Borneo – a world forgotten / Lt. Gen. E.M. Flanagan Jr.
Part of the wider Borneo campaign of the Pacific War, was fought between 10 June and 15 August 1945 in North Borneo (later known as Sabah). The battle involved a series of amphibious landings by Australian forces on various points on the mainland around Brunei Bay and upon islands situated around the bay. Japanese opposition to the landings was sporadic initially, although as the campaign progressed a number of considerable clashes occurred and both sides suffered relatively significant casualties. Ultimately, however, the Australians were successful in seizing control of the region.
Codenamed Operation Oboe Six, the battle was part of the second phase of the Allied operations to capture the island of Borneo. Previously in May a brigade-sized force had been put ashore on Tarakan. A total of 29,000–30,000 men were committed to the operation by the Allies, with the majority of the ground forces being provided by the Australian 9th Division, under the command of Major General George Wootten and consisting of the 20th and 24th Brigades, along with naval support from the United States Navy and Royal Australian Navy and aerial support from the United States Army Air Forces, the United States Marine Corps and elements of the Royal Australian Air Force’s 1st Tactical Air Force.
Two United States Army units, the 727th Amphibian Tractor Battalion who manned the LVTs and the 593rd Engineer Boat and Shore Regiment’s Boat Battalion, were also attached to the Australians. Having been planned by General Douglas MacArthur to take place in three stages—preparatory bombardment, forced landings, advance—the objective of the operation was to enable the Allies to establish “an advanced fleet base” in order to enable subsequent naval operations, to capture the vast oil and rubber supplies available in the area and to re-establish British civil administration. Intelligence estimated that there were approximately 31,000 Japanese troops on Borneo.
Despite the progress that had been made on the southern mainland, the fighting intensified as the Japanese defenders retreated inland to a heavily fortified position known as “the Pocket.” After the battle 180 Japanese dead were counted, bringing the total killed during the fighting on Labuan to 389. Against this the Australians suffered 34 killed and 93 wounded.
The second main landing came on 16 June on the mainland at Weston, in the north-eastern part of Brunei Bay. Many times the fighting came down to hand-to-hand combat.
In early August 1945, two atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and on 15 August the Japanese Emperor, Hirohito, effectively announced an end to hostilities, with the formal surrender being signed on 2 September 1945. As a result of the ceasefire, the planned Allied invasion of Japan was no longer required and as a result, the strategic gains provided by the capture of North Borneo were arguably negated.
Throughout the course of the fighting on North Borneo, the Australians lost 114 men killed or died of wounds while another 221 men were wounded. Against this, the Japanese lost at least 1,234 men, while 130 had been captured. On top of this, a further 1,800 Japanese were estimated to have been killed by guerrilla forces operating as part of the clandestine Services Reconnaissance Department.
After the fighting was over, the Australians began the task for establishing British civil administration, rebuilding the infrastructure that had been damaged and providing for the civilians that had been displaced in the fighting. Following the ceasefire, there were still a large number of Japanese troops in North Borneo—by October 1945 it was estimated that there was over 21,000 Japanese soldiers and civilians still in North Borneo—and the 9th Division was made responsible for organizing the surrender, provisioning and protection of these personnel.
They were also tasked with liberating the Allied civilian internees and prisoners of war that were being held at Batu Lintang camp in Kuching, Sarawak. As civil administration was slowly restored, in October 1945, the Australian demobilization process began. Initially this process was slow as there were few troops able to relieve the Australian forces in Borneo and as such only long service personnel were released for return to Australia. The 9th Division remained in North Borneo performing garrison duties until January 1946, when it was relieved by the 32nd Indian Brigade, and subsequently disbanded.
This situation remained until 1963, when the region was subsumed by the Malaysian state of Sabah.
Click on images to enlarge.
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Military Humor –
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Farewell Salute to Lt. General Edward M. Flanagan Jr. –
Edward Flanagan Jr. Beaufort, SC – Lt. General (retired) Edward M. (Fly) Flanagan, 98, made his final jump on Thursday, November 7, 2019 at his home on Lady’s Island. He spent his life in daily acts of adoration of his wife and devotion to God. A three-star Army General, accomplished author and military historian.
Born and raised in Saugerties, NY, the son of Edward and Marie (Sinnot) Flanagan, he was a career military officer stationed at home and abroad including Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and Germany. After graduating from the United States Military Academy in 1943 he became a paratrooper and fought in the Pacific during World War II. He had a combat jump into the Philippines with the 11th Airborne Division and participated in the occupation of Japan at the end of the war.
He met his wife, Marguerite Farrell while on leave from West Point and they were married in 1945 when he returned from the war. He had a distinguished military career, rising to the rank of Lt. General and his commands included the 25th Infantry Division (Assistant Division Commander), 1st Infantry Division, U.S. Army center for Special Warfare and U.S. Army Special Warfare School (Green Berets), Eighth United States Army and Sixth United States Army. He retired from active duty in 1978.
During his retirement he did extensive research and wrote a number of military history books including Angels at Dawn; The History of the 11th Airborne Division; Rakkasans; The Los Banos Raid; Airborne A Combat History of American Airborne Forces; and Lighting: The 101st in the Gulf War.
The General was kind enough to call me twice when he heard my father had served with the 11th Airborne and that I was using many of his well-researched books as a resource of my information. He was only too eager to help.
The General will be buried with fellow graduates at the West Point Military Academy.
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Posted on November 18, 2019, in Current News, Uncategorized, WWII and tagged 1940's, Army, Australian, Borneo, Gen. Flanagan, History, Military, Military History, Pacific, Tributes, WW2. Bookmark the permalink. 133 Comments.
Reblogged this on Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News.
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Thank you, Ned.
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Excellent post gp, great look back into the role of North Borneo and Brunei Bay in the war years, appreciated the tribute to Lt. General Edward M. Flanagan Jr. – definitely from Irish heritage, same surname as my Mother.
Cheers.
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Thank you, Ian.
Perhaps the General and your mother were distantly related – anything’s possible!!
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I have to admit that I have never heard of Operatio Oboe Six or the battle for Borneo Island. Thank you for the interesting blog and info!
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My pleasure. Not many know anything about Borneo. It continued to be a dark, forbidden country even after the war.
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Whatever the details of the battles, the leadership, and so on, I always profit by beginning each of your posts by looking at the photos and maps. The map of Borneo was especially interesting. I’ve heard of Sarawak, but have no idea where, or why. What is certain is that i didn’t know it was part of Borneo; I love having the geographical details filled out as well as the historical!
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I find it easier myself. When you can picture something in your mind, the article makes sense, eh?! 🙂
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I like the geographical detail as well, GP. It does help with understanding the article.
Beautiful tribute at the end of your post to General Edward M. Flanagan Jr. I am glad he was willing and able to help you with your own research.
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I was stunned, especially the call on Christmas Eve. The thought that he would take the time and so pleasant. I “yes, sir”-ed the poor General to death.
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I always learn something when I visit here, GP. Another fascinating post. Gosh though, in that first picture, they all look so very young.
The tribute to General Flanagan is wonderful, a lovely personal touch. Hugs on the wing.
PS: I just “granted your wish” for a KITT car in my story. I had dropped a could of vague hints in my manuscript, early on. But I just now “committed” to it in the story. Although this KITT will have a woman’s voice… and I have a hunch she might have a rather jealous personality. LOL.
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Thank you very much, Teagan, for your kind remarks on the post.
Kitt was my personal favorite of that series, I’m thrilled his female counterpart will be making an entrance!!
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Great article as usual GP. Yes, even here the Borneo campaigns get very little publicity, but I think that will change over time. My father of course was with the 7th division at the Balikpapan landing but my wife’s father was in the 9th and had been in the Middle East and New Guinea. He would have gone to Borneo but was recovering from wounds at the time.
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Do you recall any stories they might have told?
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I never met my wife’s father but certainly my father told plenty of stories about his various campaigns including Borneo, mainly funny ones, but some tragic ones as well. He told me that when going to Borneo it was the first time that he had worried about surviving the war as he knew it was almost finished. He said that prior to that he had thought he wouldn’t survive as he had joined up early and had seen so many of his mates killed — he figured he’d run out of luck eventually. Had not the atomic bombs been dropped I’m sure he would have. He married Mum before going to Borneo. I will get together a few stories and send them to you.
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Terrific, so little is ever heard about Borneo and New Guinea. Too many think WWII was only in Europe and Pearl Harbor.
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Excellent post, GP. I always learn so much.
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My goodness, that IS high praise from a teacher I truly respect!! Thank you very much, Jennie.
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If only my history classes had been taught by you, GP. Thank you for your very kind words! 🙂
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Just as I mentioned to you, I wish we had more teachers with your values and convictions!!
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Thank you, GP. 😊
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M pleasure, Jennie.
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🙂
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Ah, those Aussies 🙂
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haha, a tough bunch, don’t think I’d care to get them angry with me!!
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No way 🙂
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One of the long forgotten theatres of the war. In the 1960s another conflict would break out as the pro-Communist guerrillas of Indonesia tried to get their hands on recently independent Malaysia (including Sarawak and Sabah) and the Sultanate of Brunei.
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Thank you for the added history. One day I would like to research the Dayak natives more thoroughly.
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At one point in his service, my dad was a guard for captured Japanese soldiers.
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Did he find them to be hostile or complacent, did your father say?
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He found them complacent. He liked to tell the story of attempting to build a wooden footlocker while guarding them, and one man grew so impatient with watching him make a mess of it, he pantomimed for my dad to turn it over to him. My dad did that, and the prisoner built the footlocker for him.
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Great story, Liz!! 🙂 Thank you for sharing it with us. Any others you might recall – please bring them here too!!
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Thanks! I will.
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I suppose, MacArthur’s island-hopping strategy funneled most of the fighting elsewhere – and rightly so. From a strategic point of view, I could not understand the need for side shows such as the Borneo campaign. It is like trying to smash the enemy’s toe instead of going for something vital.
Frankly, it is an island. And after Midway, the US Navy controlled the seas. It would have been less costly in terms of human lives to simply blockade Borneo. One does not need to commit capital ships – subs could have done a pretty good job, as proven by the Nazis in the Atlantic.
Perhaps I’m missing something – and I welcome your insights.
Thanks 🙂
Eric
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The island hopping is what got the Allies to Japan, but they had lost pilots over Borneo that needed to be rescued and no one wants to fight with the enemy on the rear. The situation in Borneo, much like New Guinea, was a special circumstance that the Australians were more capable of dealing with.
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I can understand the Aussies wanting to take out PNG – the Japs were too close for comfort. But Borneo… I still don’t see the rational.
After the disasters in Malaya-Singapore, could this have been some face-saving campaign? And brave soldiers died for it.
I’ve looked at several military campaigns during WW2 and would sure like to put those pushing for it – while sitting far behind the lines – on trial.
I would rather fight and die for those true warriors like Patton, who led from the front.
Sorry mate, but just venting off…
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Understood, but comparisons between the Pacific and Europe are impossible. Europe was a compact war, units could assist one another and Allied help was across the channel. The Pacific was huge and spread out, units would have to be shipped in for back-up assistance, etc. The logistics between the two theaters were drastically different.
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Great post Thank you
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My pleasure.
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Reblogged this on depolreablesunite.
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Much appreciated, Rick.
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Very interesting information, GP!
Never heard of it. You can see how limited information about such things is provided in schools. Thank you very much! Michael
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Borneo has always been a dark, mysterious area in history, but yes I firmly agree that the schools severely lack information about the Pacific War! I can’t imagine how much I don’t know about the European/African/Middle Eastern Theater!
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So true, GP! And now we have another problem here. The pubils dont get enough knowledge about IT and using this for the future.
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Schools, all too often, follow guidelines from the current governments.
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For me Borneo always shouts Sandakan Death March. The majority were Australians, but four of my father’s youngest men lost their lives between Sandakan and Ranau. There were a total of six (Australian) survivors.
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I remember doing research for my post on Sandakan. What a horrendous episode in human history!
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I’ve just re-read it and wept.
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As you can tell, it was rough to research, but I’m glad I did. Thank you for reading it.
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PS. Do you plan on doing a book about it, Hilary? I haven’t seen you blogging – what have you been up to? Hope all is well.
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Big family time is all I am doing now. Two surprise grandchildren in one year, one in London, one in Chicago. Much travel, much cooking, much sorting, painting, rearranging of house for visits. Mostly plus, though family health issues also need attention. Writing fell off the bottom of the list a while ago. I just drop in on blogging friends when I can.
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Sounds like a very happy life, Hilary!!
Thank you for visiting here!!
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Great intense post!
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Thank you.
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Welcome!
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It is very interesting that the “guerrilla forces…part of the clandestine Services Reconnaissance Department” were so very effective. Do you know who were in these groups and what their methods were?
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Most were Dayak natives. Other operations were run by the Special Operations Australia (SOA).
Thank you for our interest, Emma.
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Thank you for that bit of extra information
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Glad I could help.
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The Pacific campaign is very much sidelined by Europe, and within that, Borneo is even further down the list. It is a forgotten war, but a very important one and we need reminding every now and again that it did happen and at a cost too. Thanks for this GP.
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It is a very forgotten area, even today. Without the Australians in Borneo and New Guinea, these episodes might very well have had very different conclusions.
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Most definitely! They very much deserve to have their story told.
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I am constantly surprised at the involvement of the Australians in the war. But Borneo would have been close to their homeland so can see their reason for trying to protect it.
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The Australians are a tough bunch and they knew the jungles a bit better than we did. One prime example is New Guinea!!
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I still think it would have been a great idea—everywhere applicable—when the tables were turned for the liberated allied prisoners to have been used as guards for their former captors. With no more supervision than their own memories and sense of humour …
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🙂 I think they were too eager to get home.
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If I were one of them, I don’t think I’d have made it home. Given enough bullets I’d be having too much fun … but as The Spouse says, I can be a vindictive old sod at times.
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We all can when pushed too far!
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Thank you for sharing about the Lt. General.
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I wish I was a better writer to give him the send off he deserves. I thank you very much for honoring him.
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Bless those Aussies who fought for us.
And I hope the General gets the send off he deserves.
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Thank you on both counts!!
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Reblogged this on John Cowgill's Literature Site.
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Much appreciated, John.
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I am happy to share great stories.
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I am sure happy about that, John!!
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“Operation Oboe Six” Had to wonder about the name, G. Also the cartoon. Aren’t very many deer running around in the Serengeti 🙂 –Curt
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I just removed that cartoon. It was there because the post was all ready to go, when I heard about the General, I quickly composed the section for him and published.
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Understood.
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Interesting information, as always, GP, and a great tribute to General Flanagan.
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Thank you, Dolly. That means a lot.
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My pleasure, dear friend!
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You mean, we did not win the war in the Pacific by ourselves? She asked incredulously with her fingers crossed behind her back. Another great post. Nice sendoff for LTG Flanagan The poor jumpmaster was a sad way to start the comment section.
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I should have done a better job. The post was all prepared and ready to go AND then I heard about the General.
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A beautiful tribute to Gen Flanagan. Thanks too for the information on Borneo. Well done, GP.
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Thank you for coming by to read it, John. I am in contact with the 11th A/B Assoc. supplying information, somehow they had not been notified.
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That is amazing too.
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The lions and the trooper brings back a sad memory. Some of the 82nd were to jump on the beach in Panama and carry out an exercise. A jump-master, not hooked up, was standing in the open door looking down at the ocean. The plane hit and air pocket and he fell out. He pulled his reserve and floated down. The pilot radioed and a rescue boat got there quickly. All they found was a torn chute, a red patch of water and a pool of sharks.
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Dear God,what an awful memory that truly is. I am very sorry for that.
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Reblogged this on Practically Historical.
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I thank you very much!
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Thank you for putting out information on the lesser known theatres of war.
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I know there has to be a ton that I’m missing as well. It would be nice to have a crystal ball (if it worked) lol
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Excellent history–again, didn’t know. And honors to Gen. Flannagan. It sounds like he will be missed.
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He most certainly will be missed, Jacqui. Thank you for that.
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GP – Thank you for your fine farewell salute to General Flanagan.
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I owed it to him and those who fought and served with him.
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This got me thinking of how many lesser wars have continued to be fought and forgotten with how many young men dying needlessly.
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Too many Derrick. The loss of just one – is too many for me.
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Indeed.
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A nice tribute to Lt. Gen. Flanagan, Jr. who served his country well. I salute him for his service in my old country. Glad to hear you were able to talk to him.
Borneo being so close to the Philippines has been a part of Philippine History. There were areas of jungle in Borneo just like the Philippines where enemies could hide so easily. I believe some Japanese soldiers were discovered there in the 70s still thinking the war was still on. Kurita passed through Borneo on his way to the Battle of Leyte Gulf as you know.
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It is hard to imagine anyone surviving in those jungles. I doubt the people on the TV show ‘Survivor’ have a clue what life like that would be all about! (Maybe that’s why I don’t watch that show – ya think? haha)
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I can’t imagine them either. Those Japanese warriors were trained well for surviving in the jungles. FYI, I don’t watch the ‘Survivor’ either. Talking of surviving in the jungle, read the book, Lost in Sangri-La – servicemen lost in the jungle of Dutch New Guinea. I believe I saw the book on your bookshelf list months ago.
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Yes, I have that book. You understand now why I’m always saying that the more I learn about that generation, the more amazed I become! I am beginning to think that there is nothing they couldn’t accomplish, if they wanted to!
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Yes, that generation was mentally and physically strong. Maybe because they went through Depression and learned to survive with what little they had. Hardship builds character as the saying goes. Unlike the sissies today. Ugh… too early to get me started. I had to get up early to call Mom. Say a prayer. She was rushed to the hospital yesterday and I can’t get through to her. Nobody answers the phone.
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I will definitely pray for your mother. I wish I could do more.
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Thanks GP. I myself am helpless here. Will try to call again early tonight here.
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Let me know when you get through, please.
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I will. Thanks.
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I was able to talk to her maid and she said Mom is OK. All her tests are fine but she is still in the hospital hooked to an IV with several drugs and to an oxygen tank. She was never on ICU. She has asthma, no fever, no nausea but could not breathe so Merly rushed her to the hospital. Luckily it was not pneumonia which at her age (she’ll be 97 next month), I’m always worried about. Merly does not know when she’ll be home but she is staying with Mom at the hospital. Mom is very lucky to have her. She’s with our family for at least 30 years. Thanks GP for your concern. I do appreciate it very much.
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Very happy to hear the news, Rose. Your mom is a strong woman!
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The Aussies saw some savage fighting in the war, and proved just how tough they are.
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I’ve never met anyone who ever said otherwise. They continued to prove themselves afterward as well!!
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I fail to see the need for this action, in the same way so many lives were lost taking Peleliu, for an airfield which was never used afterward. Especially that late in the war, with Okinawa already in allied control.
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Still at this point, they still thought the Allies were going to have to forceably invade Japan. No one want an enemy sitting in their rear.
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Interesting information on the fighting on the island of Borneo in the final weeks of the war! I heard that some Japanese troupes refused to surrender on some remote islands because they had no word about Japan’s surrender. Was this also the case on Borneo?
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As remote as they were, I would venture to say yes. Japanese communication systems weren’t all that spectacular even in the beginning of the war, and even many who heard the news refused to believe it.
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A good reminder that war doesn’t just eend, there’s so much to do after. The general sounds like he was a class act, and you’ll miss him
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You are quite right on all counts! Thanks for coming by today, I needed that.
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Lovely salute to General Flanagan, and the post on Borneo was very informative. Thanks for all your insightful posts, GP!
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And thank you as well for being such a loyal reader here, Kaye!!
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Wow! What an honor it must have been for you to meet him. I know little about Batu Lintang camp in Kuching, Sarawak or the Borneo occupation. Thanks very much, GP.
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I appreciate your visit, Cindy. Borneo has always seemed like a world forgotten to me.
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I was thinking of your general and how the world seems so foreign to me compared with the 1940s. It doesn’t feel like we share the same values anymore. Maybe we never did.
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Each generation wanted their children to have an easier life – so here we sit with off-spring downright expecting a life handed to them on a silver platter.
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In survival mode, I believe all of them have the potential to rise to the occassion and find some grit inside, but since life is too cushy, there’s no need. It’s dormant.
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Exactly.
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Appreciated your personal note about General Flanagan. I’ve been so heartened to learn that so many of our war heroes were men of honor and of truly celebrating.
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A devote Catholic and a superb soldier, a combination not always found. Thank you for commenting.
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Put this in the “never knew” column, GP. Very interesting reading. Sorry to hear about General Flanagan. It seems he had a rich full life, but it’s still sad.
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Yes, the general did have a full life, but it seemed he would always be here.
Thank you for always being here, Dan!!
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Nice farewell to the General, GP.
Borneo must have been tough. Fighting in jungle conditions anywhere was bad enough, but those Aussie troops were up to the challenge.. The surrender came just at the right time, to save more loss of life.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Borneo to me has always been a bit of a mystery. The book, The Airmen and the Headhunters, surely explains why there was so much mystery.
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