Remembering April 9, 1942

On December 8, 1941 Japan attacked U.S. bases in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. This led to the Second World War.

The Philippines was drawn into the war because in 1941, our nation was the biggest U.S. colony and had the biggest military bases in Asia. In 1941, a Filipino college student had to finish a 2-year military training under the U.S. Reserve officer Training Corp (ROTC). The U.S military made our armed forces consisting of the Commonwealth army, the ROTC and the Philippine Constabulary part of the United State Forces in the Far East (USAFFE). The U.S. policy was based on War Plan Orange. It meant the USAFFE will retreat into the Bataan Peninsula and wait for reinforcement, which according to War Orange Plan will arrive in 30 days.

By December 15 the USAFFE was already in Bataan. Japan attacked without stop learning that U.S. rescue forces will come. Running out of ammunition, food, medicine, on April 9 Gen. King surrendered his forces. Outgunned and outnumbered, but not outfought they continued to fight until ordered to stop. Very few of the 40,000 veterans are still alive.

In Davao City, 4 are gone, Joe Santos, Onor Lozano, Frank Grageda and Mr. Misa. Only Sotero Palabyab and Calinan’s Mr. Morales are still alive. In 1940, a handful of UK’s Royal Air Force Fighter pilots stopped Nazi’s Germany Invasion. Prime Minister Winston Churchill gave tribute to the pilots saying, “Never in human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.” So it was in Asia in 1942. The allies in Singapore, Malaya, Hong Kong, Batavia, and Dutch East Indies had surrendered earlier. The USAFFE was the only light left during the dark days of 1941 and 1942. They fought until it was humanly impossible to go on. Mabuhay ang U.S.A.F.F.E.