Pearl Harbor

You know, I wonder when all the conspiracy types are going around saying FDR knew there was going to be an attack and he left it happen so the US could enter the war.

These conspiracy theorists seem to thinking Japan only attacked Pearl Harbor, but they ignore the attacks in Malaysia and the Philippines happened at the same time, and even if Japan had not hit Pearl Harbor, the US would still be at war because the Philippines was a US territory.

in the Philippines it was Dec 8. And although a lot of blog posts say MacArthur was not prepared, they forget he was in charge of the Philippine military... and since he anticipated an air attack he asked for the New Mexico Nat Guard for help. 

These units were brought over to man anti aircraft guns, but were not in the Philippines very long before the attack, and often the guns and ammunition were lacking.

And many of them ended up in Bataan and were in the death march, which is why every year they hold a memorial in New Mexico to remember them, and our Catholic church had a Bataan memorial in the back: four local Apache were in the NG there, and the local priest volunteered to go with them.

from the Taos historical society link:

The infamous Bataan Death March was one of the greatest atrocities of World War II.Death March Route. Approximately 1,800 men from the 200th and 515th Coast Artillery Regiment – also known as the “New Mexico Brigade” deployed to the Philippines in September 1941, during World War II.

I should note that most of those in Bataan and who were in the Death march were local Filipinos: Somethning often left out of the American stories. 

 

When the Regiment reached the Philippines they immediately moved to Fort Stotsenberg, 75 miles north of Manila. Over the coming months, they would train under simulated war conditions. By December things would change drastically.

On December 8, 1941 Japanese bombers made their appearance and the war was on. It was the 200th Coast Artillery (Anti-aircraft) — the original full Regiment — who is credited as being the “First to Fire” on December 8, 1941. That night, the 515th Coast Artillery (Anti-aircraft) was formed from the ranks of the 200th. The Japanese landings on Luzon began on December 10, 1941, with more Japanese forces landing on December 12, 1941.

The 200th and later the 515th could not do much damage as their powder train fuses only had a range of 20,000 feet and the bombers were flying at 23,000 feet. The main Japanese invasion forces landed December 22, 1941 and the decision was made to withdraw the forces into Bataan.

The 200th covered the retreat of the Northern Luzon Force into Bataan and the 515th for the South Luzon Force. They were able to hold the Japanese air and ground attacks back, thus saving the bridges – and the North and South Luzon Forces found a clear, safe passage to the Bataan peninsula.

 More here

The 200th Coast Artillery (AA) has a distinguished military legacy. The unit was established in 1939 from elements of the 111th Cavalry, New Mexico National Guard. The 111th Cavalry had its origin in the territorial militias of the 1850s and fought in the U.S. Civil War, in the Spanish-American War as “Rough Riders,” and in World War I.

 

After the 200th was inducted into federal service, recruits joined from all walks of New Mexican life. They enlisted in centers in Albuquerque, Carlsbad, Clovis, Gallup, Santa Fe, Silver City and Taos. Many young men deferred going to college. Many chose to leave their small towns and rural villages for the first time in their lives.

On January 6, 1941, the 200th was sent to the Anti-Aircraft Training Center at Fort Bliss, Texas, where draftees augmented its ranks. At the end of the training, the 200th was cited as the best anti-aircraft unit in the U.S. Armed Forces. In August, General George C. Marshall's action letter ordered the immediate dispatch of the 200th to the Philippines. By the end of the month, the 200th set sail from San Francisco, California.

 One webpage noted they were sent to the Philippines because many spoke Spanish. Another trivia not noted: their ranks included Anglos, Americans of Mexican heritage, and from various AmerIndian tribes. 

The attack on Manila came when people were in church for the feast of the Immaculate Conception, Dec 8. 

Lolo was at home with his family, and helped his mom and small cousin walk to our nearby farm, about 4 miles north of town, where they stayed until they knew it was safe. His older brother and cousin joined the anti Japanese guerillas... his cousin was captured and died in the notorious Red House, but Lolo was too young to join until the end of the war, when Mac Arthur returned, and then he joined his brother but mainly to patrol to keep the streets safe.