132130

131545

132400

142400

160900

"3. OUR OPERATIONS:

a. Infantry:

(1) 1st Bn: Nil activity night of 12-13. Bn began displacing to new area 130800I. In transit at end of period but expected to arrive and go into position vicinity (36.5-89.6) about 151700I.

(2) 2d Bn: Bn displaced to new RCT Sector arriving and going into bivouac at 121645 in vicinity (36.1-89.2). Nil activity night of 12-13. One platoon "F" co moved out NE to remove booby traps previously placed along trail by 40th Recco. Troops. Two of our troops were killed a;nd 'one injured when a mine exploded along the trail. It has not been determined if the mine was due to the enemy relocating our own traps, emplacement of his own or one of our own not removed. "E" Co moved along the trail beyond the mine field and began patrolling forward. Nil contact at end of period..

(3) 3d Bn: Nil activity night of 12-13. Out of communication with Regt during remainder of period. No reports available.

 4. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS: First elements made advance along trail toward RCT objective without contact.

[Note: "Jumping Jack" was another name for "Bouncing Betty" mines].

When the order came through that R&R would be granted the question came up as to what kind of rest and recreation could be provided in our surroundings. The answer was simple. To men who have had nothing, who are tired, who are dirty, and who constantly faced death, little is needed.  Just to get cleaned up, get some sleep on a cot, eat hot food, and see a couple of movies would be ideality.

D Company led off. Thirty-five men received passes for two days. This was considered a three day pass, because the better part of a day would be used in going and coming, for as we moved on up into the rainforest more and more time would be needed in walking in and walking out.

 One of the most memorable days of my life occurred here. Captain Taylor, 2d Battalion commanding officer, sent for the company commanders early one morning. He told us to go to Bacolod and Silay and visit our sick and wounded, to be back before dark, and to bring him a bottle of whiskey. In their 7 May entry the "E" Company diarist says that their C.O. went to Bacolod and Silay to visit the sick. I was never aware of any such happening at this time and wonder if the time did not get confused with the first few days on the right flank. We found some Filipino whiskey made with brown sugar. We spent most of the day riding up and down Highway No. 1 drinking whiskey and not worrying about one thing. The sky had never seemed so blue, the air so fresh, and life so sweet. As we rode along several miles east of Victorias a rifle bullet cracked overhead. After proceeding some ways someone said a Jap shot at us. Another said well let's go back and get the son of bitch. The wisest said, "Hell no! I've got a holiday from fighting today and nobody's going to mess it up." Everybody declared they'd drink to that, and we rolled merrily along.

We got back to the battalion CP in time to get to our companies before dark. I believe each of us brought Capt Taylor a bottle of whiskey. He thanked us, and we thanked the good captain for  allowing us to have a great day of R&R even if he did bend the rules a little bit.

General William Tecumseh Sherman may have said "War is hell!", but I doubt that he knew all of which he spoke. The rifle grunts can give you the full meaning. This phrase has a meaning for them that the uninitiated could never understand.

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3. OUR OPERATIONS:

a. Infantry;

(1) 1st Bn: Nil activity night of 13-14. Bn displaced forward beginning 140830I to position shown on overlay. Lateral patrolling along the adja­cent draws resulted in nil contact or evidence of any previous enemy occupation.

(2) 2d Bn: an 'E" Co recco patrol reported observing two unarmed enemy in vicinity (39.0-89.8). The enemy disappeared into heavy undergrowth and could not be located. Nil activity night of 13-14. An "E" Co patrol reported the "SECRET TRAIL" to be at bearing (38.3-90.5). Patrol found one week old enemy dead in this vicinity. Several 'banzai" sticks were found in an old bivouac area near the body. No enemy emplacements were observed. Faint trails leading toward hill reccoed, with nil contact. At close of period "F" co was displacing forward with objective vicinity (38.0-89.8).

b. Artillery: Continued survey for future fire missions and one fire support during the period.

c. Engineers: Construction and improvement of supply route and construction of water point.

4. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS: Extensive patrolling to the immediate S and SE of Hill 4055 did not disclose any enemy emplacements in that locality. Nil contacts were made. Faint trail leads from main trail known as the "SECRET TRAIL" and these are being exploited systematically by recco patrols.

 5. CASUALTIES: No change."

Our company was now in the dense rainforest. We were greatly reduced in strength. Now we would come face to face again with the old enemy, disease. Diseases such as scrub typhus, meningitis, malaria, hepatitis, dysentery, dengue, and others. Any scratch could lead rapidly to serious, life-threatening conditions.

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 A. Infantry:

(1)  1st Bn: Nil activity night of 14-15. Continued lateral patrolling along adja­cent draws. One patrol to NW reported an old enemy emplacement at vicinity (10.3-12.5). All other patrols reported nil activity.

(2)  2d Bn: "Hq's Co at 142100 (37.0-89.8) three or more enemy attempted infiltrat­ion of Hqs Co perimeter. One enemy KIA accounted for. Clothing, jungle boots of enemy KIA was in fair condition. At the same time and coordinates as mentioned above one enemy attempting escape due S off the trail was believed to have been wounded as much moaning was heard in that direction after the firing ceased. Thorough search this morning did not reveal any enemy. "D" Co nil activity. "E" Co at (39.0-89.8). An "E" Co outpost received three rounds of enemy rifle fire. They also observed one enemy about 5O yds E of where the fire was coming from. He was unarmed and wearing USA coveralls. An artillery concentration was laid in the area. Recco patrol revealed no enemy dead. We suffered one WIA as a result of this action. "E" Co: An "E" Co patrol went on Recco, SE along "SECRET TRAIL" for a distance of 3000 yds and reported nil activity. "F" Co moved forward to vicinity (39.0-89.8) and established a Co perimeter. An "F" Co patrol starting from vicinity (38.9-90.2) reached the top of ridge, vicinity (39.2-90.5), Patrol observed two enemy walking NE along ridge. unable to fire on them because of long range. Another "F" Co patrol reccoed "SECRET TRAIL" SE reaching summit of Hill 3355. They reported ashes of fire along the trail, believed to be left by small enemy parties."

B. Artillery: registered all batteries on base point. Fired two harassing missions on possible troop concentrations and heavy weapons vicinity (38.6-90.2). Fired missions in preparation of 160th RCT advance to Hill 3155.

C. Engineers: Constructed and improvement of supply route.

4. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS: Continued recco. & patrolling along "SECRET TRAIL" & Hill 3355 disclosed no enemy activity or emplacements in the locality.

5. CASUALTIES:

a. Our Casualties:

(1) For the period: 1 WIA

(2) Todate; 104 KIA, 294 WIA

b. Enemy Known Casualties:

(1) For the period: 3 KIA

(2) To date: 484 KIA, 5 POW.

- Meeting of Bn Co's to discuss Rest Camp: 1,50 men every two days will go to Bacolod for pass. Quota of 35 given each Bn; balance given to separate units." This is the R&R referred to above.

 Some of our innocent, young soldiers learned some new facts of life in Bacolod.  It was not at this time though, because the 35 men from "D" Company were the only men who were sent on R&R for reason explained later.

Speaking of young soldiers, Pfc Richard L. "Tropical" Peterson, was suddenly yanked out of combat while we were in these hills. It had just been discovered that "Tropical" had just celebrated his 16th birthday,  and had experienced the jump on Corregidor at 15.  He had been with the mortar platoon all this time and was still not old enough to be in the Army. He went home unwillingly while many would have willingly traded places with him.

 Another young soldier whose exploits in Bacolod, late, are still talked about at the reunion "F" Company men is Pfc Earl Soucie. These youth had one thing in common -  along with many, many others, and they were good soldiers.

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3. OUR OPERATIONS:

a. Infantry:

(1) 1st Bn: Nil activity night of 15-16. An "A" Co patrol sighted 4 enemy vicinity (13.7-11.6). One enemy was killed during the short fire fight before the remaining withdrew. The patrol reported locating a well and recently used trail running genrally N & S which was followed to vicinity (13.8-11.7). No further contact was made. A "B" Co combat patrol to the SE made nil contact through 161130 and out of communications with the Bn at end of period.

(2) 2d Bn: Nil activity night 15-16. An "E" Co patrol progressed N & W along SECRET TRAIL" to reconnoiter for Further Bn advance. Reported trail in fair condition but bearing too far to the W for progress to RCT objectives. An "F" Co patrol worked NW through dense undergrowth to reconnoiter route of advance to RCT objective. Reported no trail, no contact, and extremely difficult terrain. The patrol reached vicinity (14.8-11.3). Three enemy going N walked into "F" Co outpost vicinity (14.0-10.9) at 161230. Two were killed and the third escaped in the under-brush.

As the report shows we were patrolling in the dense forest. With the company at full strength this would not have taxed us, but we were about half strength and still losing men. A few patrols took all the men. A combat patrol took the entire company. We were traveling good distances in extremely rough terrain, so there was no rest.

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2. WEATHER AND VISIBILITY: Cool, heavy overcast, intermittent rains, visibility limited.

3. OUR OPERATIONS:

a. Infantry;

(1) 1st Bn: Nil activity night of 16-17. Co. "A" patrol through deep ravine S of RCT sector to vicinity (11.5-11.4) reported nil activity.

(2) 2d Bn: Nil activity night 16-17. "E" Co patrol reconnoitering for route up Hill 4955 reached river vicinity (13.3-14.4). No trail was found and no enemy contacted. An "F" Co patrol reached vicinity (15.4-11.36) and was making a trail for Bn advance to that area. Nil enemy contact. A second "F" Co patrol reached summit of Hill 3355 after following "SECRET TRAIL" SW. the trail swings ME along a ridge to the top. Nil enemy contact at end of period; however the patrols have not returned.

 4. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS: Nil contact by either lateral patrols or patrols along projected RCT route of advance. A trail was cut to enable supplies to reach the troops which will occupy the RCT objective. This trail reaches approximately to the objective.

 5. EXPECTED OPERATIONS FOR 18 MAY: "F" Co to advance to vicinity (15.3-11.7). Continued lateral patrolling at present location."

The RCT is continuing to push for the Patog area, and F Company is leading the way.

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3. OUR operations;

a. Infantry:

(1) 1st Bn: Nil activity night of 18-19. "B" and "A" Co's moved out in that order SE along fairly well defined trail with the mission of proceeding to ridge vicinity (16.9-09.8). "B" Co. reached vic (14.4-10.0) and was fired on by an unknown number of enemy. A short fire fight ensued in which we suffered three wounded. One enemy was known to have been killed. "B" Co withdrew to vicinity (14.1-10.0) and artillery was placed on the enemy position with unknown results. "A" and "B" Co will remain vicinity (14.1-10.0) night 19020.

(2) 2d Bn: "E" Co observed three enemy vicinity (16.0-10.6) at 181540. One enemy, armed with a car5ine and hand grenade. Nil activity night 18-19. "D" Co displaced forward through "E" Co's position to vicinity (16.4-11.1). Nil contact was encountered enroute. An "E" Co patrol received one round of rifle from an unseen enemy in vicinity (16.6-10.5). The round passed through the hand of one of our troops into the side of another. "F" Co replaced "D" Co to guard trail junction vicinity (13.85-10.85).

4. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS: Elements of 2d Bn reached eastern end of RCT objective against nil resistance. 1st Bn met unexpected resistance in attempting to gain objective by a reported route around HILL 3355. No route was located.

5. EXPECTED OPERATIONS FOR 20 MAY: Due to the ruggedness of the terrain the 1st Bn will be withdrawn from its present position and Will proceed in force NE to ridge vicinity (14.8-12.0. 2d Bn will recco forward toward PATOG area."

 Co sent patrol from 2ne plt up south trail. Contacted enemy. Two men wounded. One SWA one LWA. Patrol withdrew. No activity during night.

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