Col Ramsey Guerrilla March/WW2

by Eliseo P. Arevalo

http://www.edwinpriceramsey.com/wwii_philippines.asp

http://www.edwinpriceramsey.com/videos/dadpartone.rm
http://www.edwinpriceramsey.com/videos/dadparttwo.rm
http://www.edwinpriceramsey.com/videos/dadpartthree.rm
http://www.edwinpriceramsey.com/videos/dadpartfour.rm

From: Arturo P Roda
Date: Fri, Aug 1, 2008 at 2:59 PM

Cora

Your dad's last visit was 2-3 months before Pearl Harbor.... Events were so rapid, even Gen. MacArthur couldn't grasp the situation quick enough, that, the American planes were caught on the ground on the first day. Then the landings at Lingayen Gulf and Lucban, Quezon, forced the main American forces to Bataan. Even that was not quick enough that they were unable to move all the food supplies and ordnance. That is the reason for the food shortage and the lack of ammunition in the final thrust of the Japanese forces. But your dad was able to send one last letter to the "woman I love" and left behind. God gave your dad wisdom, and, he asked that he be transferred from the field artillery unit to the mess hall. He was provided with a pistol which he never had occassion to use. It turned out to be life saving, because, when the food was being rationed, he had access to the "tutong" which he shared with his fellow servicemen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ntr-eRvMX0I

Following the "Death March" when the Japanese learned that your dad was the mess sergeant, they assigned him that same responsibility at the prisoner-of-war camp in Capas, Tarlac. He befriended a Spanish-Filipino Col., Juan Calvo, who addressed him "Ole". And he would try to give him extra little food that he could spare. Col. Calvo was a National hero when, with another pilot from Negros, Antonio Arnaiz, they piloted a plane from Madrid to Manila. So at the outbreak of the war he was inducted to the American forces.

Many other Spanish-Flipinos and Fil-Americans volunteered, including Col. Andres Soriano the founder of Philippine Air Lines. He was an aide to Gen MacArthur. With his money, MacArthur's financial resources was secure, what, with his family with him throughout the war, in Corregidor and later in Australia and Japan. Bob Keesey, a basketball player from the champion La Salle Green Archers, and, George Young, another basketballl player from San Beda, were killed in Bataan. Juan Calvo's younger brothers, Dionisio Calvo would later be coach of the champion LaSalle Green Archer basketball team, and Recaredo Calvo would play for Jose Rizal College. Juan Calvo would not survive Capas. Tiyo Miling (Col. Dr. Emiliano Panis) would not survive Capas either....

Many other Adventist servicemen gave up their lives for the cause of freedom. My fifth grade classmate, Francisco Adriano, was killed in Lucban,Quezon. He was very tall, almost 6 ft. and very handsome. The last time I saw him, he visited his wife, Carmen Robles, in Baisa. He had his antiquated rifle, which was no match to the modern Japanese Army. He was always smiling. I was sad for him and his family. Antonio Agojo from Batangas, and an Adventist Lieutenant froml Iloilo, did not survive Bataan. They were all from PUC.

When it appeared that the Japanese forces would be in Manila in a few days, the Arevalo family moved in with us in the Baisa house, led by lola Milia. Also there was Tonying's wife Ester (actually her name was Estella) and their three daughters, Rachel, Celeste and the youngest, named after her mother, Estelle.

This is enough for now.

Uncle