Lewis C. Beebe

(December 12, 1891 – February 2, 1951), Brigadier General; Assistant Chief of Staff, USAFFE (later, USFIP).

April 14, 1942

Shelling from Bataan and from south shore continues—also bombing. It is surprising how little damage is done with all the bombing and shelling. Some guns

April 15, 1942

Life here is a little monotonous these days, as we have to stay rather close to the tunnel. They are either shelling or bombing us

April 16, 1942

The Japs are gradually taking this place apart. I don’t like to believe it but the facts are indisputable. Every day some of the guns

April 17, 1942

It was a little more quiet today. There were fewer air attacks and also a relatively small amount of artillery fire. Yesterday we caught a

April 18, 1942

This has been an extremely peaceful day. The Japs sent over two small attacks of bombers, but dropped very few bombs. There has been no

April 19, 1942

It has been relatively quiet most of the day, although the artillery opened up this afternoon, and for a time we received a lot of

April 20, 1942

The Japs have left us fairly well alone today for some reason. We had an air raid alarm a couple of times but I don’t

April 21, 1942

I have been hoping for rain in Bataan, but it remains clear there all the time. We had a little rain there about six weeks

April 22, 1942

There is increasing evidence to indicate that the Japs are planning an attack on Corregidor or other fortified islands in the near future. In addition

April 23, 1942

I noticed some rain on Bataan this noon. I had gone outside to burn some papers [classified documents] and as I looked across to Bataan

April 24, 1942

I thought for a short time this afternoon that the Japs meant business. They started throwing metal at us at about three o’clock and kept

April 25, 1942

The days pass rather uneventfully, although it is rather stimulating to be caught outside when the Japs open up with their heavy artillery. I was

April 26, 1942

The clouds are beginning to bank up each afternoon in the south, which is an indication of the approach of the rainy season. However, there

April 27, 1942

Nothing of consequence has transpired today. We were bombed a few times by heavy bombers, but no damage of any consequence resulted. We don’t mind

April 28, 1942

If the Japs are going to take Corregidor as a birthday present for the Emperor, tonight is their best chance, as tomorrow is the 29th.

April 29, 1942

The Japs certainly celebrated the Emperor’s birthday in fitting form today. They began at 7:30 this morning, starting with the bombing attack. Then they turned

April 30, 1942

One more month’s pay to my credit with the government. I hope they are paying the allotment regularly to Dorothy. It doesn’t seem possible that

May 1, 1942

The Japs are really beginning to get rough since the 29th, and it appears that they have settled down in earnest to pounding this island

May 2, 1942

We have taken a terrific beating most of the day today. We had many heavy bombing attacks—how many I don’t know yet, and part of

May 3, 1942

We are still taking a beating from the Jap artillery. Bombers came over several times today and dropped their loads, but the real military damage

May 4, 1942

Another day of heavy bombing and shelling. The Japs really poured on the artillery today, and bombed us fourteen times. They also fired on boats

May 5, 1942

It looks as though the Japs intend to keep pounding away at us until they have pulverized all the defense weapons and installations and will

May 6, 1942

The attack came last night at 11:15. The artillery began to pound us heavily again and the Japs landed at North Point, on the tail

May 7, 1942

I was sick all last night and most of today. However, I am better this evening. I was to have gone down to Mindanao in

May 8, 1942

I had not yet gotten up when an interpreter came and said that I was wanted for questioning. I dressed at once and went with

May 9, 1942

Nothing noteworthy has happened today. We are all confined to lateral #10 and a guard is at the entrance. Last night they brought over a

May 10, 1942

We were taken down to the barrio market again today for questioning— seventeen of us on the USFIP staff. This time the questioning was done