Monthly Archives: September 2021
Leyte continued
LST’s # 66,67,18,245,102 on 20 October 1944
While the Imperial Navy was floundering in their attempts to halt the persistent invasion of Leyte, Gen. Yamashita was in his headquarters at Fort McKinley on Luzon. He was receiving very little information from his own people and upon hearing of the US landing, he was heard to say, “Very interesting. But where is Leyte?” [The Japanese general had only just been transferred from Manchuria.]
Yamashita did not feel that the Japanese all-out standing defense should be on Leyte and he refused to supply more troops to the island. But he was overruled. Gen. Terauchi, knowing that the island’s occupation by the Americans would divide their bases, so reinforcements would be sent in.
Yamashita Tomoyuki, 1945
21 October – Most of the Japanese beach defenses had been shattered by bombing and strafing and a majority of the 1st Battalion/16th Division had been wiped out. Parts of Tacloban had been liberated by the US troops and Gen. Makino was now forced to split the remainder of his 16th Div. in half, North and South Defense Forces.
As the ground forces continued fighting, Japanese aircraft from all other bases in the Philippines arrived on Luzon to support the plans for a counteroffensive.
airfield construction
25 October – Gen. Sosaku Suzuki, in charge of defending the Central Philippines, still was receiving inferior or misleading intelligence and remained confident of Japanese victory because: He still expected support from the Navy; he had glowing reports concerning Formosa; he was told that ALL US carriers had been sunk and no American aircraft were flying over his headquarters on Cebu. Suzuki told his Chief of Staff, Gen. Tomochika, “…we are about to step on the center of the stage. There is no greater honor or privilege.”
Two Japanese units were on en-route to Luzon: the Japanese 1st Division [the Gem Division] to land at Ormoc on the west coast and the 26th Division at Carigara in the north.
MacArthur surveys Leyte beach, 1944
MacArthur’s summary:
“The assault continued after a rapid consolidation of the first few days objectives. Numerous enemy counterattacks were beaten off in all areas during the next few days as advancing forces reported increased resistance on every front. By the end of the third day, over 2,000 Japanese had been reported killed…
“On 24 October, elements of the XCorps began a drive up the Leyte side of San Juanico Strait, while farther south other units of the Corps pushed westward. At the same time, the XXIV Corps directed attacks northward and westward. The 96th Div., moving inland from Dulag, met heavy opposition from fortified positions on Catmon Hill, a terrain feature dominating the division’s zone of action and giving protection to enemy mortars bobbing shells toward the assault shipping in Leyte Gulf. Catmon Hill was initially by-passed, then neutralized by naval guns and field artillery and finally cleared of the enemy by 31 October.”
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Military Humor –
“You’re doing it wrong.”
Practice aircraft carrier??
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Farewell Salutes –
Keefe R. Connolly – Markesan, WI; US Navy, WWII, PTO, Hospital Apprentice 1st Class, USS Oklahoma, KIA (Pearl Harbor)
Daniel Coons Jr. – Fort Madison, IA; US Army, WWII
Joe Chadwell Tullahoma, TN; US Army Air Corps, WWII, PTO, 11th Airborne Division
Charles A. Day – Redwood, CA; US Army, WWII, Korea & Vietnam, Colonel (Ret.)
Stanley L. DeWitt – Royal City, IN; US Army, Korea, Sgt., Medical Detachment/57th FA/ 7th Infantry Division, Bronze Star, KIA (Chosin Reservoir, NK)
Robert C. Martin – Lakemore, OH; USMC, WWII, PTO, radio/gunner, Putple Heart
Mortimer Goodkin – Short Hills, NJ; US Army Air Corps, WWII, ATO (Adak, AK)
Robert Killey Sr. – Elmira, NY; US Coast Guard
Reuben Klamer – Canton, OH; US Navy, WWII, PTO, V-7 program / boardgame developer
Michael T. MIles – Wikes Barre, PA; US Army
Joe R. Nightingale – Kalamazoo, MI; US Navy, WWII, PTO, Seaman 1st Class, USS Oklahoma, KIA (Pearl Harbor)
Elizabeth Thew – Hopeswell, VA; Civilian, WWII, Corsair cockpit construction / military librarian
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A Soul Lost in a Faraway Jungle – Part 1
Koji Kanemoto had members of his family in both the military and home front on both sides of the Pacific. For a unique look into life at that time, please read this amazing blog series. For information on Leyte simply move on to Part 2.
Thank you
Photo by Eugene Smith, USMC
A mother during World War II could suffer no greater anguish than receiving a telegram that her son was not killed but rather, deemed missing in action.
One irony rests with the fact we were the victors in World War II. While certainly not in all instances, we have a large percentage of intact battle records – and survivors – to help identify (or locate) remains largely because we were victors.
For us here in the US, roughly 420,000 are deemed as killed in action during World War II. However, at one time, there were roughly 80,000 classified as missing in action. There is a second irony here. As seen in the solemn photograph above, parts of a vibrant yet unidentifiable son were brought to this battlefield cemetery for burial. In other words, we have his remains; his name, however, is not on the grave marker. …
View original post 1,125 more words
Leyte, Philippines begins
Leyte, Oct. 1944
20 October – the X and XXIV Corps of the 6th Army, under General Krueger, made their amphibious landing on a 25-mile (40 km) stretch of coastline between Dulag and Tacloban on the eastern side of Leyte.
At 0945, the 1st Cavalry went ashore on White Beach, the 24th Infantry Division went on their left at Red Beach and the 96th Infantry Division landed further south on Orange and Blue Beaches. They all moved inland for about a mile, hitting stiffer resistance as they went.
MacArthur observing the beach at Leyte
The 7th Infantry Division at Violet and Yellow Beaches had the lightest opposition, but Dulag was taken by the following day. MacArthur described the view he witnessed from the flag bridge of the USS Nashville:
“Landings are explosive once the shooting begins and now thousands of guns were throwing their shells with a roar that was incessant and deafening. Rocker vapor trails criss-crossed the sky and black, ugly ominous pillars of smoke began to rise. High overhead, swarms of airplanes darted into the maelstrom. And across what would have ordinarily been a glinting, untroubled blue sea, the black dots of the landing craft churned towards the beaches.
“From my vantage point, I had a clear view of everything that took place. Troops were going ashore at Red Beach near Palo, at San Jose on White Beach and at the southern tip of Leyte on tiny Pansom Island…”
Gen. MacArthur walking into the Philippines.
MacArthur became impatient and ordered a landing craft to carry him and President Osmeña to Red Beach for a dramatically staged arrival back to the Philippines. But the boatload of VIP’s and press were caught in a traffic jam of vessels making an effort to the same makeshift pier. The harassed beachmaster directed the VIP’s away and said, “Let ’em walk!” This more and likely is the reason for his surly expression in the famous photograph, despite him trying later to create a better one.
Mac went into the 24th’s area and sat on a log with Osmeña and a Signal Officer gave the general a microphone. The “Voice of Freedom” was back on the air and Mac gave his speech, “People of the Philippines, I have returned…” His aides noticed that the speech left him shaken and visibly moved.
By evening, a 17-mile beachfront was taken with only light casualties, but a serious enemy counter-attack came with Japanese torpedoes bombers that scored a hit on the USS Honolulu. Approximately 22,000 enemy troops were dug into their positions in the hills behind Tacloban.
The X Corps had unfavorable conditions in terrain and sporadic mortar and artillery fire which caused them to take 5 days to complete unloading. This however did not prevent them from the establishment of their beachhead.
MacArthur’s summary:
“The enemy’s anticipation of attack in Mindanao caused him to be caught unawares in Leyte and the beachheads of the Tacloban area… The naval forces consisted of the 7th US Fleet, the Australian Squadron and supporting elements of the 3rd US Fleet. Air support was given by naval carrier forces, the Far East Air Force, and the Royal Australian Air Force. The enemy’s forces include the 14th Army Group under Field Marshall Count Terauchi, of which 7 divisions have been identified – 16th, 26th, 30th, 100th, 102nd, 103rd and the 105th.”
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Current News – Happy 74th Birthday to the U.S. Air Force 9/18/1947
https://pacificparatrooper.wordpress.com/?s=air+force+birthday
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Military Humor –
“The situation in Iraq appears to be going well, gentlemen. THAT however, is a map of Staten Island.”
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Farewell Salutes –
James C. Barnhart – Somerset, PA; US Army Air Corps, WWII, ETO, Purple Heart / Korea, Purple Heart
A. Charles Casadonte Jr. – Herkimer, NY; US Army, WWII, ETO, Co. B/111 Medical Battalion
Keith Dunker – Dayton, OH; US Army Air Corps, WWII, Pt., pilot
Lester Flack – Guest, KY; US Army, WWII, 22 Infantry Division
Richard Gartee – Monroe, MI; US Navy, WWII
David M. Hardy Jr. – Tucson, AZ; US Navy, WWII, USS Louisville
Richard G. Hudak – Elizabeth, NJ; USMC, Vietnam, Captain
Teppo K. Jokinen – brn: Hyvinkää, FIN/ Everett, WA; Finnish Air Force
Paul Mazal – Loomis, CA; US Army Air Corps, WWII, ETO, P-47 pilot, Lt. # O-763693, 513/406th Fighter Group, KIA (GER)
Andrew Pellerito – MI; USMC, WWII, PTO, Cpl. # 355031, Co. K/3/2nd Marine Div., KIA (Betio, Tarawa)
Joseph C. Rouse – Riverside, NC; US Navy, WWII, PTO, Seaman 1st Class # 2624770, USS Oklahoma, KIA (Pearl Harbor)
Helen Scallion – Birmingham, AL; Civilian, WWII, B-24 & 25 electrical system construction
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The Showers
Unfortunately, I do not remember which island this story occurred on.
Smitty did not write home about his experience with the showers. .. BUT,
He was coming back into camp after having a nice cold shower. He walked back with a towel wrapped around his middle and held it closed with his left hand. The jungle appeared quiet except for the buzzing of the insects whizzing around him. [The New Guinea “salute” is said to actually be the act of swatting the insects!)
He said, “You know how annoying just one mosquito can be when it’s hovering by your ears. This was like a swarm and I tried like hell to use my right hand to swat them away from my face. When I began to approach our tents there was not one man to be seen and I couldn’t imagine where they all went. As I got closer I could hear the G.I.s yelling and they were waving their arms as they crouched in their tents, but I couldn’t make out what they were saying. Besides, I was too preoccupied with swatting the bugs that seemed the size of half-dollars.
“When I got back to my tent complaining about how aggravating the bugs on the island were, I asked them what all the hooting and hollering was all about. All they kept doing was checking my skin and asking if I was alright.
Somebody yelled, ‘Those were no jungle bugs — that’s shrapnel!’ When they discovered that I had been hit, someone happily said that I could put in for a Purple Heart.”
Sea Bees’ showers in the Pacific
After a good laugh between Dad and I, I asked if he ever put in for the medal. He laughed again and said that he was too embarrassed. “For one thing I felt stupid for not realizing what was going on and second, I didn’t want to be grouped into being one of those guys that put in for a Purple Heart every time they nicked themselves shaving. It would be like taking something away from the men who actually did get wounded and deserved the medal.”
CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE.
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Military Humor –
Sad Sack Shower
Sad Sack
The funnier side of Army life – Pride in one’s work!
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Farewell Salutes –
John G. Bock Jr. – Lincoln, NE; US Navy, WWII, PTO, Seaman 2nd Class # 3167160, USS Oklahoma, KIA (Pearl Harbor)
Martin Gelb (101) – Brooklyn, NY; US Army / OSS, WWII, ETO
Final Mission
Carl H. Graham – Hackensack, NJ; US Navy, Korea, USS Boyd & Yarnall
George Grater – Hoboken, NJ; US Army, Korea, 1st Lt.
Charles E. Hiltibran – Cable, OH; US Army, Korea, Cpl., 1/32/7th Infantry Division, KIA (Chosin Reservoir)
Thomas A. Lipscomb Jr. – New Orleans, LA; US Army, Korea
George J. Palermo – Chestnut Hill, PA; US Air Force, Korea, Cryptographer
George Psihas – Detroit, MI; US Army, West Point Class of ’51, Korea, M1 Abrams Tank trailblazer
Donald Rumsfeld – Winnetka, IL; US Navy, pilot / Congressman, NATO, White House Chief of Staff, Sec. of Defense
George R. Russum – Lake Worth, FL; US Navy, USS Forrestal
Calvin Shepherd – Inkster, MI; USMC, WWII, PTO, Montford Point Marines
Francis W. Wiemerslage – Chicago, IL; US Army Air Corps, WWII, ETO, Sgt. # 16146369, B-17 ball turret gunner, 549/385/8th Air Force, KIA (Dresden, GER)
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From the US Navy helicopter crash off Mexico
James P. Buriak – Salem, VA; US Navy, Helicopter crewman 2nd Class
Sarah F. Burns – Severna Park, MD; US Navy, Corpsman 2nd Class
Bradley A. Foster – Oakhurst, CA; US Navy, pilot, Lt.
Paul R. Fridley – Annandale, VA; US Navy, pilot, Lt.
Bailey J. Tucker – St. Louis, MO; US Navy, Corpsman 3rd Class
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DON’T KNOW HOW I MISSED THIS DRAWING OF SMITTY’S FOR LAST WEEK’S POST
( I’M CLAIMING A SENIOR MOMENT…)
Latrines, by Smitty, (Everett Smith)
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Pacific Paratrooper 