INTRODUCTION

Thirteen members of the 485th AAA including a Warrant Officer remained on the island of Oahu and of course would not participate in the initial landing on the island of Leyte in the Philippine Islands in October of 1944. Our rear echelon assignment was to bring with us many new vehicles, (jeeps, weapons carriers, trucks )and new Quad 50 caliber, anti-aircraft machine guns. We also would be taking along with us the personnel records and files. With two ships loaded and ready to move on we headed for Eniwetok in the Marshall Islands. There were two destroyer escorts assigned to our small convoy. One day we noticed that the escorts made u-turns which to me seemed like they were returning to their base. Shortly afterward an order came over the loudspeaker system that the troops were to don their life jackets and line up along the sides of the ship and then to standby for further orders, as we were being followed by an enemy submarine. At the all clear we went on to Eniwetok and lay at anchor for about a month. Several of us actually volunteered to go ashore for two or three days on Parry Island as a work detail. When that was over our same group was asked if we'd mind doing the same on Eniwetok. Our next stop would be to Ulithi and were to remain there for one week and then continue to Leyte. It was dark when we reached Leyte and shortly afterward the order was given for the men to prepare for disembarkation. The exact date is unknown but it was in early December 1944. I can still remember that in a week or so we would be having our special Christmas Dinner with all the trimmings. I still have the mimeographed Menu with signatures of many of my buddies. In May of 1945, while on Okinawa, we learned that an order had been issued that the troops in our convoy, while at Ulithi, were considered to be "Floating Reserve" for what was called the "Western Pacific Campaign".

Officers assembled here at Battalion Headquarters 485th AAA AW Bn at Libbyville, Oahu in mid 1944. Two issues may have been discussed at this meeting, the upcoming operation(the invasion of the Philippines and Lt.Col. Harry T. Adkins' retirement. He will be replaced by Major Arthur Garvey. The Colonel is the second from the left in the front row.

Above and below: Church of Dulag

My recollection of this being the 36th Evacuation Hospital

Friendly bombers over Dulag,Leyte...B24 Liberators?

A caribou wondering what all that noise was about (Dulag)