Philippine Scouts Heritage Society Preserving the history, heritage, and legacy of the Philippine Scouts for present and future generations Fall 2008 “That Brave Filipino General:” A Life of Vicente P. Lim By Christopher L. Kolakowski visit was the headquarters of Brigadier West Point, and before the Second General Vicente P. Lim, commanding World War served as Deputy Chief This article was previously published in the Philippine Army’s 41st Division. of Staff for the Philippine Army. His “Military Collector & Historians”, 60, Romulo had called Lim “the embodi- division played a key role in the Bataan no 3 (Fall 2008) and is republished here ment of the Philippine Army on Bataan,” battles, and he later was a major figure with permission of the author. Editor and was shocked by his friend’s hag- in Filipino resistance to the Japanese. gard and ill appearance. Lim described Throughout his life Vicente Lim was On 4 April 1942 Colonel Carlos the poor and starving condition of his driven by a strong sense of duty, and Romulo, public relations officer for the troops, and concluded by saying “we sought to do honor to his nation and the U.S. Forces in the Philippines, visited have done our best.” This comment Philippine Army. the garrison defending the Bataan Pen- shook Romulo, who would later write, Vicente Podico Lim was born 24 insula. Japanese forces had started their “Up until that moment I had not lost February1888 near Batangas in southern last major offensive the day before, and hope [in eventual victory].”1 Luzon. He was the third of four children Romulo hoped to bolster morale among General Lim continues to rank as one to a mixed Chinese-Filipino couple who the 76,000 Filipino and American troops of the Philippines’ greatest soldiers. He were socially connected with Dr. Jose on Bataan. One of his last stops on that was the first Filipino to graduate from See Vicente P. Lim Page 5 What’s Inside? Fall 2008 Issue A Message from Our President Editor’s Comments..................................2 th Newsletter and Libary.......................2 on the 24 Reunion A Letter of Thanks.............................3 The reunion was a great success due ing our presentations and panels. The First Vice-President’s Letter.................3 to the efforts of many people. First presentations and panels were reunion PSHS 24th Reunion....................4 and foremost, Cion and her team, on highlights. Photos from the 24th Reunion......6 behalf of the Golden Gate Bay Area Colonel Nicoll Galbraith, Jr., MD, Silver Anniversary PSHS Reunion...8 Chapter, did a magnificent job. Cion, kicked off the reunion with a presenta- Website News...............................8 President of the Chapter, had problems tion entitled “Reminiscences”. He told Newsletter Donations..................8 to contend with at the last minute with marvelous stories regarding his youth in Philippine Scout Re-Enactors......9 the hotel, a leaking ceiling and more. It the Philippines and the harrowing tale Chapter News.........................10 all went really well, thanks to Cion and of his father’s travels in northern Luzon Member Activities.........................10 her group. after the fall of Corregidor. General In Memoriam...........................11 There are so many people to thank Wainwright asked Galbraith to find the The General’s Corner.............................12 and acknowledge. I want to thank Gen- remaining units and have them lay down eral Hilman, General Peters and Kinue their arms so that the Japanese would GC: America’s Sepoys......................12 Tokudome for their contributions dur- not slaughter their Filipino and Ameri- GC: The Story of the Invasion of Japan...12 GC: A Prisoner of War.............13 See 24th Reunion Page 5 Philippine Scouts Heritage Society Fall 2008 Editor’s Comments A Letter of Thanks In 2001 I was privileged to take over invaluable assistance with the graphics with fresh ideas to take over. President Mike Houlahan has been a strong Mike and I met in Manila in the the Philippine Scouts Heritage Society and formatting, first from David Rosen Patterson will be leading a search com- supporter of the Philippine Scouts early 1990s when Mike was the U.S. newsletter’s editorial chair from Col. and then from my daughter, Christa. mittee with the goal of selecting an Heritage Society for many years be- Embassy’s Cultural Affairs Officer Nicoll F. Galbraith, Jr. Largely be- Christa also designed the website in appropriate candidate or candidates by yond his taking on editing the news- and I was the Associate Director of cause of this, over the last eight years 2002 and the message board in 2004, our next reunion in May 2009. Certainly letter. He has authored many articles the U.S. Agency for International I have come to know many of you in maintaining both ever since. Since he will welcome suggestions from the for several publications that have dealt Development. We’ve been friends person through our annual reunions or then these have been the “go to” sites rest of you to assist the committee in with various aspects of the Philippines. ever since. Mike has served as the at a distance through letters and email. for anyone wanting information on the this search. I am pleased to say that, He is married to Dr. Edwina Carreon, Society’s Secretary and he has been The newsletter has almost doubled in Philippine Scouts. I have also been assuming the new editor so desires, a Philippine academic at Ohio State a valued voice in the affairs of the size and a popular website and message aided immensely by the many former Christa is willing to continue as both University. So the Philippines is a large Society. While it’s sad that Mike is board spun off from it. In the fall of Scouts, Scout family members, military webmaster and newsletter design and part of Mike’s life. stepping down having done such a 2005, The General’s Corner was added, historians and others who have gladly layout editor. Mike is very gracious in noting the wonderful job, it couldn’t last forever. dedicated to the memory of our Found- shared their experiences and research It has been a wonderful ride and I am contributions to the Society’s newsletter On the other hand, I will continue to ing President, Brigadier General Royal by allowing me to publish their writings grateful for the support I’ve had from of others including his daughter, Christa, look to Mike for advice and counsel, Reynolds, Jr. This ongoing section in these pages. Their stories have enter- you, the readers. It has been a great who has designed and maintained a mar- so he’s not going away. specializes in historical and often first tained and often deeply touched us. honor to be allowed into your homes velous website that has received numer- My heartfelt thanks go to Mike who John A. Patterson, President person accounts of Scout heroism dur- But even good things must eventually through the newsletter pages and I thank ous accolades. Because of their efforts, has meant so much to the Society. I Photo: David Rosen ing WWII, not only in the early months end and it is with some sadness and after you for allowing me that privilege. God the newsletter and the website have be- will be communicating with Mike, the me in Rhode Island (401-885-7776) or before the surrender, but also afterward considerable soul searching that I have bless and God speed! come major outreach vehicles for telling Board and others concerning the best email me at [email protected]. in the prison camps, on the Hell Ships decided that the spring 2009 issue will the story of the Philippine Scouts. We way to go about securing an editor of Sen. John Alexander Patterson and in the guerrilla resistance. be the last I will edit. I feel that I’ve Mike Houlahan, Editor are fortunate that Christa has agreed to the newsletter. In the meantime, if President Publishing the newsletter has never taken the newsletter about as far as I stay on for the time being. there are any suggestions, please call Philippine Scouts Heritage Society been a one person operation. I received can and it now is time for someone else Advertising Rates Newsletter and Library First Vice-President’s Letter Our newsletter advertising rates The 24th National Annual Reunion The re-enactors did a splendid job are as follows: Non-member newsletter subscription: 2-years: $10.00 domestic & $14 overseas; 3-years: $14 domestic & $18 overseas. Email subscriptions are $4 & $6 for 2 & at Burlingame / San Francisco last May again this year and I’m glad that they 3 years. Members receive the newsletter at no charge. 23 and 24th was a stunning success. The will host the 25th reunion in Los Full page: $105 Embassy suites caters to their guests with a Angles in 2009. The group really well Half page: $60 perfect breakfast, snacks and evening hors represents the Philippine Scouts with Donations are tax deductible as the PSHS now has 501(c)(3) status. News- Quarter page: $35 d’oeuvre. The guests don their tennis shoes, their polished boots, pressed uniforms letter donation and subscription checks should be made out to the “PSHS” (with Business card: $18 walk and run the track by the beach. and U.S. Army bearing. “newsletter donation” or “subscription” listed on the memo line) and mailed to: The business agenda featured the Au- The Tacoma Chapter volunteered to J. M. Houlahan Our current circulation is slightly dit committee chaired by Cindy Warren do a pilot program for scholarships and Editor, PSHS Newsletter over 540 copies per issue. For ad- with Aniceto Bagley as member.