I learned today that even if Gen. Jonathan Wainwright attempted to surrender only Corregidor and the surrounding Fortresses at Caballo, Carabao and El Fraile Island, (Forts Mills, Frank, Drum & James) he was forced by victorious Gen. Masaharu Homma to surrender USFIP all over the Phil. Accordingly, the hapless vanquished commander issued surrender orders to key USFIP Commanders with the following officers directed to serve said “Surrender Orders,” Lt. Col. Kalakuka USA to Lt. Col. Guillermo Nakar ’32, Comdr. 14th Inf, in Cagayan Valley; Col. Jesse T. Trayvick, Jr. USA to Maj. Gen. W. F. Sharp, CG Vis-Min Forces; and Brig. Gen. Guillermo B. Francisco ’08 to Southern Luzon & Bicol Regions. These representatives of Gen. Wainwright are accompanied by ranking Japanese officers and provided adequate land and air transportation.
Wainwright’s surrender orders became a favorite topic of private discussions among officers at Malolos POW Camp. To the question, if you were Col. Nakar, and you received the written order, will you surrender? I am happy to note that after heated private discussions, all Philippine Military Academy graduates were unanimous in disobeying the order. Two reserve officers have strong reservations that if they disobey the “lawful order of their superior” they can be liable for court martial later. It will be interesting to find out how those concerned actually reacted later.
As a lasting tribute to the courageous gunners who manned those big guns at Corregidor and also to immortalize the names of the twenty batteries that fought valiantly against the enemy for 26 continuous days and nights since the Fall of Bataan, here they are in alphabetical order: Batteries Chenny; Crockett; Cushing; Geary; Gruggs; Hamilton; Hanna; Hearn; James; Kysor; Monja; Maxwell; Morrison; Ramsay; Rock Point; Smith; Stockade; Sunset; Way; and Wheeler. My everlasting Salute to both Comrade Gunners and Batteries!