved and set up perimeter above Wheeler Point. The 2nd platoon led by Lt. Preston, went into the ravine below Crockett Battery and found C.C. Martin and F.Keller both of whom had been injured on the jump.

D company had moved on to join the 1st platoon at Battery Wheeler. During the afternoon C company moved in and relieved them at Battery Wheeler. Meantime the 2d platoon under 1st Lt Charles M. Preston had moved down into Crockett Ravine and rescued Frank Keller and Calvin Martin who had been there since the jump on the 16th. Later that afternoon the 2d platoon attacked and secured Battery Cheney without opposition. They went into a defensive position here for the night. The 2d platoon was at the western end of the long ridge which dropped to the sea on the south side in almost 500 ft sheer cliffs. On the west and north side the ridge fell sharply into Cheney Revive. Their eastern flank tied in with the 3d platoon which tied into the mortar platoon and company headquarters at Wheeler Point. To their east was the 1st platoon. It was as though the company was moving in a column of platoons westward along the high ridge when they were halted for the night. They certainly were in no position to set up a proper defensive position. With only 850 enemy defenders too much caution did not have to be exercised.

The first platoon on patrol to James Ravine met heavy resistance from rifle and MG fire coming from the underground barracks. Pfc's Segobia, Redfield, and Redding KIA."

 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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Colonel Jones's plan was that the 2d Battalion would clear the western portion of the island from the area of Morrison Point on the north to the area of Searchlight point on the south. E Company's initial sector was James Ravine. There were three major objectives in this ravine: (1) the underground Infantry Barracks, (2) the water system, and (3) the control station operating the electrical mines in the North Channel. This installation had to be captured or destroyed before ships could safely pass into Manila Bay. It was imperative that we gain the use on Manila Harbor for our shipping.

James Ravine was one of the major ravines on the island. Like the others it was deep with roadways following the contours to gradually reach the bottom. In addition it was narrow. A concrete drainage ditch ran down the bottom of the ravine. The Infantry Barracks was constructed back into the western wall at the bottom of the ravine. A short distance to the west was a large concrete casemate. The water system-_. wells, a pump station, and water tank- was located of the opposite side of the ravine from the barracks. Gun intelligence felt that the mine control station was' also in this area.

 1st Lt Joe M. Whitson with his reinforced 1st platoon moved out the morning of the 18th. Following the roads on the east side of the ravine. After an hour they ran into heavy machine gun and rifle fire. After overcoming this resistance by fire and maneuver they moved on another fifty yards where they came under heavy, well coordinated fire from at least four machine guns located on the west side of the ravine. They were now unable to move forward.  James S. Segobia, Carroll F. Redfield and Pvt Edward T. Redding were killed during the action along with three men wounded. 81mm mortar support was called for. Abbott's company history states that the force withdrew so that air and naval fire could be laid on the area. Don says today that he and Hill observed this bombardment from the long barracks on Topside, and it was very heavy.  It was during this action in James Ravine that Joe Whitson's bravery and courageous leadership won him the award of the Distinguished Service Cross, the second highest award that our Nation can bestow upon a member of the United States Army. Following is a transcript of the award (errors as per the source document):

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