25 February - 3 March 1945

25 February 1945


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26 February 1945

The 503d's Day of Tears

S-3 Periodic Report No. 11 From: 251800I To: 261800I

3. OUR OPERATIONS:

a. INFANTRY: During the night of 25-26 Feb., the enemy contented himself with harassing fire from knee mortars and small arms. We returned fire with small arms, mortars and artillery. Our drive to the east was met by a suicidal attempt in the vicinity of MONKEY POINT by the enemy exploding a huge underground arsenal. Other resistance was desperate but futile. Our troops reached the extreme end of the ROCK at 1600I and now control all commanding ground on the ISLAND.

The enemy is now contained in relatively small groups in caves along the coast."

[And one battery halfway up the cliffs at Battery Monja].

4. CASUALTIES:

a. OUR CASUALTIES: This Report- 196 total. Exact status of all not available.

To Date- (Exclusive of today's) 136 KIA, 356 WIA, 34 IIA, 8 MIA, 209 Jump IIA.

b.- ENEMY KNOWN CASUALTIES: This Report- 512 KIA, 2 PW
To Date- 4,215, 18 PW."

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26 Feb 1945
#159	0800	1st Bn with 3rd Bn in support prepared to clean out monkey point. Tanks being used- Navy art. & 462 F.A, also.
#169	1110	Explosion in vicinity of first Bn. First reports indicate high casualties. All trucks available and medics near area being rushed to aid injured.
#161	1150	First casualties returning and very much beat up. Reports that tank fired into one of the cave pill boxes and a big explosion followed by three or four smaller ones tore up high ground around monkey pt and occupied by our troops assaulting position. Blast apart Sherman tank and Bid rocks filled sky which in falling caused many deaths & injuries. Med aid rushed from Mariveles by cub.The total casualties are 156
#159	1110	Report to XI Corps of explosion in 1st Bn area.
#160	1300	Order 3rd Bn to move thru 1st Bn and continue pushing to east of air strip.
#161	1335	Report to XI Corps on explosion at monkey point and possible casualties.
#162	1900	S-2 report by radio to XI Corps.

		Aside from our Navy weapons firing it was a quiet night. There was no activity this morning. We were called on to put in recommendations for awards and we turned in fourteen so far- there's more we have to get. A Jap prisoner was brought into Reg't CP - while being questioned he attacked the interpreter with the following results, he got 2 butt strokes with a tommy gun and a ? in the head no more Jap. Around noon or a little earlier, we heard of an explosion down at Monkey Pt. that wiped out a great deal of the 1st Bn. This afternoon we see (now) trucks rolling in with the wounded and dead. Already over a hundred have been counted and many remain yet. "A" & "C" Cos. were just about done for. The story we've heard is that a tank, on the hill near Monkey Pt., fired into a tunnel and set off the explosion that threw rocks for as far as two miles. The count of dead Japs on the island was over 3000 this morning." [A & 1st Bn HHC were the two companies which suffered so many casualties].
		"Co. sent out two patrols to cover high ground on south-eastern end of island. No enemy were contacted." [Note: should be south-western].
		"Three 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 23rd."
		"We sent small patrols into Hearn-Grubbs-Rock Point-Cape Corregidor area. Many of the men were resting and taking it easy. A few were on top of one of the water tanks taking turns looking through the big binoculars. They were watching the 1st Battalion advancing near Kindley Field and saw a huge explosion erupt on the south side. This was the big explosion. I was not there, but when I returned I received a complete, excited account. They saw an M-4, Sherman tank hurled into the air tumbling end over end. They said a destroyer between Monkey Point and Caballo Island was surrounded by huge geysers of water caused by large rocks and boulders falling into the sea. Needless to say the ship left immediately at flank speed. I went over to Topside Barracks and saw a duece and a half loaded with mangled bodies. One unforgettable sight was a man's scrotum with testicles intact hanging out between the sideboards. It was a sad, tragic day. Once again our thoughts returned to earlier stories that the Japs had mined the entire island, so they could blow it up whenever they desired. It was time to become stoic again, what will be will be. Before this explosion we had began to think that it was about over. I'm sure many of the 1st Battalion died thinking this." "Courage is will-power," Lord Moran

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THE EXPLOSION AT MONKEY POINT
	1. Recollections on Corregidor - Howard Lout
	2. "I am the Tank Pilot" - Guy Crull
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27 February 1945

S-3 Report No. 12 From: 261800I To: 271800I

3. OUR OPERATIONS:

a. Final assault on extreme east end of ROCK and mopping up procedures was carried out today by our troops. NORTH POINT to HOOKER POINT area contained the heaviest action as the enemy was driven east. MORRISON POINT was again the scene of action when thirteen enemy discovered in the area. Action during the night 26-27 was limited to interdictory fire of our mortars and artillery; 1st Bn returned to west end of ROCK."

4. CASUALTIES:

a. OUR CASUALTIES: This Report- 11 KIA, 2 WIA, 18 IIA, 13 MIA To Date- 147 KIA, 358 WIA, 0 PW

b. ENEMY KNOWN CASUALTIES: This Report- 147 KIA, 0 PW To Date- 4,362, 16 P

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26 Feb 1945
#162	1300	Casualties all in - 3rd Bn moved thru first Bn to continue mopping up east end of Island- By end of period - all cmgd ground occupied- no heavy enemy concentrations thought to be in area. A lot of Japs killed in the explosion and eye witnesses say they were blown to Hell.
#163	1400	2nd Bn patrolling area met little resistance.
#164	1600	43 KIA bodies recovered. Many thought to be covered up.
#165	2400	Nite very quiet- no art fire for a change.
EDITORS NOTE: "27 Feb 45"[ Note: Mix-up on 26 Feb reports & message numbers- this is second 26 Feb entry.]
#163	1800	Nite very quiet and all 1st Bn casualties taken care of. 1st Bn withdrew to Hospital Bldg on Topside to reorganize and rest those suffering slight concussion shock. 2nd Bn moved on toward East end of Island against little opposition. 2nd Bn continued patrol from Searchlight Point to Morrison Point and met little resistance" (Ed: because they stayed out of Battery Monja area)." 151 Inf moved up to support our 3rd Bn.
#164	1202	Only msg received during day from 2nd Bn. Located cables leading into cave s, two large control batteries, and one short wave radio. 3 enemy KIA in cave.
#165	2400	Day quiet except for mopping up.
		No Entry
		The Co. patrolled the shoreline along Cape Corregidor. Two Japs killed but company suffered no casualties. The Co. moved their perimeter from the rear of the BN CP to their old position in the ravine west end of drill field.
		The third platoon patrolling Morrison Point found a small cave occupied by 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" (William L. Edwards) "through the shoulder. Pfc Edwards died shortly after being brought to the hospital."
		Our fatigues were unbelievably filthy. On Noemfoor they had been sour and moldy. Now they were stiff, encrusted with salt from dried perspiration. The flies had been so bad that some covered themselves with a poncho to eat their rations. There were hundreds to the square inch. Decaying dead bodies lying in the sun multiplied the flies and created a horrible stench. On Topside a bulldozer covered the bodies over, elsewhere they lay in the hot tropical sun as breeding places for flies. We heard they were going to spray the island with DDT. We'd never heard of such and scoffed at the idea. Soon a C-47 was noticed flying back and forth over Top-side. Someone was throwing cans of powder out of the cargo door. We could see little whiffs of powder hit the propblast and disappear. Much to our amazement the flies disappeared in no time. This was an unbelievable relief.

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28 Feb 1945
#166	1600	All Bn continued patrolling assigned areas against light enemy sniper fire. Caballo being pounded by air & Navy very heavy. Two prisoners picked up trying to swim away. One stated explosion of the 26 Feb was a mass suicide of about 150 Japs. Our casualties were also heavy due to this.
#167	1437	Msg from XI Corp asking release of Lt. Evans to his unit.
#168	1825	S-3 Periodic report by radio.
#169	2000	Notifying XI Corp Lt Evans departed 281800I to join his unit.
#170	2400	Period quiet - all wounded and dead evacuated from the island. Nite very quiet except for mortar fire on draws around perimeter.

		"28 Feb. The rest of the day of the 26th was spent in evacuating dead and wounded from Monkey Point. Yesterday we got a partial count of the casualties at the explosion. There were known to be over 200 casualties- of which over 50 were dead- an accurate report is not yet available. We had patrols out yesterday but they didn't run into much. 10 Nips accounted for. A C-47 flew over yesterday spraying the island with fly repellant and, lo and behold, the flies were repelled- an extremely successful mission. This same pilot spotting a patrol of "D" Co. and mistaking them for Japs, opened up with a Tommy gun, wounding one. I understand he was hauled up before a general for that feat. Our 81mm's were given credit for 6 Japs during the barrage on the night of the 26th. Our perimeter was pulled in a little tighter last night due to the fact that the movement of the 1st Bn came here on Topside and took over part of our perimeter. Each Company has picked 12 men for a guard of honor for Gen MacArthur. who's supposed to come Friday. RSO called for equipment shortages today- wonder what that could be for. There is a rumor around that the unit will get a Presidential citation for this mission. Everyone is anxiously awaiting the announcement of a surprise to be made by Col. Jones after Gen. MacArthur's visit. Who knows - maybe its another mission. The count on dead Nips is over four thousand - for the 2nd Bn. over 900."
		"Co. sent out a patrol to burn and bury Jap bodies. No enemy contacted."
		"The platoons made short local patrols."
		We were still doing a little patrolling, but activity was lessening every day. We found a large supply of men's clothing. There were cotton slacks and various colors of cotton slacks and shirts. I remember many bright yellow shirts and many blue colors. Someone, I believe General Marquat, said the Japs had emptied the merchandise out of the stores in Manila and brought it out here and stored it. This was, also, the reason for the large amounts of alcoholic beverages out here. We put on some of the clothes to lounge around in. It was so nice to get out of the board-like, hot fatigues. Then some-one wore a yellow, cotton shirt on patrol. The patrol moved across the Parade Ground and was seen ed some in regimental headquarters. Orders came out immediately threatening the most dire consequences for anyone caught wearing any civilian attire. I guess they were right. Parachutist really did not look dressed for the part attired in jump boots, blue trousers, yellow shirt, steel helmet and wearing a rifle belt and web suspenders with the pouches filled with 8-round clips and frag and WP grenades hanging from the suspenders. Sitting on top of the light house and tanks was a good viewing stand for observing the aerial naval bombardment of Caballo Island. P-47's worked it over daily. Soon some P-38's joined the attacks. The really spectacular attacks were made by two P-51's. We had heard about this new fighter being used in Europe. We really did not expect to see any over here. The most modern equipment went to Europe. Some Army Air Force people had said that the planes would never be able to operate off the dusty strips in the Pacific because of the big air scoop in front of the engine: none the less, two P-51's had shown up at Mindoro and were being given a thorough workout. Their bombing attacks were beautiful to behold. They would come flying over Caballo Island as though they were going on to Manila. Suddenly they would fall off on one wing and go into an apparent vertical dive towards the island. At a low altitude they would drop their bomb, pull out of the dive and gracefully climb for altitude. Also, during the day two or three destroyers were usually steaming slowly around the island and firing at a slow, deliberate rate with their five inch guns.

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1 March 1945

S-3 Report No. 14 From: 1800, 28 Feb 45 To: 1 March 45

3. INFANTRY: MORRISON POINT, ARTILLERY POINT, and EAST POINT were the only areas in which any enemy were found and rooted from their caves. All organized resistance has ceased on the ROCK and our activities have been reduced to routine patrolling of the entire ROCK; however, searching and sealing caves continues."

4. CASUALTIES:

a. OUR CASUALTIES: this Report- 4 KIA, 3 WIA, 1 IIA, 13 MIA. to date- 182 KIA, 417 WIA, 340 IIA, 13 MIA.

c. ENEMY KNOWN CASUALTIES: This Report- 40 KIA, 0 PW. To Date- 4,494 KIA, 18 PW, 2 DOW."

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1 March 1945
#171	0800	Very quiet nite except for mortar firing into draws around the perimeter during intervals at nite. Air strikes & naval bombardment of Caballo Is to continue throughout the day. 500 & 1000 # bombs to be used.
#172	1800	All units conducted vigorous patrol of all assigned area and met little oppos�ition. About 89 enemy KIA during the day. Reports that some dead have been observed on


		No entry.
		"Co. sent out two local patrols but no enemy were con�tacted. Policed and cleaned up Co. area for gen. McArthuer's (sic) visit."
		"No patrol activity today."
		We prepared for General MacArthur's visit tomorrow. A detail was picked from F Company, as well as every other company and battery in the RCT, to serve as a honor guard for the general. I believe that these men were issued new fatigues. At this time three officers were with the company. Lt Bailey was commanding - Lt Red laVanchure, although still having a hard time getting around, was at the CP, and Lt. Calhoun was with his platoon. In the 1st platoon beside Calhoun were: T/Sgt Todd and Pfc Edwards in platoon headquarters. In the first squad were : S/Sgt Charles McCurry, Sgt. William Friehoff, Pfc Bill McDonald, Pfc Marion Boone, Pfc Ralph Iverson, and Pfc Delby Huff. Second squad had: S/Sgt LeRoy Jacobs, Pfc Richard Lampman, Pfc James Bradley, Pfc Mike Natalie, and Pfc James Wilson. The third squad had: S/Sgt Chris Johnson, Pfc John Bartlett, Pfc Perry Bandt, and Pfc Earl Soucie. We still had our medic, Pfc Jensrud. Although the 1st squad had the fewest casualties, they had the serious ones - every one of their four casualties had been KIA. We, the 1st platoon, jumped with one officer and thirty-three men. Three men were injured on the jump- Wright, Smith, and Reynolds.

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