Fort Stotsenburg,
November 18, 1941.
Have been to Manila, bought a stove, kitchen utensils and chinaware to the tune of 120 pesos. Looked for a car but found nothing, in my price range, which is at all suitable. Am dickering with a sergeant here on the Post and will probably buy his car tonight. He has a Buick 1938 Sedan in excellent condition. Wants 1350 pesos and the car is well worth it based upon Manila prices for the junk I saw there. It is more than I want to pay and a far better car than my purpose requires, but needs must when the devil drives.
Rumor is very definite — in fact it amounts to oral orders — that four field artillery regiments will go out on the 20th, day after tomorrow, my regiment among them. Villa-Real tells me we go to Bayambang, the induction center for the regiment where it will be my duty to inspect and receive the clothing and equipment of the regiment which will thus pass from Philippine Army ownership to USAFFE. I also “accept” the men for service with USAFFE. Montgomery tells me of many forms, reports, and telegrams which will probably be required, as they were during the September induction. As yet no orders or instructions have been received. Nor can anyone tell me whether we go by train, truck, or walk. The whole thing is a disorganized mess and I am disgusted.
My American officers have been changed again. Orders from USAFFE require four lieutenants with each regiment, directing that the Del Pilar instructors be used, and any vacancies filled by detail from the Scout Units.
Hirsch, the Del Pilar CO, felt that, as a reward for good work done, the Del Pilar instructors should have their choice of camps. Much to my surprise he sold General King on the idea. The result was unfortunate for me. Naturally the young men chose the best and pleasantest camps. Mine at Sta Ignacio was known to all as a hell-hole and avoided. Therefore I drew one officer who came on the transport with me and three who were detailed from the Scout Battalions today. None of them have been on duty at the school. They do not know the names, capacities, previous record, ability or past performance of any regimental officer. My feeling is that the Del Pilar officers should be equally distributed among the ten camps. Moore is fortunate. His camp at Tagaytay is a pleasure resort and he gets the three top officers of the instructor group.
My young men are: 1st Lieutenants Gorge Reed, Carl J. Savoie, Roderiok Hendry, and 2d Lieutenant Thomas R. Harrison.
Hendry is a 1939 ROTC graduate from Oregon State and has been on active duty since August 1940. Savoie came on active duty at the time of his graduation from Louisiana, June 1940. Harrison graduated from Utah last June. Thus the young men who will have to bear the bulk of the instruction load for me have a cumulative total of 37 months active service.