Felipe Buencamino III

Felipe Buencamino III (March 28,1920 — April 28,1949), Served in G-2, Philippine Army, in Bataan.

December 23, 1941

Silang, Cavite Headquarters, 51st Division Still no action. Troops ready in positions. Morale of men very high. Spent whole day running to a nearby foxhole

December 24, 1941

Tagaytay outpost Midnight Can’t sleep. Just arrived from Manila. The general ordered me to supervise burning of records of G-2 Section, Philippine Army. Had a

December 29, 1941

Command Post Ft. McKinley Our division has been ordered by Corps headquarters to retreat and form a new line with a view to defending the

December 30, 1941

Ft. McKinley, Command Post Our division has been ordered to move to San Fernando, Pampanga. The general said that very heavy fighting continues on

January 1, 1942

Bataan 41st division, C.P. Dead tired. Streets jammed from Bulacan to Bataan. Absolutely no traffic order. Roads filled with dust that covered entire body,

January 3, 1942

Bataan 51st Division C.P. (Provisional Brigade) Slept last night in a deserted nipa shack beside a lazy river. It was very windy and I

January 6, 1942

Bataan Limay Hospital Helluva day. Almost died. It was noontime and the sun was very hot. So I stood under the shade of a

January 7, 1942

51st division C.P. Bataan Japs are in Manila now, according to KZRH. I wonder how the family is. Seat of government has been transferred

January 8, 1942

January 9, 1942

Corregidor Malinta Tunnel I don’t like this place. Yes, it’s safer and bombproof but the air is damp and stuffy. Give me the cool mountain

January 9, 1942

Manila Bay On board Navy Courier Boat Beautiful morning. Sun is slightly above horizon. Sea is calm. Cool morning air. All is quiet except

January 11, 1942

HQ, Intelligence Bataan Still aide to Gen. de Jesus. Am also assistant plans and training officer under Col. Torralba, former head of Camp Murphy. The

January 12, 1942

HQ, Intelligence Service Bataan Met Leonie Guerrero, Salvador Lopez, and Vero Perfecto as I was leaving the command post of the 2nd regular division.

January 14, 1942

HPA (HQ, Philippine Army) Bataan, Mariveles. Will sleep here tonight as it is too dark to return to our command post. This is a

January 15, 1942

Bataan HQ, Intelliegence Service “See You in Manila” news sheet published by Intelligence Service well received by men in front and officers in Corregidor.

January 17, 1942

Motor Pool, Intelligence Service Bataan Will sleep here tonight with the drivers, mechanics and motor transport officers. The General asked me to stay

January 19, 1942

HQ, Intelligence Service Bataan Report of operatives on general trend of affairs in Manila: Japs have enforced martial law in City. Death penalty to

January 20, 1942

HQ, Intelligence Service Bataan Can’t go to Corregidor. Too much bombing. Jap planes flying above all day. Spent morning and afternoon in dug-out. Missed

January 21, 1942

Corregidor President Manuel Quezon is sick again. He coughed many times while I talked to him. He was in bed when I submitted report of

January 22, 1942

Courier Boat Manila Bay Rough sea. Dark night. Where did I put my canned goods? Boat’s swaying sideways, I think. I’m a rotten sailor. Can’t

January 23, 1942

HQ, Bataan (Noon) Cabcaben docks bombed while our courier boat was unloading. Nobody hurt. Japs are squint-eyed. Everybody in C.P. asking me questions about

January 25, 1942

HQ, Intelligence Service, Bataan Talked to some of the boys of the 21st at the front yesterday. Japs have tried to penetrate their lines

January 26, 1942

HQ, MIS Bataan Maj. Gen. Basilio Valdes and Major Carlos Romulo dropped at our Command Post this morning. Romulo said they would go to

January 27, 1942

HQ, MIS, Bataan Vic’s birthday. I wonder how he is celebrating it. Am very homesick. Fred has a good story depicting state of unpreparedness of

January 28, 1942

HQ, MIS Bataan Gap in western sector widening. Japs penetrating Segundo’s line in force. 1st regular division in wild retreat. Hell has broken loose

January 29, 1942

HQ, MIS, Bataan Japs have encircled the 1st regular. I wonder what will happen to the boys there. This is a great calamity. Apparently, Japs

January 30, 1942

HQ, MIS, Bataan Filipino officers in USAFFE may get same pay as Americans, according to General. There is no reason why an American should

January 31, 1942

HQ, MIS, Bataan Good news. Troops of Segundo have reentered our new lines. They escaped Jap encirclement by clambering precipices on Western coast for two

February 1, 1942

Civilian Camp Bataan Thousands of homeless civilians here. A lot of hungry men, women and children. I saw a little girl trembling when she

February 2, 1942

HQ, Intelligence, Bataan This place is getting to be a Post Office. Lorrie Tan wants a letter sent to his family. Manny Colayco wants

February 3, 1942

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