Eric Morris - Corregidor: The American Alamo of World War II

THE AMERICAN ALAMO
OF WORLD WAR II

ERIC MORRIS

First Cooper Square Press edition 2000

This Cooper Square Press paperback edition of Corregidor is an unabridged republication of the edition first published in Briarcliff Manor, New York, in 1981.

Copyright 1981 by Eric Morris

All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote passages in a review.

Designed by Louis A. Ditizio

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Morris, Eric, 1940

Corregidor : the American Alamo of World War II / Eric Morris.
p. cm.

Originally published: New York : Stein and Day, 1981.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-0-8154-1085-0

1. World War, 19391945CampaignsPhilippinesCorregidor Island. 2. Corregidor Island (Philippines)History. I. Title.

D767.4 .M678 2000
940.5425dc21

00-056965

The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information SciencesPermanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI/NISO Z39.481992. Manufactured in the United States of America.

DEDICATED TO

THE AMERICAN DEFENDERS
OF
BATAAN AND CORREGIDOR

The Japanese military government required American civilians to sign an oath of obedience. This is a photograph of an actual parchment document signed by a prisoner.

In writing this account I owe a personal debt of gratitude to so many people.

First there are the veterans of the campaign. It has not proved possible to include everybody I interviewed in the account. To the men and women listed below and to those who are not mentioned by name but who all shared their experiences, my heartfelt gratitude. The veterans entertained me at the convention of their Western States Chapter and subsequently welcomed me, a stranger in the land, into their homes. For this kindness and hospitality, my sincere thanks. Where their memory grew hazy over the details of events that happened forty years ago many veterans sent me articles and newspaper clippings which they wrote in the immediate postwar years, with permission to use them at my discretion.

Malcolm Champlin has allowed me to use four articles he published in the maritime journal Shipmate. Others have sent me photographs of the period of the campaign and these appear in the text. Sister Louise Kroeger sent a selection of material from the convent archives at Maryknoll. I am particularly grateful to Sister Coleman for her excellent account of the rescue of the internees at Los Bios. Bill Massellos documentary evidence on the prisoner-of-war experiences provides much of the data in the Epilogue.

Mrs. Margaret Williams, wife of General Drakes grandson, Duke, an officer serving in the United States Air Force, is the family archivist. Her unfailing support and enthusiasm has allowed me to include in my account material which has never been used before.

Sky Beaven and her husband, Bill, who made me so welcome in Washington and helped in research advice and contacts.

Lt. Col. Mark Gratanas, at the time of my research the commanding officer, 2nd Battalion, 31st U.S. Infantry.

Dr. John Sloanaker, Chief of Historical Research Section, U.S. Military History Institute, Carlisle Barracks.

Brig. Gen. E. H. Simmons, U.S.M.C. (Ret.), Headquarters, United States Marine Corps.

Edward Louden of Scholastic magazines and an old soldier who has been so helpful.

Col. Primitivo Milan, Philippine Constabulary, Chief of Historical Archives of the Philippine Army.

Rico Jos, the University of Manilaa mine of information on the campaign.

Col. Manuel Acosta (Ret.), Philippine Military Shrines Service, a most excellent guide during my excursions into Bataan and on Corregidor.

Col. Christopher Dale, the British Defense Attach, and his wife, Simone, for their hospitality in Manila.

Col. Robert B. Osborn, United States Army Attach in London.

John Hunt, librarian, and his staff of the Central Library, Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst.

Mrs. Dorothy Fox, assisted by Mrs. Kate Jarman, transcribed the hundreds of hours of tapes, and the typed manuscript and their efficiency, industry, and enthusiasm are beyond praise. It has been a herculean task not made any easier, I am sure, by my almost illegible handwriting.

The original idea for this book came from Sol Stein. He has given me inspiration, support, and guidance throughout. Patricia Day has proved to be a magnificent editor; her helpful comments and constructive criticism have improved the manuscript beyond measure.

James Cochrane of Hutchinson in London has been closely involved since I started to produce the manuscript. I am most grateful for all his advice and help.

Last but by no means least, my wife, Pamela, and my family, whose patience and sympathy have proved invaluable throughout the research, the travel, and the writing of this book.

E.M.

The following are those veterans of the campaign who were interviewed personally by the author. It is their story that is told in this book: