Today’s Manila News says Gen Castroux proclaimed Syrian independence on behalf of Free France. USSR checked main German drive, hurling the Nazis back at Latvian border. In New York, Joe Dimaggio of the Yankees, is setting baseball record by hitting safely in 45 straight games so far. In nearby IndoChina, the Japanese continue to mass troops which are alarming to me. We continue our military training in all our cadres according to the master plan.
Did you know the first officer picked by Pres Quezon to start the OSP was Maj Rafael Ramos ’17 because he was a Nautical School graduate before PCA. However, before he could do anything, Rep. Manuel Roxas of Capiz recommended a relative, Jose V. Andrada USNA 31 then Phil Nautical School Director. Commissioned as a Captain, Andrada gathered fellow USNA alumni Lts Alfredo Pecson ’33; Enrique Jurado ’34; Marcelo Castillo ’38; and Carlos Albert ’39 to start the OSP at Muelle del Codo, Port Area, Manila in Feb. 9,1939. Major Ramos together with Maj Miguel Aguilar went on to pioneer the Quartermaster Service after undergoing training in US QM School.