Philippine Scouts Heritage Society Preserving the history, heritage, and legacy of the Philippine Scouts for present and future generations Fall 2006 An Incident in Bataan Lt. Col. Frank O. Anders, the S-2 (intelligence) officer, for the 57th Infantry is now deceased. He distinguished himself during the defense of Bataan by frequently infiltrating behind Japanese lines collecting intelligence. For his courage, he received a Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster. Surviving combat and POW incarceration, he wrote “Bataan: An Incident” in 1946 while recovering from injuries that would lead to his retirement shortly thereafter. His family connection to the Philippines stretched over two generations, as Anders’ father served in Manila during the Spanish American War, receiving a Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military award for valor in combat. In 1961 father and son visited the Philippines together to retrace the paths each had taken in his own war. Because of its length, the Anders article will be serialized over two issues. It also is being published in the current issue of the Bulletin of the American Historical Collection, Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines. Editor by Lt. Col. Frank O. Anders land—terraced paddies yellow with rip- the China Sea northwest of the Island For 250 years or more the solid ado- ened grain. Beyond were the solid of Luzon in the Philippines. be stone church had withstood the rav- walled fields of cane, higher and more ages of nature and man. Earthquake, fire, rolling. And above, looking out over The Zambales looked down, as they tidal wave and typhoon had battered and cane and rice and church, with its town, had looked down for centuries, while marred the structure, but still it stood, its fringe of fish ponds, and then the first Moro pirates, then Chinese adven- lofty and secure, with its stone terraces bay—looking down on this and the turers, then Spanish Conquistadores and and latticed, stone-walled courtyard. To teeming life of the tropics stretched the the padres, the Chinese again, the En- the west the land rose gradually—rice high jungle-clothed mountains—the glish, and finally the Americans strug- Zambales, that great range that extends gled for control of these fertile lands that What’s Inside? from Mariveles Mountain and Manila lay below. And now in 1941 came a new Bay on the south almost to the Thou- invader. Fall 2006 Issue sand Islands on the north, that group of islets that demark Lingayen Gulf from See An Incident in Bataan Page 10 Editor’s Comments..................................2 National President’s Letter................3 Keynote Speech, Panels Energize Reunion First Vice-President’s Letter.................3 Reunion Welcome Speech......................4 Reliving old memories of combat and sacrifice were very much center stage Website News...............................5 during the Philippine Scouts Heritage Reunion Keynote Speech........................5 Society reunion held May 27-28 at the Bataan (Poem)......................................6 Embassy Suites Hotel in Burlingame Bataan Falls (Poem)............................12 near the San Francisco airport. Around The General’s Corner.............................13 180 members and guests, including four- NJAMF Patriotism Award.............17 teen former Philippine Scouts, attended Book Reviews........................................17 the gala dinner which ended the reunion. In Memoriam.........................................20 The dinner audience listened raptly as internationally-known Japanese journalist Member Activities................................21 and human rights activist Kinue Tokudome Chapter News........................................22 Kinue Tokudome, Keynote Speaker FAME.....................................23 See Reunion Page 9 Philippine Scouts Heritage Society Fall 2006 Editor’s Comments For the second consecutive year, a in making the event one of our most tained other quality submissions which major highlight of our reunion was the successful. Another important role must be delayed to future editions due eyewitness testimony of Philippine was played by the Golden Gate-Bay to lack of space. These include a two- Scouts who participated in the gallant Area Chapter which has a long and part series by Dr. Isabelo Torio and ex- defense of the Philippines, both as fight- successful history of hosting memo- cerpts from longer works by other ing men prior to the surrender and, in rable reunions. Philippine Scouts. several cases, as guerrillas following the collapse of organized resistance. This This issue of the newsletter bene- When Major Fred Foz stepped down first-person testimony was augmented fits from an embarrassment of riches from the National Presidency at our an- by the comments of three panelists who when it comes to material submitted nual meeting and First Vice President have written books on the wartime guer- for publication. For the second edi- John Patterson succeeded him, it marked rilla activities. tion in a row, we are featuring three a passing of the baton to the post-WWII interesting articles in The General’s generation. Fred, thank you for your Clearly another highlight was the in- Corner. A fourth piece is written by leadership over the past year! John, all spiring keynote address delivered by Filipino American Memorial Endow- our best wishes for a productive term as Japanese journalist and human rights ment (F.A.M.E) supporter Leslie Ann National President! activist Kinue Tokudome. Murray reporting on her organization’s mission to preserve and maintain mon- These substantive contributions to uments to Fil-Am heroism and sacri- Mike Houlahan, Editor our gathering played an important role fice during WWII. We also have ob- Newsletter and Library Advertising Rates Our Philippine Scouts Heritage Society newsletter fund donations have risen to Our newsletter advertising rates just over $3,200. Since the last newsletter another $100 has been received from are as follows: Nininger Chapter representative Dr. Isabelo S. Torio, $50 from Past President Major Fred Foz and $13 from subscriber MSG Michael Woods, bringing his total Full page: $100 to $30 over several years. The library fund donations total around $1,500. Thanks to Half page: $55 the efforts of National President John Patterson, the PSHS now has 501(c)(3) Quarter page: $30 status, which qualifies donations as tax free. Business card: $15 A two year newsletter subscription may be obtained by non-members for $10.00 Our current circulation is slightly and overseas subscribers for $14.00. Three year subscriptions offer a slight sav- over 500 copies per issue. For ad- ings at $14 domestic and $18 overseas. Email subscriptions are available for $4 vertising placement or additional or $6 for two and three years respectively. Newsletter donation and subscription information, please contact news- checks should be made out to the “PSHS” and mailed to the address listed below: letter editor Mike Houlahan through J. M. Houlahan our website or at: Editor, PSHS Newsletter 6774 Lakeside Circle West J. M. Houlahan Worthington, OH 43085 Editor, PSHS Newsletter 6774 Lakeside Circle West Library donations should be made out to “PSHS” and mailed to: Worthington, OH 43085 PSHS-GGBAC P.O. Box 179 Daly City, CA 94016-0179 Philippine Scouts Heritage Society Newsletter J. Michael Houlahan, Editor & Publisher 6774 Lakeside Circle W., Worthington, OH 43085 Fall 2006, Issue 13, Published twice annually Annual Subscription: domestic $5 and overseas $7 Page 2 Philippine Scouts Heritage Society Fall 2006 National President’s Letter The 2006 Philippine Scouts Heritage I welcome comments and recommen- Society reunion at the Embassy Suites dations for change in the Society or af- near the San Francisco Airport was a firmation that we are on the right track huge success. Seeing old friends is al- in preserving the history, heritage and ways a great pleasure. The panels con- legacy of these extraordinary soldiers. tinue to be a hallmark of our gatherings. As many of you know, my uncle, Alex- I hope they will continue in the future. ander R. Nininger, Jr., was serving with We have been blessed with terrific key- the 57th Infantry Regiment (Philippine note speakers over the years. This year Scouts) at the time of his death on we were fortunate to have Kinue Toku- Bataan. He, Jose Calugas and Willibald dome with us. Not only did she give a Bianchi were recipients of the Medal of wonderful speech at dinner concerning Honor for their gallantry above and be- Japanese accountability with regard to yond the call of duty during this diffi- World War II, but she attended our pan- cult time in our history. els and was an invaluable resource. My views on the future of the Soci- John A. Patterson, President Fred Foz was kind enough to take on ety are contained in the last newsletter. Photo: David Rosen the task of serving as Society’s Presi- In sum, we have the potential to carry ability to communicate and educate via dent this past year, a willingness that I on in the name of the Scouts. When you the Society website (www.philippine- greatly appreciate. As the new President think about the strengths of our Society, scouts.org) and newsletter and our ef- of the Philippine Scouts Heritage Soci- we can count on the following: our forts to recruit succeeding generations ety, I will do my best to carry on effec- membership, the chapters, the U.S. in the Society’s ranks. tively over the next two years. Army Museum at Ft. Sam Houston, our See President Page 4 First Vice-President’s Letter Thank you for electing me as your ippine Scouts veterans and their widows new Vice President. I will do my best to to recruit their sons, daughters, grand- support our new elected President, Mr. children and friends into the Society. John Patterson. I will continue to serve the interests of the Society. We also In the last issue of this newsletter, our elected a new Secretary, Public Relation new President, Mr. John Patterson, wrote Officer and Assistant Historian who are about the future of the Philippine Scouts all highly qualified for the positions.