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CORREGIDOR ISLAND, Republic of the Philippines (MCN - 11/5/2011) —
Marines and Sailors of Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine
Expeditionary Unit toured historic Corregidor Island, Nov. 4, 2011.
U.S. Marines with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit take a group photo in front of a statue of Gen. Douglas MacArthur, during a tour here on Nov. 04, 2011. The statue was erected at the location of MacArthur's departure from the Philippines prior to the fall of Corregidor in 1942. Photo by USMC Lance Cpl. David J. Adams |
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Corregidor Island guards the entrance to Manila Bay and was the
place of the last stand of allied Philippine and American service
members at the beginning of the occupation of the Philippines by
invading Japanese forces.
“Any time you can get exposed to
any history, get your hands on it and touch it, you feel the power
of it,” said Cpl. Jacob Baldwin, maintenance non-commissioned
officer, CLB-31. “It makes it much more real and tangible when you
get to walk the soil where blood was shed. This was one place I
wanted to see to before I died - Corregidor Island.”
The
Marines and Sailors toured the longest barracks in the world at the
time, known as the “Mile-Long Barracks.” It held more than 8,000
U.S. and Philippine service members at the height of its use in the
early 1940s, according to tour operators.
Among the allied
service members who were there during the Japanese attack and
occupation in 1942 were U.S. Marines of the 4th Marine Regiment. The
Marines were |
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assigned the task of securing beaches where the Japanese were
thought likely to land. |
“Being a Marine back then, they heard from
Gen. MacArthur, ‘Whenever you get a chance, strike; for your
family, strike; and for your future sons and daughters,
strike.' Back then it was all about protecting their
future,” said Baldwin. “Now we are the future, we are living
out that dream.”
The service members had opportunity
to enter the Malinta Tunnel, the last stronghold of joint
Philippine and American military forces in the Philippines,
and Gen. Douglas MacArthur's command center. It was there
that the allied forces sheltered and fought for a bitter
five months before eventual surrender in the face of
starvation.
“Malinta Tunnel was one of the most
striking things of the tour, it makes you really appreciate
the quality of life and living conditions we have now,” said
LT. Jason Dulac, dental officer, 31st MEU. “It helps you be
very thankful for the clean air we breathe on ship, the air
conditioning, the sunlight. We get focused on supplies we
might not have here, but it is nothing compared to what the
Marines in those tunnels went through. There was a story
about 14 Marines holding down another Marine down so they
could amputate, because they ran out of anesthesia – it
makes you appreciate the conditions we have now.”
The
Marines and Sailors also toured coastal defense guns and
mortars, military cemeteries and the Pacific War Memorial
and Museum.
The visiting U.S. service members
gathered for a group photo at the Army pier where MacArthur
secretly left the Philippines, vowing, “I shall return.” It
is also the site of the fulfillment of that promise.
Near the end of the tour, the visiting Marines gathered
around the statue of two wounded service members, a
Philippine and an American, and read aloud the inscription
that immortalizes the sacrifice of those who served on
Corregidor.
“In these hallowed surroundings where
heroes sleep, may their ashes scatter with the wind and live
in the hearts of those who were left behind,” the Marines
read. “They died for freedom's right and in Heaven's sight,
theirs was a noble cause.”
“This tour really put into
perspective the big picture, especially the foreign
relations aspect of our theater engagement here,” said 1st
Lt. Matthew Halligan, motor transportation officer, CLB-31.
“If one does not know the history of this place, one might
not fully understand what we are doing here. By seeing what
we did and understanding how we fought and bled together
with our Philippine brothers during World War Two, we can
see the historical significance of what our current mission
is here now.”
The tour of Corregidor Island was held
after the conclusion of the Amphibious Landing Exercise,
which is designed to build interoperability between the
Philippine Armed Forces and U.S. military. It also serves as
an opportunity to enhance the bilateral relationships which
have endured for more than half a century.
More photos available in frame below
By USMC Capt. Caleb D. Eames
31st MEU
Marine Corps News
Copyright 2011
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