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. This portion of his diaries covers his service as Chief of Staff, Philippine Army, 1939-1945; and Secretary of National Defense in the Quezon and Osmeña War Cabinets, 1941-45.
All Posts
- October 6, 1944
- 7:59 am
October 5, 1944 – Thursday
Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on google
Google+
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on linkedin
LinkedIn
More to explore
10 November 2020
November 10, 2020
No Comments
We left Legaspi City at 4:30 am and safely reached Manila at 4:15 pm.
9 November 2020
November 9, 2020
No Comments
Our flight was cancelled again due cloudy weather in the Bicol Region. The rest of the assessment team decided to travel back
8 November 2020
November 8, 2020
No Comments
In the morning, we were supposed to return to Manila via the plane we took going to Virac but it was cancelled
Today-ish In History
- 2021: mlq3
- 2020: Featured image
- 2019: twentynineteen
- 2018:
- 2016:
- 2015: Home
- 2014:
- 2013: The First Quarter Storm through the eyes of Ferdinand E. Marcos
- 2012: December 24-25, 1941 in diaries
- 2011: 10 March 2011
- 2010: May 28, 2010
- 2009: Day One —Nov 23 (Monday)
- 2001: Jan. 6-17, 2001
- 1987: 27 February 1987
- 1986: February 13-17, 1986
- 1985: June 12, 1985
- 1983: Jan. 1, 1983
- 1979: Jan. 7, 1979 Sunday
- 1978: Feb. 17, 1978 Friday
- 1977: Jan. 6, 1977 Thursday
- 1976: Feb. 21, 1976 Thursday
- 1975: Feb. 3, 1975 Monday
- 1974: May 2-May 14, 1974
- 1973: Jan. 1, 1973 Monday
- 1972: January 4, 1972 Tuesday 6:50 p.m.
- 1971: January 2, 1971, Saturday, 10:00 pm
- 1970: January 1, 1970
- 1969: January 31, 1969 — Friday
- 1967: January 11, 1967 — Wednesday
- 1966: October 24, 1966