Detroit evening times., 1945-10-26
Copyright. ls4s, kinE Features syndirAia. I.s.
Repreductl.s Is Whale strictly PrehibfseS.

by GEN. JONAIHAN NJ. VAIN NhlGHI
e.Dynl1t l'.. .., ,..'s. .n s.a. s..as.'. Ia.
THE moment was told by Maj. Gen. George F.
Moore that the Japs were at long last landing
on Gorregid0r l went directly to his command
post in the tunnel and for the rest of that dread
full night of May So, 1912, alternated between
that post and the command post Of 1t. Col.
Beecher, USMC, just inside the eastern entrance
Of the tunnel. Col. Beecher was in command Of
the eastern sector Of the beach defense.
The enemy hit the extreme northeast end Of
pollywog-shaped Corregidor, down near the end
Of the islands tail
The first wave of Japs came in landing boats
and armed motorboats. They were heavily
gagged by our men and were being mauled back to
the shoreline when the second Jap wave struck
the beaches with tanks and artillery.
Gen. Moore stripped some of our remaining
heavy batteries of their personnel to bolster de-
fensve infantry line we hastily strung across
Corregidor between Malinta Hill and the ap-
preaching Japs.
1t was most difficult to get our men into
their positions, for Jap batteries on =Bataan and
Cavite were protecting the Jap landings by pas-
terng the entire unoccupied section of The Rock
with the heaviest kind of bombardment
But despite this hellish fire our heroic defense
troops and marines made the advancing Japs pay
for every foot they gained.
AT 4 A. NJ. on May 6. with the Japs slowly ap-
preaching Denver Hill, rise that grdles the
island between their landing point and Malinta
Tunnel, received a final message from President
Roosevelt
Official message blanks were so completely
exhausted that the operator decoded the message
on rough ruled paper stiff treasure and
-uAeA-sen4e- day viii suitably framed and
passed on to my son. 1t read:
During recent weeks we have been follow
Ing with growing admiration the day.by-day
accounts of your heroic stand against the
mounting intensity of bombardment by enemy
planes and heavy siege guns.
"In spite of all the handicaps of complete
isolation, lack of food and Ammunition you have
given the world shining example of patriotic
forttude and sef-sacrifce.
1.-The American people ask no finer example
Of tenacity, resOurcefulness and steadfast cour-
age. The calm determination of your personal
leadership in desperate situation sets stand
ard of duty for our soldiers throughout the
world.
I'm every camp and on every naval vessel
soldiers, sailors and marines are inspired by the
gallant struggle of their comrades in the Philip
pines. The wOrkmen in our shipyards and
munitions plants redouble their efforts because
of your example.
"You and your devoted followers have be-
come the living symbols of our war aims and
the guarantee of victory.
"FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT"
At daylight my orderly, Sgt. Hubert Carroll,
brought some food and coffee to Moore's head
quarters in the tunnel. could not eat. The
Japs were on Denver Hill, their forward elements
within 500 yards Of the tunnels east entrance.
Col. Beecher ordered a reserve platoon Of
marines out to the line, but they ran right into a
severe artillery barrage and were wiped out in
front of our eyes. had to make up my mind :.
a mind then reeling with the task of trying to
find ways and means of averting the inevitable.
7 WALKED up and down in the tunnel, heavy
with all these thoughts. And then my head
came up and | entered my own headquarters. |
called Gen. Moore and Brig. Gen. Lewis Beebe.
had come to a decision which l have never.re-
gretted. n
\ "We can't hold out very much longer"