THE BELLS OF SAN LORENZO DE MARTIR AKA BELLS OF BALANGIGA January 13, 2018

FOR WHOM THE BELLS TOLL? DENNIS L. WRIGHT RETIRED US NAVY [email protected] VFW GOLD LEGACY LIFE MEMBER AMERICAN LEGION LIFE MEMBER THE ARLINGTON OF ASIA

FORGOTTEN & ABANDONED BY USAF IN 1992. FELL INTO STATE OF DISARRAY. LED CVCRA EFFORT TO GET ABMC TO ASSUME FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS CARE AND MANAGEMENT. 9,000 INTERRED. 2013 LEGISLATION PASSED AUTHORIZING $5M FOR RESTORATION FOR WHOM THE BELLS TOLL

WARREN AIR FORCE BASE 2ND INFANTRY DIVISION MUSEUM CHEYENNE, WYOMING ? CAMP RED CLOUD, KOREA CHURCH OF SAN LORENZO DE MARTIR CHRONOLIGICAL SUMMARY

1. APRIL 1898 – AUGUST 1898 - SPANISH AMERICAN WAR 2. JUNE 12, 1898 - DECLARES INDEPENDENCE FROM 3. FEBRUARY 4, 1899 - STATE OF WAR EXISTS BETWEEN PHILIPPINES AND AMERICA 4. GENERAL ORDER 100, AKA LIEBER CODE, IS IN EFFECT – REGULATES PRIVATE PROPERTY IN WAR TIME 5. AUGUST 1901 - COMPANY C, 9TH US INFANTRY GARRISONED IN SMALL TOWN OF BALANGIGA, SAMAR 6. SEPTEMBER 28, 1901 – FILIPINOS, USING ONLY BOLOS, ATTACK 74 SOLDIERS 7. PRIVATE GAMLIN ATTACKED, HIS KRAG TAKEN AND FIRED INTO THE SOLDIERS “CRACK OF THE KRAG” 8. CONCH SHELLS AND ONE BELL SOUND 9. 48 OF 74 SOLDIERS OF COMPANY C DIE, ALL BUT FOUR INJURED 10. SEPTEMBER 29, 1901 – THE 9TH RETURN, BURY THE DEAD, RECOVER AND DESTROY THE TOWN 11. 11TH US INFANTRY RETURNS IN RETALIATION MOVEMENT 12. THREE BELLS REMOVED FROM TOWN BY THE 11TH TO PREVENT FILIPINO CONVERSION TO WEAPONS 13. UNIT ATTACKED: 9TH INFANTRY (COMPANY C) - - UNIT TAKING THE BELLS: 11TH INFANTRY COMPANY C, 9TH US INFANTRY

July 2001 – Madison Barracks, Sackets Harbor, New York THE ENCOUNTER

SEPTEMBER 28, 1901 Balangiga, Samar WHY WERE BELLS BEING TAKEN?

9 CHURCH BELLS TAKEN FROM CHURCHES IN LA UNION AND SOUTH ILOCOS TO BE SMELTED INTO WEAPONS – CAPTURED BY US FORCES. LATER RETURNED TO CHURCHES. SAN PEDRO BELL AMONG THEM

TO PREVENT BEING SMELTED INTO WEAPONS PHILIPPINE BELL TOWERS

BELLS ARE AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT IN THE CULTURE AND LIVES OF FILIPINOS

USED FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES

BALANGIGA TOWER BELIEVED MOST LIKE EXAMPLE OF CATBALOGAN TOWER. THE CHURCH ITSELF WAS BELIEVED MUCH SMALLER

USED WITH OUT AUTHORITY OR PERMISSION OF CATHOLIC CHURCH. PASTOR NOT IN BALANGIGA THAT DAY MEMORIAL TO THE US 9TH INFANTRY, HOME OF THE 9TH SACKETS HARBOR, NEW YORK (MADISON BARRACKS)

* DATA POINTS 1. SAMANTHA HOFFMAN, COUSIN OF PVT BOOTH, A CASUALTY OF THE ENCOUNTER, WANTS THE BELLS TO GO HOME 2. JEAN WALL, DAUGHTER OF PVT GAMLIN, A SURVIVOR OF THE ENCOUNTER, WANTS THE BELLS TO GO HOME 3. SGT BETRON, SENIOR SURVIVING NCO, REMAINED IN THE PH AFTER ENCOUNTER WITH NO ACRIMONY/ANIMOSITY - - WENT ON TO LIVE 15 YEARS IN PH WITH 47 GRANDKIDS (BURIED AT CLARK) 4. MG FRANKLYN BELL, PAW MOH RECIPIENT, SENIOR ARMY FLAG AT TIME OF ENCOUNTER, LATER US ARMY CHIEF OF STAFF (1906-1910) - - QUESTIONED PROPRIETY OF TAKING THE BELLS 5. THERE IS AN EXISTING MEMORIAL TO THE 9TH AT SACKETS HARBOR, NY, HOME OF THE 9TH, LISTING BY NAME ALL THOSE IN COMPANY C, WHO DIED 6. THE 11TH ABANDONED THE BELLS IN 1913 WHEN THEY WERE REPOSTED - - NOT IMPORTANT TO THEIR LEGACY OR HISTORY 7. THE ARMY ABANDONED AGAIN IN 1947 WHEN THEY TURNED BASE OVER TO THE USAF - - AGAIN NOT IMPORTANT TO THEIR LEGACY OR HISTORY 8. THE WYOMING VETERANS COMMISSION ITSELF VOTED IN 2005, 7-4 IN FAVOR OF RETURNING THE BELLS 9. WYOMING GOVERNOR STAN HATHAWAY, DISTINGUISHED WWII VETERAN, WROTE SENATOR THOMAS IN 1998 ARGUING AGAINST THE LEGISLATION TO KEEP THE BELLS IN WYOMING 10. MANY OTHER PRECEDENTS RETURNING BELLS TO JAPAN, GERMANY AND RUSSIA, INCLUDING BOTH FLAG OFFICERS AT USNA AND VMI AND MANY MAYOR’S MAKING THE RIGHT DECISIONS 11. LTG CASLEN AT WEST POINT RETURNED SAN PEDRO BELL LAST YEAR - - ALSO TAKEN IN 1901 12. THE BELLS WERE TAKEN ILLEGALLY IN VIOLATION OF GENERAL ORDER 100 PROTECTING PRIVATE AND CHURCH PROPERTY 13. USED WITHOUT THE AUTHORITY OR PERMISSION OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH – PASTOR NOT EVEN PRESENT PRECEDENTS & PARALLELS CHURCH OF SAINTS PETER AND PAUL CHURCH OF SAN LORENZO DE MARTIR BAUANG, LA UNION BALANGIGA, SAMAR

IN MAY 2016 WEST POINT RETURNED THE SAN PEDRO BELL TAKEN BY US FORCES IN 1901

NOTE: US-PHILIPPINE SOCIETY FOUNDING BOARD DIRECTOR HENRY HOWARD HAS OFFERED TO ACQUIRE TWO DUPLICATE BELLS FOR CHEYENNE, FLY WYOMING OFFICIALS TO BALANGIGA WITH APPROPRIATE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. * * OTHER BELLS RETURNED * * • US NAVAL ACADEMY TO JAPAN (1987) • VMI TO JAPAN (1991) • HARVARD TO RUSSIA (2007-2008 - 18 BELLS) • CITIES OF ATLANTA (1961), DELUTH (1954), DETROIT (1954), TOPEKA (1989) ALL TO JAPAN • OMAHA TO PHILIPPINES (2011 – 2 SMALL) • MONUMENTS MEN - - MANY TO GERMANY

“IT’S A MATTER OF THE RIGHT THING TO DO . . . THOSE BELLS BELONG TO THE PEOPLE OF BALANGIGA AND THEIR CHURCH” JEAN WALL, DAUGHTER OF PRIVATE ADOLPH GAMLIN - SURVIVOR REF: 2006 ABS-CBN DOCUMENTARY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoyTCxNnzyM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VL9OMB827tI&t=719s

PRIVATE ADOLPH GAMLIN “IF I CAN FORGIVE AND RECONCILE HISTORY, SO CAN THEY” SAMANTHA HOFFMAN – COUSIN OF PRIVATE ROBERT L. BOOTH LETTER TO CONGRESSMAN BERGMAN

SAMANTHA HOFFMAN SGT FRANK BETRON, SENIOR SURVIVING NCO. LED WITHDRAWAL. SEPARATED NINE MONTHS AFTER ENCOUNTER. DESPITE HORRIFIC EXPERIENCE, REMAINED IN PHILIPPINES, WORKED, MARRIED AND RAISED FAMILY. DIED 1916 BURIED AT THE CLARK CEMETERY.

SGT Frank Betron

Balangiga - August 1901 WY GOVERNOR STAN HATHAWAY WY VETERANS COMMISSION RETURN THE BELLS VOTE 7 - 4 RETURN THE BELLS 1911 - GENERAL BELL RETURNED TO THE PHILIPPINES AS MILITARY COMMANDER, WHEN HE:

“QUESTION(ED) THE PROPRIETY OF TAKING (EVEN AS A SOUVENIR) A BELL BELONGING TO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH SIMPLY BECAUSE A RECREANT NATIVE PRIEST EITHER USED IT OR PERMITTED IT TO BE USED TO SOUND A SIGNAL OF ATTACK ON AMERICAN SOLDIERS”.

NOTE: INTIMATELY FAMILIAR WITH FIGHTING IN THE PHILIPPINES AND BALANGIGA ENCOUNTER. AWARDED MEDAL OF HONOR FOR VALOR ON SEPTEMBER 9, 1899. ONE OF SENIOR ARMY OFFICERS AT TIME OF ENCOUNTER. LATER CHIEF OF STAFF OF US ARMY. WAS FAMILIAR WITH GENERAL ORDER 100 - UNDERSTOOD CHURCH BELLS ARE PRIVATE PROPERTY AND BELONGED IN CHURCHES. NOV 2013 - SUPER TYPHOON YOLANDA DESTROYS SCHOOLS, CHURCH, MARKET, TOWN HALL - NO POWER, WATER, SANITATION SUPER TYPHOON YOLANDA DESTROYS CHURCH OF SAINTS PETER AND PAUL - REBUILT BY US CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS OUT OF ADVERSITY AND CONFLICT

1908 – THE US ARMY CAISSON SONG IS WRITTEN AT - - LATER CLARK AFB 1919 – THE US NAVY COMMISSIONS A WICKES-CLASS DESTORYER USS RIZAL (DD-174) 1934 – LOU GHERIG AND BABE RUTH HIT THE FIRST THREE HOME RUNS OUT OF THE NEW RIZAL STADIUM 1941 – FIRST THREE US ARMY WWII MEDALS OF HONOR AWARDED TO THREE PHILIPPINE SCOUTS SGT JOSE CALUGAS, LT ALEXANDER NININGER AND LT WILLIBALD BIANCHI 1941 – 77,000 SOLDIERS BEGIN DEATH MARCH (12,000 US AND 65,000 FILIPINOS) 500+ US/2,500+ FILIPINOS DIE ON MARCH; 1,500 US/20,000 DIE IN POW CAMPS 1942 – LAST US ARMY HORSE MOUNTED CAVALRY CHARGE - - US ARMY 26TH SCOUT CAVALRY REGIMENT 1944 – GENERAL DOUGLAS MACARTHUR FULFILLS HIS “I SHALL RETURN” PLEDGE 1948 – AMERICA’S LARGEST WWII MEMORIAL CEMETERY ESTABLISHED IN MANILA 17,184 DEAD (570 PHILIPPINE SCOUTS, 3,740 UNKNOWNS) AND 36,286 MIA’S 1952 – CARLOS ROMULO RECEIVES SILVER BUFFALO AWARD FROM THE BSA - - BOY SCOUTS TO PHILIPPINES 1954 – US NAVY BEGINS RECRUITING FILIPINOS, BY PROGRAM END, UP TO 2,000/YEAR ENTERED US NAVY 1992 – THE LAST OF AMERICA’S TWO BASES AT SUBIC AND CLARK CLOSE - - LARGEST OCONUS BASES

4 MILLION FILIPINOS LIVE IN THE US AND 500,000 AMERICANS RESIDE IN PHILIPPINES EVOLVED A STRONG ENDURING FRIENDSHIP A SHARED SACRIFICE FOR WHOM THE BELLS TOLL? From Mediation 17, by John Donne - - adapted by Ernest Hemingway Manifesting the “interconnectedness” of humanity

No man is an island, entire of itself; Every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.

If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less. As well as if a promontory were. As well as if a manor of thy friend's, or of thine own were.

Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls, For it tolls for thee. ADDITIONAL e-REFERENCE MATERIAL

• https://vfwpost2485.org/ • Click on “MORE”. Scroll down to “ARTICLES OF INTEREST” • Click on “BELLS OF BALANGIGA”. Click on “GO TO ARTICLE” to download • Most factual, complete and authoritative article about the bells • Author Dan McKinnon

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wl8I7EUJ2_o&feature=youtu.be • YouTube video clip about people of Balangiga and the bells • Author Dan Barklin

• https://www.facebook.com/manila.usembassy/videos/10155762906829623/ • YouTube video clip – US Embassy Position

• https://www.facebook.com/ANCalerts/videos/10155161526348791/ • https://www.facebook.com/ANCalerts/videos/10155160877323791/ • https://www.facebook.com/ANCalerts/videos/10155160818163791/ • Series of ANC interviews with Dennis Wright BROAD ADVOCACY MT. SAMAT WWII MEMORIAL SHRINE ON APRIL 9TH OF EVERY YEAR, THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE SURRENDER OF BATAAN, THE PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT, THE US AMBASSADOR AND THE JAPANESE AMBASSADOR HONOR THOSE WHO FOUGHT AND DIED CONCEPTUAL PAW MEMORIAL PLAZA (COMPARABLE IN CONCEPT TO MT SAMAT)