el cid again
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Joined: 10/10/2005 Status: offline
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Since I was not born until 1946, I was not there at the time, and cannot testify from memory who went where? But at least I have gone to Fort John Hay, spent time examining the original documents there, including the rather simple but clear Army style maps drawn by the commander - which as far as I know have never been published. The curator says as far as she knows no one else ever made copies, and it required special permission to do so - so there should be a record. You may elect to believe what you please. This was not just a base, but the fledgling Philippine Military Academy, with its attendent staff, was also nearby (not yet at the Fort, because facilities were not yet built, it was at Teacher Camp). Apparently, before taking everyone to the North (non-malarial, rice country, with many mountains) to operate as irregulars, he decided to see what might be done by advancing down the Naguilian Road? By means I do not know, he was able to establish the 11th Division was then well to the South of him - and SE of the Gulf - and the entire coast had been taken with virtually no resistence. People who live in Buang and Agoo, which were major langing sites, say there was no battle, no defensive positions, and even that there were agents acting as guides. These people think they were Filipino, but I suspect possibly Nakano School agents in country. I myself have taken a canoe along the entire coast, and examined the beaches and infrastructure - including the RR before it was abandoned in the North. The road is substantially the same as it was - the bridges pre date the war and are rated in the cement as 10 t - which I interpret to mean 10 tons. I have personal connections near Naguilian - and my father in law was a scout for US forces in 1944 in this area. quote:
ORIGINAL: Don Bowen quote:
ORIGINAL: Andy Mac Don and Joel are the PI experts so I would ask them Don has wasted hours answering Sid on these same issues. The author he quotes is apparently Ricardo Trota Jose. Jose's history of the Philippine army is a social/political study of the period from formation until the start of the war. It has little tactical or TOE data, and I'd love to see a page reference for the tactical dispositions quoted above. I'd look them up in my copy of the book. As to the commander of Camp John Hay, Col. John P. Horan did not move toward Lingayan. He sat at Baguio, requested permission to retire, and did so when authorized on Dec 24th. By then the Kennon road was closed, so Horan attempted to withdraw over the mountain to Highway 5. Horan and his assistant, Col Bonnet each led a portion of the garrison, but neither made it through. Bonnet's detachment found their way blocked and dispersed into the jungle. A few made it to Bataan, others ended up with the guerillas. Horan returned to Baguio to find C troop/26th had arrived. The conduct of Horan and his officers was in stark contrast to the officers and men of the 26th. Horan send A Company/43rd under a Captain Glitter to block the Naguilian Road. However, Glitter retired on the first evening, without contact, fearing he might be outflanked. Prior to this a patrol of five troopers from the 26th. lead by a PFC reconnoitered the same road all the way to Naguilian without contacting any Japanese. The Japanese had passed through Naguilian the day before but left no garrison. Horan, by the way, wrote two diaries. One during the period between December 25th (after his return from a failed retreat) and the surrender. The other many years later (about 1960). The first is full of day to day activities, apparently including a lot about his meals. The second is a longer narration that explains how others failed him and delves on the weaknesses he perceived in his subordinates. For his actions, he earned the nickname the colonel Who Ran from the filipino troops in Baguio. So, before I go back to Green Button, let me advise readers to question the details of Sid's posts unless he gives references that can be verified. (edit) Lest I be guilty of the same issue, here are the references I used: Fall of the Philippines, US Army "Green Book" by Louis Morton The Philippine Army 1935-1942 by Ricardo Trota Jose The Intrepid Guerrillas of North Luzon by Bernard Norling and, to a lesser extent: Triumph in the Philippines by Celedonia Ancheta Liberation of the Ilocos by Celedonia Ancheta.
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