I
almost missed the explosion of the RCT ammo dump at Topside Barracks. This
happened on Sunday morning, 4 March, and I was an eyewitness. On that morning I
was part of a group standing on the second story veranda of Topside
Barracks. Located just to our right, on the ground floor near the RCT
Headquarters and Harold Templeman's Red Cross Station was a large ammunition
dump. Someone called out excitedly, "Look! That box is smoking!" We
could plainly see a wooden box of white phosphorus hand grenades smoking. This
box was on the outer edge of the dump. As we were rapidly evacuating the area,
we saw two men running towards the smoking box, despite cries to get out of
there! Just as they picked up the box, it exploded. I do not know how they
survived. The dump erupted into a series of explosions, and the section of
barracks where the dump had been was destroyed.
Pfc
Frank Whall never returned. I don't know what ever happened to him, whether he
lived or died. Pfc. George Pierce returned for duty at Negros. These two 2nd
Platoon men had gone over to the barracks to get water, and ended up risking
their lives.
Corregidor always was capable of pulling a
surprise when
things seemed at their quietest. Their bravery was never officially recognized.
|