Pearl of the Orient Sea

 Remembering WW 11

Pearl Harbor

The Silent Generation recalls the Pearl Harbor attack that signaled the advent of World War 11.

on Dec. 7, 1941, that glued the Phil-US relationship and eventually paved the formation of the

United States Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE). The USAFFE is composed of 100,000 Filipinos and 20,000 Americans created on July 26, 1941.

The Battle of Bataan

After the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, they invaded the island of Luzon, Philippines in Jan.

1942. Despite the insufficient supplies, American and Filipino troops were able to fight for 3 months.

However, they surrendered to the Japanese troops and were forced into the infamous Bataan Death March where some of the most horrific war crimes were committed in the Philippines-Colonial possession of Spain from 1521 until 1898. May 7, 1942, is the Day of the Fall of Corregidor.

The Heart of Uncle Sam

The United States won the Spanish-American war and the Filipinos breathed the air of Independence to be eventually granted to their hopes and aspirations. Circa 1901, emerged the formation of the Philippine Scouts to defend and protect the Philippines and the United States in the Pacific. This allowed the Filipinos to enlist in the US Army. In 1920, the Philippine Scouts became a part of the US Army. It is a point of pride for lots of Filipinos.

WW 11 and The Battle of Bataan

The US entered WW11 following Pearl Harbor. The USAFFE was tasked to push back against the Japanese and delay their action at the mouth of Manila Bay. The objective was to serve as a buffer

between the Japanese and American colonial possession of the Philippines. The USAFFE was able

to hold the Japanese successfully until December 1941. After the Pearl Harbor attack, the troops were

on half rations. They sacrificed for the forces heading into the Pacific to have supplies. Pipe-smoking Commanding General Douglas MacArthur understood and promised the Filipinos extra troops planes and supplies coming to them. On leaving with commanding general confidence, MacArthur said to the troops, "I shall return." 

And the pipe-smoking general did come back to fulfill his promise.