Another wet day. I met General Willoughby going to his quarters at 12:20 p.m. He told me that early this morning 3 a.m. three Japanese transport planes crash—landed on the beach south of Dulag, loaded with troops that were armed to their teeth. They had bombs, hand-grenades and small weapons. Our men thinking that it was one of our own planes, did not shoot until they realized that they were Japanese. They killed two-thirds and the rest escaped. They caught some at noon on road No. 1. This afternoon General Head Quarters issued a memorandum to all officers and men to be on the alert and to carry a firearm and a helmet. I sent for Major Gaviola Commanding Officer of the local constabulary and instructed him to post his men around the building ready to fire at the first indication of landing. I stayed all night up.
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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