Arrived Hickham Field Honolulu at 6:40 a.m. Admiral Nimitz and his chief of staff Admiral McMaster, Lieutenant General Richardson, Commander General of the region and Brigadier General Ryan, Commander ATC, were at the field to meet me. They accompanied me to the guest house where the President, myself, Colonel Melchor & Captain Madrigal were installed. At 10 a.m. we took off from Hickham Field for Kwajalein. Landed at Kwajalein at 7:30 p.m. Admiral Barnard, Brigadier General Cross ATC and a Major General of the U.S Marines were at the field to greet us. Then we boarded the Admiral’s launch and went to another island where his headquarters are. It was a twenty minute trip which was very welcome as the night was hot & sticky. This is the first atoll I have seen and I was deeply impressed. It is the largest and it consists of a central lagoon 300 square miles in size, surrounded by islands. In his quarters the Admiral served beer and Coca-Cola. I took the latter. Shortly after Commander Peabody, of the Peabody Conservatory of Music and four other musicians gave us an impromptu concert which was very entertaining. At 12 a.m. we took off for Hollandia.
Basilio J. Valdes
Basilio J. Valdes, M.D. (July 10, 1892 –January 26, 1970), soldier, doctor, cabinet member, businessman. Chief of Staff, Philippine Army, 1939-1945; Secretary of National Defense in the Quezon and Osmeña War Cabinets, 1941-45. Professor of Surgery at the University of Santo Tomas (UST), Medical Director of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, 1948-1970.
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