Lunga Point (CVE 94) - Naval Cruise Book

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tions and activity by means of portable radio gear which they carried. They travelled in a carabao drawn cart loaned to them by Fili- pinos. They obtained a fresh cart and animal at each barrio through which they passed, sending the previous one back to its owner. The Scouts gave us the heartening news that the following day our patrols would have reached the town of Tarlac, so we proceeded cautiously in that direction. On the next day fSunday, 21 January-we made contact with the American forces at a barrio four miles south of our expected rendezvous point. Here also we found the Qnd Battalion of guerillas with Lt. Thalman and Glizczinski. They had been following a course parallel to ours. It was a joyful re-union. The unit with which we had made contact was a large patrol of the 40th Infantry, Lt. Thalman's own out- fit. The Army was in the process of setting up a temporary headquarters in the town and the ollicials had turned out for a celebration. It was a gay affair with many speeches of welcome. Several of our hosts were graduates of American schools and colleges and spoke perfect English. After the speeches the ladies of the town served food and drinks to all. It reminded me for all the world like a Fourth of July celebration in Front Royal. Here we took leave of our friends and bene- factors. I thanked the Major and many of his men, but I am sure my words did not express the gratitude we all felt. Those fearless war- riors in the cause of freedom had saved our lives and those of many other American airmen. And someday, when the medals are passed out, they will have to design a very special one of platinum and diamonds for them. Yes, Guer- rillas are Good Guys! Volley ball on forward elevator.

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all Inav be free. lt is worth anvthing to be rid of the ja ps. During the evening ol' the second full day with the guerillas the leader told us to get ready to move as the battalion was about to head' north. He hoped that before many days we could etliect contact with the American forces advancing south from the Lingayen area. We were delighted as we had become im- patient to get under way. lfVc lived in dread that our commanding ollicer had already sent official dispatches to our wives and parents, c'The Navy Department deeply regrets to in- form you that your husband tor soul is missing in actionf' VVe must spare our loved ones that grief and anxiety at all costs, and we well knew that every day, every hour hastened that inescapable event. We started just before dusk. VVe marched in single file across fields and streams. The guerillas would not let us walk through the streams ourselves but insisted on carrying us on their backs. We avoided the main roads and the areas where the laps were known to be concentrated. In about six hours we reached a barrio which was an almost exact duplicate of the first. Here we were assigned a thatched hut and a straw mat and were soon sleeping like exhausted children. 'l'he next day, the leader told us that wc had met up with the lst Battalion of Hukbelahops and that we would split up, two of us going with each ofthe battal- ions. Thus, in case one of thc groups ran into trouble, at least two of us Americans would stand a good chance of getting back to our own forces. He also said that it was known that the japs were combing the countryside for us. The roads were alive with Nip patrols. Ac- cordingly, we split up 3 Kirkpatrick and I went with the new group fist Battalion? and Lt. Thalman and Gliszcinski remained with the original outfit. We were introduced to the commander of the Ist Battalion, a Major and a veteran of numerous engagements with the Japs. In the early part of the war hc had been captured, subsequently escaping to become an important cog in the Vast guerilla organization. Ob- viously well educated, he was perhaps 25 years old, of slim stature and wore glasses. He was constantly attended by no fewer than six order- lies. He wore civilian clothes with an air of 3, well trained military man and he had bean fighting the .laps since thc day they 'first lfmdcd 1 60 on the same Lingayen beaches had so recently secured. l or the next seven nights we barrio to barrio. One night we halsgd. ll'llCllllt.Q'lll to get some much needed was soon sound asleep. At about 0269 awakened by someone shaking my Conte quick. said a voice, flaps! were instantly awake. The Major than formed us that one of his sentries ha covered a large-lap patrol moving down a toward us, not Qoo yards away. One of guerillas had crossed a small stream and stealthily established a defense line between and the llaps. ln front of this line was a in the road, one prong leading to our and the other away from us. If the laps crm.. tinued down the road and took our fork, would be a skirmish. If they took the other fork, they would pass by without discovering us. We waited tensely. ln a few minutes a courier appeared out of the night and reported that the ,laps had passed by. We breathed considerably easier. During the day we would hide in a barrio, keeping out ol' sight as much as possible. Once from our hut we saw a -lap raiding party ap-A proaching the barrio bent on stealing food supplies. Quickly we made our way to opposite side of the village and waited until. the .laps had departed. Had we not been with them, the guerillas would taken care of this raiding party with However, the lVIa,jor would not risk a for fear that our security would be During our nocturnal travels the Major that we were headed north. However, soon discovered that our route was far straight one. ln fact, after having passed same sugar mill several times, lirst on one of us and then on the other, it dawned that we had been travelling in Circles. I the Nlaljor the reason for this and he that the .laps had us blocked on the he could not risk a skirmish with their until we had been delivered to our Since it was dangerous for us to remain spot, it was best that we keep though we were getting nowhere. a unit of the Alamo Scouts, a and trained group of two Amerie ten enlisted men. lt was the intrepid explorers to range far advanced lines and report aa On Saturday, 20 january, we HR

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