George E. Steiger

(1905 — 1960), Captain, U.S. Army, stationed in Corregidor with 59th Coast Artillery. P.O.W. in the Philippines and Japan.

16 Sept. 1941

September 16, 1941

The Pierce docked about 3:30 PM. We were taken 10 blocks away to the Army-Navy Club where the Air Force was giving a little party

September 26, 1941

The taxi situation is interesting. Cabs outnumber private autos 2 to 1. They drive on the left side of the street and the steering wheel

September 23-26, 1941

September 26, 1941

General MacArthur had sent all the women home in May of 1941 but there was some social life. There were a number of stag parties.

October 10, 1941

On 10 Oct., we were scheduled to fire machine guns but the fire was called off because there was no airplane available! On 14 Oct.,

October 25-31, 1941

October 31, 1941

I went to Manila on Oct. 25th with Traw. Went to the Ninatchka [sic] Russian restaurant and the Alcazar, Santa Ana. Traw and I took

November 8, 1941

On 8th Nov., I made a tour of Fort Hughes, Fort Drum, Fort Frank, Ternate [?] Muragodon [Maragondon], Maic [Naic], Cavite and the Bayview Hotel.

November 17-28, 1941

November 28, 1941

On 17 Nov. I was relieved of command of I Battery. It was put under command of Lt. Bruns and moved to Fort Hughes. I

December 6, 1941

We were not on an immediate alert, however, but we were in a position to meet any enemy attack without long range warning. We stayed

December 8, 1941

My Executive Officer, Lt. Aikran [?], and I were sleeping outside the battery in a tent. At this time, my battery as well as the

December 16, 1941

The Army and the Filipino skippers had long been butting heads. All the channels out of Manila Bay had been mined for many months. At

December 12-19, 1941

December 19, 1941

On 19 December, I sent a radiogram to my wife saying, “Am okay!” On 12 December we were issued service gas masks which we never

December 19-22, 1941

December 22, 1941

On the 19th of December, 15 bombers went out over Fort Drum from Manila. On 22 December, the Cabcaben air raid occurred, during which it

December 17-23, 1941

December 23, 1941

Life went on in the Battery. On 17 December, I wrote Ottly a letter which she received in March. On 18 December, I had a

December 24, 1941

On 24 December, 5 bombers came over the Rock at 1 PM. Eight bombers bombed the French steamer Si-kiang at Mariveles at 3 PM. The

December 25-28, 1941

December 27, 1941

Xmas Day, 25 December; the troops had a good turkey dinner and 2 bottles of beer per man. Hong Kong surrendered. The war was going

December 28-31, 1941

December 31, 1941

On 28 December, Tojo’s bombers visited the Rock for the first time. The raid lasted from 12 noon to 3 PM. There were 30 casualties

January 1, 1942

had a shave and a clean uniform. One Jap observation plane over Kindley Field on the Rock at 8 AM. Good turkey dinner at 5

January 3, 1942

Raid number 3 at 12:52. Hit on no. 5 machine gun but no casualties. Three enemy planes downed. Two waves of bombers over Cheney. Glassburn’s

January 4th 1942

January 4, 1942

Raid number 4. Bombs over Cheney at 1:30. Had a bath in the week old water at the quarters – pretty dirty. By now any

January 5th 1942

January 5, 1942

Raid number 5. Planes near at 7:30 AM, which is the earliest yet. I moved secret documents from the barracks to the battery. Lt. Aikman

January 6, 1942

Air raid number 6. Lasted from 1 to 4 PM. Water not too plentiful. Hit at Battery Geary kitchen and 26 men were killed. General

January 7th 1942

January 7, 1942

No aerial activity. Jap airplane carrier 40,000 yards out just opposite Mariveles at 6 PM. The insolent SOBs, just out of range! I took last

January 8th 1942

January 8, 1942

No air. USAFFE says “BIG PUSH IN MAKING.” Our lines at north end of Bataan peninsula. No water in which to bathe or laundry. I

January 9th 1942

January 9, 1942

Wrote to Ottly. Major Edison estimates six months for American Expeditionary Force. Artillery fire plainly audible from Bataan. No Jap air. FDR would send one

January 10th 1942

January 10, 1942

No air activity. Took bath in one quart if water and changed clothes. Barge load of pistols and shotguns arrived bottomside from the mainland. We

January 11th 1942

January 11, 1942

One Jap observation plane running lights on, very low, sighted over the Rock at 6:30 AM in an attempt to draw fire and learn the

January 12th 1942

January 12, 1942

No air activity. Went to Middle Sector with Capt. Schenck regarding beach defense. To Kindly Field for powder cans and water as our supply of

January 13th 1942

January 13, 1942

Taking our truck, we went to Bottomside for water. After filling a truck with a load of powder cans at the basic source, we started

January 14th 1942

January 14, 1942

This was the coldest morning since I had been in the Philippines. Fort Drum fired ten rounds on a Jap ship in Manila Bay at

January 16, 1942

Much air activity but no bombs. Order “anti-aircraft will not fire on observation planes because it disturbs the nerves of the people in Malinta Tunnel.”