Between the two attacks and
after the 2nd we threw many hand grenades down on the beach. Also the
aerial frag bombs were released down wooden chutes to explode on the
beach.
Just at dawn we were in
the process of getting a 3rd attack but guns from Ft. Hughes to our
rear opened up & the landing craft turned off to our left and landed at
North Pt. unopposed. They were never within our range to fire. Or they possibly saw their hundreds of dead soldiers floating in the water
and a halfsunken landing craft on the beach. I counted 22 one-half
sunken landing craft and 4 fully loaded with dead Japs. All craft had
10 to 20 dead inside but the four were loaded with about 60 in each all
dead. All Japs wore orange coloured life jackets so they floated in the
water until the tide took them out. The sharks were having a feast.
Later in the morning I saw one other group of landing craft going up the
North Channel to the land where I heard later at Officer beach.
We of course were in good
spirits. I had one dead Phil Scout & 1 wounded, both from small arms.
Our biggest scare came
after the 2nd attack when our own 12" mortars from Topside opened up on
us to cut the island in two. I understand Colonel Bunker, who
commanded the 59th Rgt. was informed that I was possibly still holding
out & stopped the firing.
We spent the day cleaning
out the few remaining survivors who were sniping at us. By noon we had
cleaned out all, I believe. We had formed a skirmish line & started
north & in 2 hrs. reported all well. About 4 or 5 p.m. I saw a small
boat leave South Dock and sail to Ft. Hughes dock. It was flying a
white sheet from the stern. From that I gathered that the island was in
the process of surrendering. I took a vote on staying or attempting to
negotiate with the Japs. We hadn't heard a shot fired in our vicinity
for several hours. The vote was 38 to 36 for surrender, several did
not vote. So just before dark I marched the men out in a column of 2's.
I placed my 3rd Lt. who was recently promoted to 2nd Lt. in the rear to
close up the column.
I don't think the Japs saw
us until we reached the main road at the end of the airstrip & and we
had marched and down it about 100yds. They immediately surrounded us &
disarmed us. They tried to question us but gave up. I'm sure they never
knew where we came from or I wouldn't be writing this. They took us
about 1 mile along towards the Offices Beach & had us sit in the middle
of the road all night. In the morning they lined us up to be shot, but
a very high ranking Jap officer with his stuff came up from the beach
with his staff & guard of about 25 soldiers. He stopped the proceedings
& spoke to me in English. Told me to follow him & keep my men in a
close column. He took us to the Bottomside dock area & kept his guards
on us all morning, brought us water and food. Afternoon another guard
detail led us to the old Balloon hangar area the 92nd motor pool
area. We were used to erect a barricade of barrels outward from
the hangar. That night after we had gone to sleep the Japs brought the
rest of the offices and men of Corregidor to the area. The barrels were
found we found were to separate the Filipinos from U.S. personnel. I
was then separated from my men & saw few after that. We stayed there
for approx 3 weeks when we were loaded aboard transports and taken to
Manila. We were taken part way to shore in small boats, then forced to
swim ashore. We then paraded down Dewey Blvd. to Bilibid Prison. I
spent the next 2 yrs – 2 mos. at camp 3 & Camp 1 Cabanatuan and in
Aug 3rd landed in Moji, Kyushu, Japan. Was in Jap Camp 23 until end of
war.
You ask me to say
something about the P.I. Scouts. I have nothing but praise & admiration
for them. They were, I'm sure, the best disciplined men I've known.
They never questioned an order and they fired those 75's at a rate of
20 rds per gun in such precision that any gun crew would have envied. I
remember visiting No. 1 gun during the 1st attack & Corporal Navarro the
gunner was peering through his gun sight & said "Sir, I cannot see them
through my sight the light is out. " I picked him up off his seat &
pointed down the barrel & said, "Use it like a shotgun, you're shooting
ducks on the pond now." At that time we were firing pt. blank range
50yds at the craft on the beach.
Estimate 2,000 each wave.
I later read Manila paper which said they lost 5,000 men on the beach in
this vicinity.
My 75's were mounted on
wheels & the tail piece was fixed to a circular railroad rail. Each
could fire in an arc of approx. 225 ds. All MG and 37mm were dug in
about 25' above the shore line with logs & 1 ft. of earth on a roof
overhead. This saved them from hand grenades from the beach below.
I have always believed
that we bore the main attack and that less than 500 organized Japs
remained on the Island at daybreak. Of course, I was out of
communication and could only hear our gunfire. But, I have questioned
many friends who were on the beach an airstrip to my left. They
saw little action but heard us. One Lt. Anderson 60th AA who had a
platoon of 50 cal. on airstrip said only a few Japs crossed the airstrip
during the night. Next day he & his troops were withdrawn to the Kindley
Ridge.
There was a report of this
activity in John Toland's book "But Not in Shame." He did not contact me
but he was essentially correct. Except when he said we withdrew. At
the time of my surrender the island had been under a truce for at least
6 hrs. My guns were all in operating condition, morale was high, and
we could if we have had been provided water & food holdout another day
or 2. Our chow truck did not show up the night before & we were out of
water since dawn. We used our canteens of water to replenish the
machine guns.
An inventory of ammo
expended.
75mm |
No. 1 –
580 rds used |
|
No. 2 –
455 rds used |
37mm |
No. 1 –
750 rds |
|
No. 2 –
900 rds |
50 Cal |
No. 2 –
4,000 rds |
30 Cal |
No. 1 –
9500 rds |
|
No. 2 –
8,000 rds |
25 lb bombs 30 rds |
3,000
Hand grenades
|
Each man carried 100 rounds
of 30 cal ammo and was replenished several times. I had about 10,000
rounds of 30 cal remaining for the MG's & 1000 rds of rifle ammo. The 8
BAR's fired approximately 500 rds each. Several marines had 45 cal
submachine guns & expended all their ammo.
I only wish I could hold a
reunion & roll call of my men. I haven't seen a single one since left for
Japan (sic) in July 1944 and only a few before that. My Marine NCO was
Sgt. Zajak & and never saw him again. He and his men were superb. My PI
Scouts were so courageous I often think of them.
I gave a good report to Lt.
Col Beecher, 4th U.S. Marines in POW camp & recommended
decorations for my men but never knew if they rec'd them. I'm sure there
were none more deserving for the highest award.
I have tried to be as
accurate as possible, but I'm sure you will see some questions. Please
feel free to write for any further details.
I retired from U.S. Army
July 1, 1961 after 20 yrs active. My last assignment station was Ft.
Chaffe, Ark. I am now employed as a project engineer for New Mexico State
Highway Dept. stationed at Tacos, N.M. My family, wife and 2 children,
live in Albuquerque. I was unmarried until 1947 & have a son age 15,
soph. in H.S. & daughter 12, 7th grade.
I believe I am very
fortunate, I am in fairly good health and happy. I would really enjoy
hearing from any of my men. If you have heard from them please give me
their addresses.
Sincerely yours,
Ray G. Lawrence
Lt. Col. (Ret)