OT: Something for the veterans: The Audi Murohy Story

Read the book, saw the movie.

Dale J. wrote:

I recently read Hampton Sides' "Ghost Soldiers", which is the WW2 story of the fall & recapture of the Phillipines: Luzon, Bataan & Corregidor, detailing the death march, liquidation of allied POWS as US recapture progressed, & the dramatic Jan. '45 liberation of about 500 of near-starved surviving POWS from a Jap prison camp near Cabana Tuan by daring Rangers and Alamo scouts from the 6th Army. Many of the 500 had endured the death march and would have been starved or liquidated had they not been sprung when they were. They were in such bad shape from starvation & disease that many had gone blind, most could not walk, and some did not survive the journey to US held territory, even though they were transported in ox carts supplied by natives. An army doctor, Capt. Fisher, brought along to tend to the injured, was the only US casualty of the operation, though about 20 brave Filipino partisans were killed while keeping Japanese forces nearby engaged while the rescue took place. Jap casualties were very heavy, with practically no survivors inside the camp. The Rangers were able to execute a perfect surprise attack due to the distraction of a US fighter buzzing the camp as the Rangers stealthily approached. The help & loving co-operation provided by the Filipinos is as touching as the senseles cruelty of the Japs was shocking. My dad spent 4 years fighting in the Phillipines, but thank God he was not taken prisoner, though he was briefly captured & disarmed before overpowering the soldier who was guarding him. He said he would rather die than go to a Jap POW camp. Don't forget to thank a veteran!

I've got it on CD (Books on CD). If anyone wants it, $10 + shipping. Played once.

Lee

I read an article in (Military Officer?) about that event. Hairy. I had read "Ten Escape for Tojo" as a kid (published during WWII.) I know a guy who was on the Death March. He had been transferred off the aircraft carrier Langley just before it left the Philippines. I said it was too bad that happened. He said, 'Not really, it got sunk in the Straits of (?) and just about all died. He still meets weekly with the local POW group and looks 10 - 20 years younger than he is.

I was talking with a bridge partner during lunch. Years ago her husband was transferred to Charleston to become head of the Atlantic Mine Forces. (He had never even been on a "sweep") The Navy also needed a District Commandant there. They had a welcoming party on Saturday and on Tuesday he flew off to Washington for a meeting. The plane crashed, killing all on board, Two days later, someone showed up at his widows house and asked, "Where do you want your belongings sent, lady?" Great tact!

On the day the Heisman trophy was announced, another bridge partyner mentioned that her late husband on a sweep in Japan in the 1960s. I asked if she new Joe Ballino, a former trophy winner, who went to sweeps after graduating from the academy. She said, "Of course I knew Joe and is wife - how are they." (I had to admit that I hadn't seen Joe since 1970.)

San Diego sure is a Navy town. (I've met two MoH "winners" here.)

Oh, Barry. My spell-checker didn't like your use of "Jap!"

Karl