|
|
Corregidor Virtual TourMo Ludan | May 18, 2009 | Single Page | 21 comments | Print | E-mail 01-img-0802.jpg
On a balmy November morning at 8 a.m. sharp, Sun Cruises Day Tour sets sail from Bay Terminal A, off tree-lined Roxas Boulevard facing Manila Bay. The ride on 150-passenger, 293 Catamaran ferryboat will take 80 minutes. Its destination across the bay: the historic island fortress of Corregidor, also known as The Rock (DISPATCHES, Destinations: Corregidor, P.I., July 2009, Armchair General magazine). Once the 90 guests arrive on the 4 mile x 1 ½ mile island, they are to board the four pre-WW II type streetcars called “tramvias.” Our host on the lead car is Tour Guide Carlos B. Reyes of Sun Cruises, Inc. The first stop is the North (Army) Dock, where General Douglas MacArthur cast off on his daring March 11–12, 1942, escape to the island of Mindanao, 600 perilous miles away, where he would later be flown to Australia to begin the long, hard road back to the Philippines. The historic dock is shown next to MacArthur’s statue. A somber MacArthur bids good-bye to the embattled defenders as he holds on one hand his trademark corncob pipe. At the base of the statue is a marble tablet that proclaims: “I SHALL RETURN.” “On this very spot, four PT boats, commanded by a 28-year old Navy Lieutenant named John D. Bulkeley,” Reyes begins to narrate, “took off, carrying MacArthur and his party through the minefield defending Manila Bay and past the tight Japanese blockade. With the General were his wife Jean and their 4-year old son, Arthur.” In 1987, Bulkeley biographer William B. Breuer asked the former PT boat commander, now an Admiral, to describe this historic moment. Recalls Bulkeley (Breuer, Sea Wolf. Novato: Presidio Press. 1989): But he smiled and said no, that the Nips would expect him to leave like that and would make every effort to intercept him. “They won’t be expecting me to make the breakout by PT boat,” he added. “Besides, I’ve got great faith in you and your boys!” The general paused briefly, then asked, “Well, Johnny, do you think you can pull it off?” Having been young, cocky, and brash, I replied, “General, it’ll be a piece of cake!” If I were asked today, as a mature individual, I would have to say, “No way!” For the next three hours, Reyes takes the tour group to several historic sites, such as the main parade ground in front of the officers’ club. We learn that elements of the 503rd Parachute Regimental Combat Team quietly dropped on the parade ground one morning, surprising the weary Japanese officers (a passenger points at the site). We drive past the ruins of 1,520-foot long barracks HQ, a recreational swimming pool, and the base hospital. The tour group arrives at a high point on the island, which provides us with a sweeping view of Manila Bay. Down below, we can see one of the island’s popular sandy beaches. Across the island on the Bataan Peninsula loom the majestic, green slopes of 4,656-foot Mt. Mariveles. At its base lies the town of Mariveles, a scant two miles across the bay from The Rock and scene of some of the bloodiest fighting. Mariveles is known for its fine harbor and rich history dating back to pre-Hispanic period. “The history of the Philippines,” quips Reyes, “can best be described as having spent 300 years in a Convent under Spain and 50 years in Hollywood under America.” Not far from the spot lie some of the island’s awesome gun placements. Reyes describes the formidable armament that has surprised even the assaulting Japanese: Pages: 1 2 3Help Armchair General by bookmarking to
            Tags: Historical Figures, travel, World War II
|
|
|
|
||
What is Armchair General?Armchair General (ACG) and ACG online feature a unique, interactive editorial approach that invites the reader to decide the course of action in challenging historical scenarios, to step into the shoes of a battlefield commander. Leading historians and contributors lend integrity and credibility to this fresh presentation of historical and contemporary events. Armchair General is the INTERACTIVE history magazine where YOU COMMAND and decide the course of action! |
What We Write About
|
Our Other Magazines |
Weider History Network: HistoryNet | Armchair General | Great History | Achtung Panzer! Copyright © 2004-2010 Armchair General L.L.C., All rights reserved. |
||
21 Comments to “Corregidor Virtual Tour”
An excellent article. I did the same tour earlier in Jan this year and recommend it to anyone going to Manilla. It is possible that the stubborn defence of the Philipines slowed up the Japanese (it took about 4 months longer than they anticipated) and allowed Australia and the Commonwealth nations to bolster the defence of the Pacific (New Guinea et al).
By Gavan Lim-Joon on May 18, 2009 at 10:44 pm
An outstanding virtual tour of one of the most heroic sites of any war in US history. More so than (and I’m going to outrage the Texans, including my wife, with this) the Alamo. The courage of the American and Filipino troops on Bataan and Corregidor is only stained by the perfidy of Franklin D Roosevelt in directing the bulk of the war effort to Europe, a decision that cost the lives of thousands of troops from the Phillipines and the USA. One of our family’s friends was a survivor of the Bataan Death March. He only spoke of it once…he was quite drunk at the time, but his story was one that he could only tell in that condition: a tale of horror that is unrivaled in modern history. The Nazis were outmatched by the brutality of the Japanese. Nuff Said.
By Mike Halvorsen on May 19, 2009 at 9:31 pm
The visit to Corregidor was well done and awakes the importance of history being factual and not swayed by political nonsense.
WBA
By William B. Armstrong on May 26, 2009 at 3:53 pm
Excellent article! Had FDR heeded the pre-1941 pleas of Churchill for warships et al , the US war machine might have been better positioned to respond to Quezon/MacArthur in a more timely fashion, sparing the lives of many…
By Alex Odell on May 28, 2009 at 7:48 pm
Great article, I could feel the sun and the breeze just reading! These little known facts are being changed by historians that just don’t care to get it accurate. Thanks for the “virtual tour”.
By Stuart Lervick on Jun 3, 2009 at 10:42 am
Congratulations, ACG. Your Corregidor Virtual Tour has done a great service to the Filipino people. You have given them a rare recognition, now mostly forgotten in U.S. classrooms and ignored by Hollywood and the mass media (e.g., PBS, History Channel), of their sacrifices, bravery, and loyalty resisting, under the American flag, the brutal Japanese invaders.
Maritez Reyes Agag
Kapolei, Hawaii
By Maritez Retes Agag on Jun 14, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Thanks, ACG.
Your Corregidor Virtual Tour has done a great service to the Filipino people. You have given them a well-deserved recognition of their sacrifices, bravery, and loyalty in resisting, under the American flag, the brute force of Japanese invasion and subsequent occupation.
Martiez Reyes Agag
Kapolei, Hawaii
By Maritez Reyes Agag on Jun 15, 2009 at 1:50 am
Enjoyed the virtual tour – and the real one. I was there a few years ago.
K. Geyer
By Karl Geyer on Jun 17, 2009 at 6:42 pm
As to quote Captian Bob Milhelland, retired, “This is a great article and well written It sounds like a great trip
By Al Orsland on Jun 19, 2009 at 4:21 pm
You have given them a well-deserved recognition to the Filipino of their huge sacrifices, and loyalty in resisting, under the American flag, and the force of Japanese invasion.
By Al Orsland on Jun 19, 2009 at 4:26 pm
If I ever get the opportunity this sounds like a wonderful trip to Manilla lots of information makes it very enjoyable to read if you can’t get there yourself. I would love to be able to take my grandchildren so they can see the great history. Thank you Mr. Ludan
By Al Orsland on Jun 19, 2009 at 4:31 pm
Great shrine.
Grateful people.
Gorgeous beaches.
General, We Shall Return.
Emil and Ruby Helman
By Emil Helman on Jun 20, 2009 at 7:17 pm
Would FDR have a change of heart and priorities if it were Prime Minister Churchill, instead of ailing Filipino Commonwealth President Quezon desperately rallying his countrymen under the protection of the American flag, who was in that miserable hellhole called “Malinta Tunnel”?
I’d bet the ranch the answer is “Yes.”
Tim Gil
San Francisco
By Tim Gil on Jun 21, 2009 at 3:43 pm
An excellent, you-are-there virtual tour de force.
Joselito Pascual
Anaheim, CA
By Joselito Pascual on Jul 2, 2009 at 3:11 am
Who wouldn’t be ticked off by duplicitous FDR?
As described by an eyewitness at Malinta Tunnel, Maj. Gen. Charles A. Willoughby in his book, “MacArthur,” McGraw Hill, N.Y. 1954.
“(Ailing Philippine Commonwealth President) Quezon felt caged and frustraed whenever he heard the suave fireside voice telling America about the thousands of aircraft that would shortly be coming from the assembly lines and on their way – to Europe!”
Quezon was listening on a transmitter radio for daily news from the U.S.
By Roby Espiritu on Jul 25, 2009 at 1:56 pm
I finally went to Corregidor about a year ago after wanting to do it for so long. I was very impressed with the island and was trying to imagine the daily life there at that time. It made me think that at that time, they did not want military personnel to mix with the civilian population. After all, a soldier garrisoned in Corregidor would have no means of leaving the island on his own.
By andy on Aug 4, 2009 at 6:15 am
An excellent tour. I was lucky enough to be in Mr Reyes’s tranvia. His erudition added a sense of dimension to the tour. I recommend it to all visitors of Manila.
By tropicq on Aug 4, 2009 at 6:20 am
Thanks to ACG for featuring Corregidor in your july issue,This historic island is where Filipino and American soldiers shed blood ,sweat and tears in their fight for freedom and Democracy.The article and virtual tour high lights Corrgidor as a Philippine tourist destination and its war memorial tour.
Thanks a lot to Col(ret.)Jerry Morelock, Editor in chief of ACG and Mr.Romulo Ludan for the privilege of being featured in such a prestigious American magazine.
By Carlos Reyes
Tour Guide of the Dept.of Tourism and
Sun Cruises inc.(coreregidor Is.) Aug.20.2009
By carlos reyes on Aug 21, 2009 at 2:41 am
Great! Very enjoyable read.
By Drew Ellison on Nov 10, 2009 at 2:11 am