145th Infantry
Philippines
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| Uncle W.T. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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U.S. Army 1944-1946 145th Infantry Philippines |
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| Buckeye Division | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Uncle WT was 18 when he joined the Army. He attended basic training at Ft. Hood Texas, and from there was sent to the Philippines as part of the 145th Infantry Regiment, 37th Division. He landed in Manila in the summer of 1945. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| He was first scout. That job called for walking on patrol about 100 yards in front of the main unit. There was a second scout that walked about halfway in between. The idea was for the first scout to see and engage the enemy before the main unit got too close. This was to help avoid an unexpected ambush. 100 yards out, in a jungle environment is a long way. Frequently the Japs would let my uncle pass through, laying low and remaining quiet until the main unit got closer. Then they would initiate the ambush. This caused my uncle to be isolated in the jungle with Japanese troops between him and his unit. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| When my uncle would approach a grass hut, he would fire tracer rounds through it because he had to make sure it was not an ambush before he got close. Interestingly enough, the U.S. Government paid $150 for each grass hut which was burned down in the war. We liberate them, and pay to do it. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mac Author was anxious to retake the Philippines after his defeat in the earlier part of the war. When he staged his landing (with much publicity and cameras), on the Philippines and announced that he had returned, my uncle WT and others like him were still slugging it out with the Japs 60 miles inland. They really didn't care about Mac Author and his publicity stunts. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The weapon he carried was M1 Garand. The B.A.R. would have been carried with the main unit and provided extra firepower that only an automatic weapon can provide. Both weapons fire the powerful 30-06 cartridge. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M1 Garand, a soldiers rifle | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Browning Automatic Rifle | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Fall of the Philippines | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Philippine Constabulary | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manila Memorial | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Back to first page | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||