I retired at 8:30 p.m., foreseeing another bad night. At 9:30 p.m. the air raid signal was sounded followed by a raid, another at 11:30 p.m. which lasted one hour. At 1 a.m. as I lay awake in bed I heard someone knocking at the door on the street. I went to the window. There was a jeep in the street and an officer asked me if that was the place where General Valdes lived. I answered this is General Valdes The he said “I have important information to give you.” I went downstairs and he told me that G-2 had received information of a heavy air raid between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. and for me to stay in a dug out or fox hole. I told the Losa family to stay in the dug out. Two Australian war correspondents, Private Marias and I went to the Capital building where the basement constitutes a good dug out. At 2 a.m. the Japanese dropped 500 pound bombs, fortunately no one was killed and only few were wounded including Lieuenant Katz C.I.C. a good friend of mine. Had lunch at the Officers Mess and later saw the huge crater just outside the house occupied by Colonel Finley, Head Quarters Commandant Advance Echelon.
![Basilio J. Valdes](https://philippinediaryproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Valdes-e1643169523514.jpg)
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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