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SUNDAY 18 FEBRUARY 1945 IS DAY 3 OF THE CORREGIDOR OPERATION, D+2.

S-3 PERIODIC REPORT No. 2, 2d  Bn S-3 JOURNAL, 
2s Bn S-2 MESSAGE LOG, HHQ JOURNAL, "D", "E" & "F"  CO HISTORIES
TIME LOCALITY UNIT OCCURRENCE, INCIDENT, OR MESSAGE ACTION
         
    2d Bn S-3 Periodic Report extract more
    2d Bn 2d Bn S-3 Journal more
    2d Bn 2d Bn Message Book extract more
    HHQ Journal more
    D Co Company History more
    D Co Lt. Calhoun's Account more
    E Co Lt. Abbott's E Co History more
      Lt. Whitson's DSC Citation transcript extract more
1818001I   F Co Company History more
    F Co Lt. Calhoun's Account more
1500 Btry Smith F Co Alcohol found by 1st Platoon, F Co at Btry Smith; Pfc. Schilli, the BAR sniper takes out a 50 cal on Sunset Ridge.  A position is set up atop Btry Hearn, and will become the scene of a major night action.  D Co and F Co are now left well out from Topside in isolated positions with no provisions made for any fire support. The prevailing thinking of at the Rock Force HQ when we jumped was formed from a G-2 estimate of 850 defenders. more
  Btry Wheeler   Battery Wheeler is presenting a major problem - Japanese keep reinforcing it through an unknown route. more
  Crockett Ravine, Btry Cheney D Co 2d platoon under 1st Lt Charles M. Preston moves down into Crockett Ravine and rescues Frank Keller and C. C. (Calvin) Martin who have been missing since the jump. Keller has been protecting Martin, badly wounded during the jump, in a ravine crawling with enemy. Later, the platoon takes Btry Cheney without opposition. It is 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 are in no position to set up a proper defensive position, and it shall cost D Co. dearly during the night. more
0900-1100 James Ravine E Co THIRD attempt to reduce James Ravine commences after an aerial bombing. 1st Lt Joe M. Whitson with his reinforced 1st platoon again meet heavy resistance from well prepared positions. Pfc's Segobia, Redfield, and Redding are KIA. The forces withdraw and call in an 81mm mortars, and later another air and naval barrage. E Co will continue to struggle with James Ravine for days to come. Refer to "THE OPERATION OF COMPANY ”E”, 503D PARACHUTE REGIMENT AT WHEELER POINT ON 23 FEBRUARY 1945"

 

a paper written in ***. 

 
         
      REGIMENTAL MESSAGE CENTER LOG more
         

 
 

 

 

NIGHT OF 18/19 FEBRUARY

TIME LOCALITY UNIT OCCURRENCE, INCIDENT, OR MESSAGE ACTION
         
18/19 Feb

Cheney Road, Wheeler Point

 D Co D Company have been stretched out along the road towards Battery Cheney, unable to return to the main perimeter by nightfall. Lulled by low regard for the number of Japanese forces remaining against them , RHQ believe the extended perimeter is an acceptable risk. They are wrong, and it is a grievous error.  In the morning's early hours, the Japanese attack in force directly through their positions, literally pinning a small group of Troopers backs to the sheer cliffs of Wheeler Point.  Lt. Turinski and twelve men are KIA, and thirteen wounded, of which twelve are evacuated.  "D" Co has received a serious mauling. more
    D Co Casualty List, Wheeler Pt. (Battle at Banzai Point) more
2200 Btry Hearn F Co 1st Plt F Co are positioned on either side of the road leading from Cheney and Grubbs Ravines towards Topside.  Lt. Calhoun's platoon are dug in atop Battery Hearn's magazine, and Lt. Bailey's platoon are defending the crest of Way Hill.  With the radio net closed down for the night, naval and artillery support are beyond call, and Regimental HQ has little idea of the desperate measures and heroism which prevents a Japanese breakthrough.  
      Pfc Lloyd McCarter - Medal of Honor more
2200 Btry Hearn

F Co 1st Plt

 

Towards midnight,  each of us knew that in a short while the gates of hell were marching up the valley towards us.  They were yelling and shouting, marching up the road along Maggot Valley. This seemed to be the signal for a Navy star shell to explode overhead and illuminate the area, though the Navy's timing was simply and randomly fortuitous.

 

"The Night of a Thousand Hours"

more
18/19 Feb Btry Hearn   "The Best Warrior I Ever Knew" - Lt. Calhoun nominated Lloyd McCarter for the CMH, fully aware of the express disapproval by Col. Jones against making any award to McCarter.  more
18/19 Feb

Btry Hearn

   John "Red Horse" Phillips' recollection of Lloyd McCarter more
  Way Hill

F Co

2d Plt.

 Opposite Battery Hearn,  Lt. Bailey can hear D Co under attack on the opposite side of Cheney Ravine - however he has problems of his own as the Japanese force continues its push towards Topside. "Night at Way Hill" more
      The casualties at Banzai Pt. (Wheeler Pt.) are "D" Company's C.O. Lt. Joseph A. Turinsky, Harold W. Schmidle, James A. Arnold, Robert F. Wenditz, Martin R. Seal, Joseph F. Foley, John Leshinski, Frank I. Maddy, John G. Schwartz, Richard G.Keller, William C. Bracklein, Francis S. Marsh and Walter Golonka. Wounded include John Lindgren, Willard S. Lantis, Earl H. McDonald, Barron A. Brown, Michael J. Dolan, Valentine V. Larcher, John F. Majda, Arthur R. Sanchez, Raymond H. Weber, Stanley Gorlinski, Frederick O. Howell, Paul E. Hugart and Theodore R. Martinez details