HQ, Intelligence
Bataan
Given mission to Manila. Will take the Corregidor-to-Cavite route. Will bring ten operatives with me including two signal corps men. Should be in Manila by the 8th. Am excited. Can’t tell anyone about it, though. Fred just asked: “Why are you fixing up that civilian outfit?” Pretended not to hear him.
Leonie down with Malaria. He also has dysentery. Two days ago it was Fred. Even the doctor is sick. I have a slight headache.
Right now Maj. Javallera is bawling out two privates who fell asleep during their guarding hours. I pity the men. They have very little food, they work in the morning and afternoon and they even have to be sentinels at night.
Japs are now putting pressure on eastern sector. First they bomb the lines; then they shell; finally they attack. All their thrusts have been met with withering infantry and artillery fire. Some of our artillery shells fell short and exploded on our lines. Several boys killed.
Raid. Plenty of planes.
(later)
Climbed cliff of Little Baguio to watch planes bomb Mariveles airfield and Naval depot. Had a good bird’s eye view.
One formation came from east… The other from the west. When they were approaching their targets, our AA units opened fire.
Saw white puffs of smoke following path of Jap bombers. It was a beautiful sight. Jap planes looked like silver bullets sailing in clouds. AA shell-burst like white wreaths being thrown at planes.
Watched bombs as they sailed to objectives. Could hear sharp shrill sound of falling bombs. First bomb missed target. Landed between two camouflaged warehouses. Earth shook up to my high vantage point. Saw dust rise like geyser where bomb dropped. More bombs. Target burst into flames. Could feel wind blowing against my face. AA fire intensified. More white puffs below planes. Jap plane dives. Nope, it is falling. Twirls to earth. Crashes in Bay. Fires in naval depot. Many died.
Good story: Lt. Palo accompanied Lt. Mondoñedo to airforce headquarters. While Mondoñedo was talking to officers of the air corps, Palo stayed outside and talked to an old American who was wearing an old shirt, while basking in the sun.
Said Palo to the American: “Say bud, what are you doing out there?”
Said the old fellow: “Oh, I’m whittling this piece of wood.”
Palo: “What’s that?”
Old fellow: “Carving a dame.”
Palo: “You are too old for that stuff.”
Old fellow didn’t answer.
Palo: “Say Bud, have you got a glass of water?”
Old fellow took some water for Palo. Palo complained. “Haven’t you got a cleaner glass?”
The old fellow said that he drinks out of that glass.
Then Palo said: “Do you mind if I lie down on this table. I am tired.”
“That’s o.k.,” said the old man. “I’m dressing up now. Leave you for a while, lt.”
After about an hour, Lt. Mondoñedo finished his business with the air corps officers. When Mondoñedo and Palo were walking out of the HQ, they saw the old man dressed in a General’s uniform, with stars on his shoulder straps.
Palo stood at attention. Nervously he said: “I’m sorry, sir.”
Gen. George said: “That’s o.k. lieutenant. But don’t you ever make the same mistake with a capt.”
Palo is now in bed.