Ch 7 - To The Field

CHAPTER 7

TO THE FIELD

Toward the end of November several batteries in our regiment were transferred to Bataan. Everyone was shocked. Why did they want anti-aircraft on Bataan? A rumor materialized that “H” would also be shipped across the North Channel. Then an order was posted that we were on 24 hour alert! Before we could digest that one, another followed stating that all batteries would move to the field immediately. We had little time to prepare. The 3” gun crews were already moving their equipment to our new location, a position beyond the Middleside Parade Ground called Battery Ramsey. I had never heard of Battery Ramsey before, but in the next few months I would experience much there.

The next morning the machine gun section met in the mess hall and ate breakfast while Cpl. Layden showed us a rough drawing that illustrated the location of each machine gun, and he assigned each of us one of the positions. My location was just in front of the first big gun at Ramsey. The Corporal explained we would live in squad tents that were being erected, and that the mess would be in operation for supper. Our beds and footlockers would be moved later today, Layden said.

We all proceeded to walk to Ramsey, across the parade ground and into the battery area. As we walked, we passed stacks of supplies along the railroad tracks leading into the gun position. The road led directly into Ramsey behind the No.1 Gun. Once inside the battery, Ramsey opened up to the left revealing another two of the big six-inch disappearing rifles. Between each two guns stood a low, squat powder magazine. I learned these magazines held 6” projectiles and powder bags for the three big 6” disappearing rifles of Battery Ramsey. A number of doors were apparent in the rear of the magazines, facing the open area. Later the supply room and the Battery Office, plus the 1st Sgt.’s Office, etc. would be located in these rooms. The kitchen apparatus was being assembled in an open area east of the parapet of Ramsey’s No.3 gun.

The officers would continue to live in their permanent quarters and commute to the battery each day. Sergeant Fooshee had his cot moved to his small office. This would allow him to remain on site at all times to oversee the development of the gun position.

Several of the men were digging ditches in front of Ramsey, criss-crossing in every direction. I found that these were ditches for cables that ran from the director to each of the guns and the height finder.

A large generator had been brought around the road that ran in front of Ramsey, and was in the process of being dug in east of Ramsey’s parapet. It was hard to believe how fast everything was falling into place.

It was time for me to get cracking on my own position. I walked up the steps next to Ramsey’s No.1 Gun and across the wide, concrete skirt that sloped away from the front of the pit. I decided to locate my machine gun as close to the concrete skirt as possible. I had noticed a pile of large metal cans about 12” in diameter, and about 3 or 4 ft. long. They were stacked next to the road near the entrance of Ramsey. I asked one of the noncoms if I could use some for my machine gun position and was given the OK. I made several trips carrying the cans up the narrow steps until I had accumulated a sufficient number to get started on the project. I assembled the tripod first to see how much room it would require. Next I drew a circle about two feet larger than the extended feet on the tripod.

Digging in the rocky soil was difficult, but tediously I was able to dig the hole about a foot deep, perhaps a little more. I scraped the small rocks and dirt out of the hole until it was clean. Then I slid one of the big powder cans over to the hole and sat it on the edge. I measured from the bottom of the pit to the top of the can, then checked from the bottom of the tripod to the center of the gun mounting bolt. I conferred with Cpl. Layden and he checked my measurements and agreed that I would be capable of firing at low level aircraft.

With this I had the go ahead to build my pit. I located the rest of the cans around the edge of the pit, then went looking for wire or cable to tie them together. I bummed some heavy, insulated wire from one of the men setting up the generator and wrapped the wire around and between all of the cans until each was snuggled up against the adjacent cans. Next came the toughest job, filling the cans with rock and gravel. This proceeded to be a very difficult task. I filled the cans using a shovel and a wheelbarrow. Finding the rocks nearby was easy. I just looked for piles of the stuff that had been excavated. First I used the material that I had removed from the rocky ground, it didn’t go far but it helped.

After filling the cans around my pit, I used the wheelbarrow to bring dirt and gravel to pile against the cans. From the top of the cans I tapered the dirt at about 45 deg. to the ground. I tamped this material, then sprinkled water heavily on the dirt to form a crust.

While everything was settling, I helped Sgt. Jackson and the heightfinder crew dig and prepare their pit for the heightfinder. They had began placing sandbags around the periphery of the instrument.

Sergeant Jackson, approving of my idea of placing the powder cans around my pit, directed the men to first dig a shallow trench around the height finder, then place the powder cans in the trench. Once this was completed he told them to place sandbags snug against the cans, then fill the cans with rock and gravel. The height finder pit required two days to complete.

The director pit was located down the slope, and slightly east of my machine gun pit. It was somewhat rectangular in shape, and smaller than the height finder pit. The men completed the director pit much faster since it was constructed of sandbags only.

The four 3” guns were located inside high walls of sandbags and dirt. The outriggers protruded outside the walls. The entrance of the 3” gun enclosures had an offset to serve as blast doors to prevent a near hit from showering shrapnel into the gun pits. The gun crews were engaged in firing drill while several men nearby were employed in camouflage work, others putting the finishing touches on cable trenches.

Everyone was busy, getting ready for we knew not what. Rumors were flying, mostly caused by all of the news coming over the radio from San Francisco, but all of our present activity preparing for action also contributed.

Squad tents were erected for the men to sleep in. My assigned tent was erected immediately west of the parapet of Ramsey’s No.1 gun. This was convenient to the location of my machine gun position. I could walk from my position, and around the great concrete collar that circled the front and west side of the big 6” disappearing rifle, turn left at the end of the concrete, and walk past a rather large tree. The tent was large enough for eight cots, and the doorway was just beyond the tree. The doorway faced the east, and out over the gun pit. There were only five cots in the tent, and this offered those of us quartered there considerable room to spread out. I had chosen the place just inside the door, and to the left so that I could get out quick. Somehow, that seemed significant at the time.

At the end of November we were placed on alert. The “silly” rumors then ceased, and it became obvious that this war thing was getting serious! Our preparations also grew very serious! I decided to move my cot out by my gun. It was cool and pleasant outside, and since there were no mosquitoes, the sleeping was ideal. I positioned my cot on the Ramsey side of my pit, and just to one side so that I could get in the pit without killing myself.

I wondered where my friend Spence Bever was. During our last meeting he told me the latest rumor indicated that some of “A” Battery would be moving out near Kindley Field.

CHAPTER 8

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