INTRODUCTION
When I completed the “Partial History of the 503d Negros Mission”
I did not have the benefit of any comments from “B” Co., and did not
presume to account for all the fighting by all units of the 503rd involved in
that mission. The “Partial History” was based on the assistance I
received from 1st Lts. Bill Calhoun ("F" Company) and John Lindgren
("D" Company). Fortunately, in August 1991, Louis Aiken, a platoon
sergeant of "B" Co. responded to my open invitation for more
information. In his correspondence, Louis recalls some of the
events on Negros and I have summarized them, and provided my own comments.
Much of Louis’ recounting is associated with the activity which took place
northeast and east from MURCIA.
This activity began in a
steamy, hot and humid rain forest terrain and ended on top of a cold,
clammy, fog enshrouded and wet mountain.
As suggested by Bill Calhoun of "F" Co. in his writings, the MURCIA
area activities were part of the second phase of the fighting which
took place on Negros and occurred approximately from
13 May 1945 until 9 June 1945. The
2nd and 3rd Bns. and units of the 462nd PFA and 161st Parachute Engineers had
landed on Negros on 6-7 April 1945 and had been engaged in hard
fighting along TOKAIDO
ROAD east of SILAY
from approximately 8 April 1945 until 12 May 1945. The 1st Bn. joined
the other two battalions of the regiment already on Negros on 25 April 1945.
One of the major objectives of this second phase of the fighting was to secure
a feature designated as Hill 3355. I’ll let Louis Aiken take up the
recollection from here.
