To all our CBS radio listeners. The president of the United States will now address the combined houses of Congress. We are switching to our Washington, D.C. radio broadcast. Stand by …
Jason Parker approached the table radio as if he were in the presence of an actual person. Mary Jane followed while Harry contented himself to close his eyes and rest back into his easy chair.
“It’s the president, alright,” Jason whispered respectfully as he turned the volume up.
Yesterday, December seventh, 1941, a date which will live in infamy, the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by the naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.
The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government and its Emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific. Instead, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in Oahu, the Japanese ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to the Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. While this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic relations, it contained no threat or hint of war or armed attack.
It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time, the Japanese government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statement and expressions of hope for continued peace.
The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. Very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.
Yesterday the Japanese government also launched an attack against Malaya. Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong. Last night Japanese forces attacked Guam. Last night Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands. Last night the Japanese attacked Wake Island. This morning Japanese attacked Midway Island.
Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.
As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense.
Always we will remember the character of the onslaught against us. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.
I believe I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again.
Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory, and our interests are in grave danger.
With confidence in our armed forces—with the unbounded determination of our people—we will gain the inevitable triumph—so help us God.
I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December seventh, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire.
Tears streaming down her face, Mary Jane reached across the table for Jason’s trembling hands. He was playing with the dial as if he could rewind the speech. With his first-hand knowledge of war—what the killing fields where his boys were could become—he reached suddenly for the tender young lady coming to him for wisdom and reassurance. In silence he held her tight and allowed her to vent the tears.
Reassurance? He offered none.
Lucian had barely returned to the destroyed airfield when he found his brother standing next to one of the radios that had survived the attack of the day before.
“Well! You are a sight for sore eyes!” Norman shouted, running over to his brother who appeared suddenly in the doorway.
“You’re a mess, too,” Lucian laughed, happy to see his twin alive. “We made it, thank God!”
They embraced.
“I wonder if Pa and Mary Jane are listening,” Lucian thought aloud, pointing to the radio set and the gathered men.
“Will you two go celebrate somewhere else?” shouted an angry soldier. “This is the president.”
“They’re listening,” Norman assured Lucian in a whisper. “Come on.”
They stood outside the hut in silence during the brief Roosevelt speech. “We aren’t going home for a long time, Lucian,” Norman observed first as the hut filled with the soldier’s thick silence.
“Yeah, I know.”
They left the gathering at the radio, men wanting more news about what it would mean to them in the Philippines. Both brothers’ eyes turned to the sky and searched it, listening while they made their way back to their combat positions.
“I rode a train into town a bit yonder.”
“No way!” Norman responded.
“Not only rode it, I drove it. A Baldwin. Just like home. I couldn’t believe my eyes! Seems the Filipino government took over the train-running from American authorities some time back. And they got American turn-of-the-century steamers all over the place down here.”
“Get out of here! You’re pullin’ my leg,” Norman replied, incredulous.
“Yep. On our way back from Manila. Bombs were fallin’ just about like here, I suppose. There was this old steamer train, a bit older than ours back home, I suppose. It was blocking the main exit north, the highway, so I took it over.”
“Just like that?”
“Well the engineer was dead, the fireman too. I taught Riley real quick and met a little Filipino, last name of Salazar. He was eager to learn and help out, so here I am. With a trainload of ammo to boot.”
Norman shook his head, amazed at his brother’s good fortune and the fact that the train had not been attacked a second time.
“You didn’t have to join up with this outfit, Lucian. You could have still been home with Mary Jane. You’d be getting drafted right now, but you wouldn’t be stuck here. Why did you do it?” Norman probed.
“The extra pay, I guess. Getting married and all.”
“No, really,” he asked again.
“I was worried about you. How you were gonna handle things, you know with me and Mary Jane. Down deep I knew I had hurt you, Norm. I didn’t want that. Besides, I’m your twin. You’re not supposed to go off and fight without me. We got to look out for each other.”
Norman smiled. It pleased him to know Lucian had some feeling underneath all the layers of bravado and easy living. “I suppose there’s only one thing we can do now,” Norman replied as he stopped his brother and put his hands on his shoulders.
Lucian held up the ring on his left hand. Three engraved letters suggested what they would have to do. Now it was a matter of enduring it well.
Norman threw his arms around his twin and held him tightly. “I’m so glad to see you, brother. Man, I was afraid I’d lose you.”
Lucian squeezed back. “Me, too. Come on. Let’s see what Johnny and the rest of them are up to. I don’t suppose the Japs have surrendered yet.”
“Don’t suppose so.” Norman smiled, happy to see his twin safe, as they hurried to their fighting positions.
CHAPTER 40
“It appears after days of bombing and with the destruction of Clark Airfield and virtually all the army aircraft being destroyed on the ground by the Japanese, that our military planners have surrendered the air to the enemy,” the independent station from Manila declared.
“Expect the Japanese to continue their methodically planned attack stratagem so well-played out across the Pacific, in China, Manchuria, and elsewhere. Bomb, then invade. They are known for the cruelest barbarisms elsewhere. We can expect no different here,” the announcer declared in his monologue.
“Even now their agents are scouting the countryside, sizing up our m
ilitary defense on Luzon. Rumor has it that General MacArthur will declare Manila an ‘open city.’ He plans to allow the Japanese to walk right in and take over without a fight!” the radio man continued in his tirade aimed at the military and their lack of preparedness.
“And you can be sure that while reinforcements are talked about, the Pacific fleet coming to the rescue, that it is a stream of hogwash being tossed around the rumor-mill by well placed military brass in an attempt to keep us all calm,” he continued.
“My sources back in the States confirm that there are no shipments being readied for our rescue. There are no ships steaming this way to intercept the Japanese. They are too busy recovering from almost total destruction at Pearl Harbor!
“Besides that, my sources say that America continues supplying Britain with war material at an unprecedented rate. It looks like we are being left to ourselves, folks. We’d better prepare for a long and deadly siege!” He ended the broadcast with a barb directed at General MacArthur and his planners, saying he expected to be shut down and off the air for it.
“He probably will be shut down,” Norman concluded to the gathered group of soldiers.
“I think the guy’s right,” Bogan declared. “They aren’t sending the cavalry. Hell, if they had to federalize us, the National Guard, it means there isn’t anyone else to send.”
Silence. They could read each other’s minds. The welleducated Navajo from Shiprock made a lot of sense. America was totally unprepared for a major war in the Pacific, let alone Europe. And now Germany, being an ally of Japan, would declare war on the United States. The world had never seen a war spread out over all its continents before.
“Well, we all knew this would happen. Down deep, I mean. The peace couldn’t last no matter what anyone said about the United States being too big, too tough for Japan. All they had to do is what they did. Clobber us while we were sleeping. If we don’t wake up and gear up we’ll have to give in to what they want,” the lieutenant, a college-educated man, deduced.
Lucian had been taking it in, chewing his last wad of tobacco, spitting outside from where he stood listening, leaning up against the window opening to the bamboo nipa hut the battery had taken over. “MacArthur says reinforcement troops are on the way even now. Washington told him so. Food and ammo too.”
“Washington? You believe because it comes from Washington?” another soldier bit back.
Lucian shrugged and spit.
“They won’t let us down,” Johnny Mead offered with boyish faith.
“That’s my boy,” Lucian pointed out with pride.
He, Norman, and Johnny Mead were finally together. A transfer was pushed on their insistence that they were sticking together. The captain of each battery gave in, realizing that the brotherhood throughout the units was more important to cohesiveness than any regulation. Besides, they were all family and knew the importance of it. They’d be better fighting together than apart, they reasoned.
“We got our orders,” Lieutenant Kerns spoke up after receiving a call from the Regimental HQ. “We’re becoming part of a new regiment. The first new regiment to be formed during the war.
“Called the 515th, we are going to protect Manila. Seems they don’t have any anti-aircraft to speak of In additional to that, we are getting some new half-tracks with 75-mm cannons. The following are going to get the privilege of figuring out how they work. Crews of three. Listen up,” he shouted above the grumbling.
“Parker brothers and Mead, crew one. Bogan, Stiles, Stinson, crew number two.” He proceeded with names until all crews were formed.
“Let’s pack up. We’re moving out at sunset on a ‘lights out’ seventy-five mile drive to Manila. One man packs and rotates with the others in the crew. I want everyone not packing to man your former gun emplacements. We’re under threat anytime for more Jap bombers.”
“How do ya like that, Johnny, Norm? We’re fighting together. We’ll be invincible!” Lucian smiled, slapping them on the back as they jogged to their weapons. “You go first, Johnny. Find out which truck we’re supposed to load up. Go on,” Lucian ordered.
“I thought I was the one with the stripes.” Norman pointed to his shoulder, clearly showing off the two rows.
“Small detail. I hear they are gonna make me sergeant for the one semester of ROTC at USC,” he teased, landing an elbow in his brother’s side. “Come on. We got some gear to get together.”
Norman wondered what they were thinking about at home. Do they know the danger we are in? Do they know we are alive? Of course not. How could they know? He wondered just for a second how Mary Jane would feel if one of them didn’t return. He dismissed the thought—it was unworthy of him. He couldn’t think that way. She was Lucian’s.
He tried to think on the fair-skinned and beautiful Luisa, but his mind drew a blank. He wanted to force his heart into loving her. She was worth loving. He’d received a letter each week from her. She surely would make a marvelous wife and mother for his children. She was beautiful in every way.
But his mind drew a blank. The only face he could make out clearly was of a girl he couldn’t talk about, shouldn’t think about, couldn’t have.
CHAPTER 41
Three days later, December 11, 1941, the Philippines
Refugees from the bombing in Manila choked the highway north out of the city. The Japanese landed south on the island of Luzon and rumor had it that they had landed on the north shore as well.
“Lucky the Japs aren’t bombing this highway tonight,” Johnny Mead observed as the three of them made their way in “lights out” against the steady stream of civilians leaving the port and capital city.
“You think they know something we don’t know?” Lucian grinned at his brother.
“What’s so funny?” Norman replied. “This isn’t funny.”
“Just seems to me that when people leave a city like this it offers little reason to protect it. Who’s gonna be there but us military? The Japs would just love that. Comin’ from the south, north, and blockading the port form the sea. I hear the navy up and left.”
“Cowards,” Norman grumbled.
“Darn right. It ain’t right to leave us here like this. If those folks are heading for the hills, seems we should clear our stuff out of Manila and do the same.”
“We got to fight, ’em, cousin. Stand our ground,” the younger man said.
“Johnny, you are a true patriot,” Lucian answered.
“True-blue through and through,” the eighteen-year-old proudly replied.
“Well, I figure MacArthur will have us make a stand all right,” Norman added to the banter. “Then we’ll take everything out of the warehouse we can and make a stand somewhere else until reinforcements arrive.”
“Probably why the navy left. To go get ’em. Right?” Lucian furthered the conversation with a touch of hope.
“Right,” Johnny blurted out. “They won’t leave us high and dry. No sir.”
The night dragged on as the column of trucks and scout cars, towing the artillery pieces and equipment of the newly created 515th Coast Artillery made their way at a snail’s pace south from Fort Stotsenberg and Clark Airfield toward their new battle assignments.
“No fighter cover. Sure would be nice to have fighter cover,” Norman suggested.
“That’s the first thing MacArthur better get us. This stuff of being sitting ducks for the Jap bombers who fly five thousand feet above our gun range is getting old.”
“They’re probably on their way now,” Johnny Mead chimed in optimistically. “Probably headed here from Australia as we speak.”
“Hey, lookie there,” Lucian said, pointing. “We’re close now. Even pitch black outside I can recognize this place. This is the crossing where I picked up that old locomotive.”
“No foolin’?” Norman replied, trying to make out the scenes off the jammed road.
A jeep came up alongside. Lieutenant Kerns pointed out a location and told the men to pull off on the next side street
. It led to a warehouse located in a densely forested field. Lights were still out. Each truck followed and relied on the dim outline of the truck tailgate immediately ahead of him.
They crept along another hundred yards and made an exit to the left through civilian carts, calesas—horse-drawn carriages—and every so often a Pambusco bus filled with people, belongings, chickens, pigs … Two Filipinos with carabao-drawn carts stubbornly refused to move for each other, blocking the exit for the American convoy.
“What’s troublin’ you boys?” Lucian asked, jumping out of their stopped truck.
“He stole my chairs. They fall off my cart and he picks them up and keeps them,” one said, pointing angrily at the other.
“Says who?” demanded the accused Filipino. “You gave these to me at Intermuros. Why you lie like this?”
“What you mean lie? I never said that. You the one who lies!” the accuser returned defiantly.
Lucian walked calmly over to the chairs held by one of the women. A baby in her arms was crying. “Give me those,” he said, irritated. Yanking one of them from her grip he lifted it over his head, tossing it into the back of the truck. He took the other and did the same.
“They’re mine now. Here’s twenty pesos. Ten each,” he announced. “Take it or leave it,” he reiterated sharply. “Now move before I run over those carts of yours. When I get back in the truck we are headed in your direction.”
The two men grumbled, took the money, and began to move.
“Thought I was gonna have to get violent for a minute there.” Lucian smiled at Norman as he got back in the truck. They lurched the truck forward and startled the battling Filipinos who whipped at the water buffalo to get the carts moving.
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