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Important facts prepared by Dave Dwiggins

 

1941

 

September - October 1941

Several months before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor a strategic policy was adopted with respect to the United States priority of effort. Should it be forced into war against the Axis powers of Germany and Italy and simultaneously find itself at war with Japan, where would the priorities fall? The policy was that the stronger European enemy would be defeated first.

 

November 26, 1941

Japanese 1st Air Fleet sets sail for Pearl Harbor, from its anchorage in the Kurile Islands. Commanded by Admiral Chuichi Nagumo, its consists of 6 aircraft carriers, 2 battleships, 3 cruisers, 9 destroyers and 8 oil tankers and has strict orders to observe strict radio silence.

 

December 7, 1941

At 6:15 Honolulu time, the first wave of Japanese aircraft take of from their carriers which are located about 200 miles north of Hawaii. At 7:50, 43 fighters, 51 dive-bombers, 70 torpedo-bombers and 50 ordinary bombers arrive over Hawaii. They launch attacks against the airfields at Wheeler, Kaneohe, Ewa and Hickham and against the American warships anchored at ‘Battleship Row’. Surprise was complete and within a few minutes 5 battleships and 2 light cruisers had been sunk and a large number of aircraft (180) destroyed on the ground. Within an hour, the second wave of Japanese strike aircraft (36 fighters, 80 dive-bombers, 54 bombers) had arrived over the target, sinking a further 3 destroyers and damaging another battleship. By 10:00 the attack was over and the casualties could be accounted for. The Americans lost 2,729 killed and 1,178 wounded, while the Japanese losses amounted to just 29 aircraft (59 airmen) and five mini-submarines. The Japanese launch air attacks against Manila. Japan declares war on Britain and the USA. Japanese sink the Sims and the tanker Neosho which had been mistaken for a carrier and cruiser.

 

December 8, 1941

Understanding war was imminent in coming years , four years of preparation and that Pear Harbor had been bombed hours earlier, Gen. Douglas MacArthur's command had rehearsed the scene many times . . . . war with Japan.  The Japanese bomb the US controlled Philippine islands of Luzon and Mindanao from their bases in Formosa. Britain, Australia and the USA declare war on Japan. Japanese aircraft attack Guam and Wake Islands in the central pacific.  Despite all warnings of war, MacArthur was outmaneuvered this day as his Air Corps was on the ground and not airborne to meet the enemy. After only a few hours of attack at Pearl Harbor and bases in the Philippine Islands, the Pacific was suddenly undefensed. The citizenry of Laguna awoke to rumors that some parts of the Philippines had been bombed by Japanese planes. Streets were more crowded than usual and the stories were spreading like wildfires as everyone scrambled to confirm the news. 

 

December 8 - 10, 1941

Residents of Southern Luzon flocked to town halls to volunteer as air-raid wardens and it was decided that that communites would observe a total blackout at night for the coming days as a precaution. Air-raid wardens and volunteer guards wearing armbands of authority passed by during the night to insure the regulations were strictly observed.

 

December 11 - 18, 1941

Refugees began to arrive from Manila and Cavite with horrifying stories. Families started fleeing to the more remote locations and mountain villages. Carabao carts were filled with only the necessities and enough chickens and pigs to feed themselves.

 

December 19 - 24, 1941

Bus and train transportation slowed and telegraph service became busier, filled with more stories, rumors and hearsay. More and more Japanese planes filled the air and American and Filipino tanks and trucks filled with troops moved through San Pablo adjusting their strategies. The Japanese offensive was fierce and raging and the news triggered even more of the citizenry to move to the mountains.

 

December 25, 1941

Enemy planes flew over Soutyhern Luzon and bombs hit San Pablo Christmas day. Houses exploded and fires burned everywhere and the town agonized and more fled to the mountains. Many were dead and hundreds were wounded, even the smallest children filled their arms with clothes and belongings as they sought refuge.

 

December 27, 1941

Machinegun fire awakened the southern populous of San Pablo and firing came nearer and nearer and more frequent.

 

December 28, 1941

On the 28th the U.S. Army was in San Pablo to resist Japanese aggression.Big tanks filled the streets from the San Pablo Cathedral to past the cemetery and railroad tracks. Larger houses were converted to pill-boxes and machinegun positions.

 

December 30, 1941

Japanese troops drove into San Pablo City as Defending Americans and Filipinos made a sudden retreat. They only found a few inhabitants and were disgusted to the point within the week or they would be considered noncompliant and killed. Many ignored the order because their homes were already destroyed and what more could they lose?

 

 

1942

 

January 5, 1942

An estimated 80,000 U.S. and Filipino troops had successfully completed their withdrawal to the Bataan Peninsula, along with 26,000 civilians. Food supplies were only sufficient enough to sustain 43,000 men for six months. 

 

February 3, 1942

President Quezon of the Philippines proposes to President Roosevelt that his country should be granted total independence from the USA so that it could declare itself neutral, but Roosevelt dismisses this idea. General MacArthur warns Roosevelt that the Bataan garrison has suffered over 50 per cent casualties and it was 'near done'. MacArthur was given permission by Roosevelt to surrender Filipino, but not US troops who were to fight until the end.

 

February 27, 1942

U.S. loses its largest ship, the USS Houston as Japanese defeat U.S. in Battle of Java Sea.

 

March 11, 1945

General MacArthur leaves Corregidor and the Philippines for Australia, after being ordered to assume command of the new South-West Pacific area, which in effect meant all Allied forces in the Pacific. MacArthur's last words before leaving were "I shall return!” General M. Wainwright takes over command in the Philippines.

 

March 27, 1942

The Filipino Government departs Philippines for Australia.

 

April 7, 1942

After 4 days of desperate fighting on Bataan, the Japanese have managed to penetrate 4 miles in to the US-Filipino lines, bringing General Wainwright's forces to the brink of collapse.

 

April 9, 1942

US and Filipino forces on Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines surrender. General Jonathan Wainwright 78,000 troops are captured, including 12,000 Americans, but 2,000 escape to Corregidor. This is the largest capitulation in US History. 

 

April 10, 1942

Due to a shortage of trucks the Bataan Death March began April 10th at Mariveles on the southern coast of Bataan to Cabanatuan, San Fernando and Camp O’Donnell.  78,000 American and Filipino Prisoners of War of the Japanese were bound, beaten, or killed by their captors as they walked over 100 kilometers through intense heat with almost no food or water. Some were bayoneted when they fell from exhaustion while others were forced to dig their own graves and were buried alive. Only 56,000 prisoners reached camp alive. Thousands of them died later from malnutrition and disease. 

 

April 18, 1942

Colonel James H. Doolittle leads 16 US Army B25 bombers from the carrier Hornet in first ever air raid on Japan. They took of from the carrier Hornet, about 750 miles east of Tokyo. Escort fighters were provided by the carrier Enterprise. Bombs were dropped on Tokyo, Kobe, Yokohama, Nagoya and Yokosuka. Only one aircraft was damaged during the raid, although all 16 were lost on crash landings in China. The material damage inflicted by the raid was minimal, although the damage to Japanese prestige was considerable and gave the allies a boost when their fortunes in the Pacific were at a low ebb. Also the Headquarters of the southwest Pacific theater is established in Melbourne, Australia.

 

May 6, 1942

General Wainwright surrendered Corregidor to the Japanese, along with 15,000 prisoners of U.S. and Philippines.

 

May 7-8, 1942

Japan suffers its first defeat of the war in Battle of Coral Sea off New Guinea.

 

June 4-5, 1942

Turning point in the war occurs with a decisive victory for the U.S. against Japan in the Battle of Midway as squadrons of U.S. torpedo planes and dive bombers from ENTERPRISE, HORNET, and YORKTOWN attack and destroy four Japanese carriers, a cruiser, and damage another cruiser and two destroyers. U.S. loses YORKTOWN.

 

July 4, 1942

San Pablo families of Filipino soldiers met a train of ghastly prisoners of which they could hardly recognize their own sons and brothers. The chain of freight cars originated in Capas when the POWs were released to be transported to the provinces. Juan Hernandez, author of For Love of Freedom, described what he witnessed this sad day in San Pablo City history as the train arrived from Capas, Tarlac.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Werner Schetelig

The families returning from the mountains were hungry and had many sicknesses due to hiding in the remote area. San Pablo businessman Werner Schetelig had been generous with his charities already helping the community get back on its feet. He immediately requested permission to operate his oil and soap factory. The Japanese approved the request and he quickly informed the townspeople he was ready to buy their coconuts once again. This brought great joy to everyone since they depended largely on their coconuts to make a living. Within a few days the coconut growers and the industries they affected sprang new life. The factory’s resumption of operations not only brought new life to San Pablo but also the neighboring towns.

 

Schetelig transformed his office into a charity nook and listened compassionately to the woeful tales of misery. The generous man gave thousands of pesos daily to feed, clothe and shelter those desperately in need. He regularly rode his bicycle around town inquiring about his contributions to insure they were far-reaching. His name became a household name to Filipinos whether in the smallest bungalow or the great mansions on the plaza.

 

August 8, 1942

US Marines take Henderson Airfield at Guadalcanal.

 

August 15, 1942

Twenty-six year old Gertrudo San Pedro of Barrio Santa Isabel started organizing his own guerrilla outfit attached to the Hugh Straughn unit upon his release as a prisoner of war at Capas, Tarlac August 15, 1942. He had been a part of the USAFFE (United States Army Forces Far East), and without delay started recruiting ex-USAFFE’s, ex-Philippine Scouts, ex-Constabulary, army reservists and trainees, and civilian volunteers including professionals to fill the ranks. His unit focused ambitiously on:

 

1)  sending intelligence to MacArthur’s headquarters in Australia thru higher command.

2)  promoting understanding among guerrillas that unification would defeat the enemy.

3)  harassing and ambush enemy troops whenever the opportunity presented itself.

4)  obstructing the Japanese economic successes locally.

5)  counteracting enemy propaganda and gain confidence in the local populace

            

The responsibilities were distributed among the members gathering information on:

 

1)  exact locations of enemy garrisons and installations.

2)  concentration of enemy troops, their strength and movements.

3)  activities of enemy-controlled business and industrial concerns.

4)  operational plans, tactics and strategies.

5)  atrocities, tortures and massacres the enemy engaged in.

6)  maps, sketches, documents and papers of military significance.

 

 A few months later a coconut farmer from Barrio San Crispin (Lumbangan), Pedro Perez, started developing his own guerrilla unit under the wing of President Quezon’s Own Guerrillas (PQOG). Another man building a guerrilla unit was Juan Eseo, alias Kayakas from Barrio Ludlod (Santiago II). Local collaborators were plentiful and guerrilla operations had to be very secretive.

 

August 20, 1942

Thirty-one U.S. aircraft touchdown on newly captured Henderson Field on Guadalcanal to help Marines fighting over control of the island.

 

August 22, 1942

First wave of Japanese reinforcements wiped out by US forces on Guadalcanal.

 

August 31, 1942

1,200 Japanese reinforcements landing on Guadalcanal on the 31st and another 4,500 October 15th as fierce battle for Guadalcanal rages.

 

October 26, 1942

Battle of Santa Cruz off Guadalcanal between U.S. And Japanese warships results in the loss of the Carrier HORNET.

 

1943

 

April 18, 1943

U.S. code breakers pinpoint the location of Japanese Admiral Yamamoto flying in a Japanese bomber near Bougainville in the Solomon Islands. Eighteen P-38 fighters then locate and shoot down Yamamoto.

 

June 1, 1943

U.S. begins submarine warfare against Japanese shipping.

 

August 6/7, 1943

Battle of Vella Gulf in the Solomon Islands.

 

August 8, 1943

Zona SPC

 

October 7, 1943

Japanese execute approximately 100 American POWs on Wake Island.


October 26, 1943

Emperor Hirohito states his country's situation is now "truly grave."


November 1, 1943

U.S. Marines invade Bougainville in the Solomon Islands.

 

 

 

 

Passage from Juan Hernandez

FOR LOVE OF FREEDOM

The whistle was heard first then the rumbling of wheels. The crowd in the station suddenly became alive. In a moment a long chain of freight cars filled with the seemingly dregs of humanity passed sight of family and friends. They who had seen and recognized the objects of their search followed the particular car where they were, bumping against the others still looking for theirs. The barely opened doors of the freight cars swelled with unearthly faces, weakly waving emancipated hands and hollow voices calling familiar names of folks long missed.

 

The long train stopped and out of the freight cars poured the most ghastly sight I had seen in all my life. Big bulging eyes, pale dark and gnome-like faces; dirty shaven head; skeleton arms that dangled so frailly; youth once alive and gay now hideously deformed by wounds and disease; youth broken ion body, walking with empty brain; the sight of them was sad enough but sadder still was their meeting with loved ones on that inglorious Fourth of July!

 

A mother failing to recognize her son from among the unearthly crowd was about to weep when she was hugged by a grotesque-like figure of a man. She would have screamed in fright, but when she heard the familiar voice whisper “Mother,” she wept with an insane kind of joy.

 

A father descended the freight car with a helpless mass of wretched form in his arms. He walked straight ahead, empty-faced and seemingly seeing nothing. He walked on as if in resigned oblation to an unseen being, while two women trailed sobbingly behind. The son died on the way with the glory of Fourth of July on his lips.

 

A sick one limping and wearied to the bones looked around searchingly for kin or friend to welcome him but they appeared to be nowhere. Anguished perhaps by the thought of it, he rested his weak body in a corner and quietly wept. Agony plagued the populous and a realization of the Japanese Occupation painfully set in.

Guerrilla Units Form to Rebel Against Japanese Occupation

The realization brought further discontent and guerrilla units started forming throughout the country. One such unit was the Hugh Straughn’s Fil-American Irregular Troops (Fait). The death of Col. Straughn elevated Col. Marcos V. Marking to the lead roll and the new banner of Marking’s Fil-Americans.

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