I was an HM (Navy medic) in '80. Had a patient that was only 60, yet looked far older - beat up and used - as many veterans do. Heard a nurse say 'he was at Corregidor'. All I knew about Corregidor was that was the place McArthur promised to return. He was good-natured, always smiling, yet never talked of war. WWII Vets: All gave some, some gave all
I know, my grandfather was a US Army Feild Surgeon in Front Line Feild Hospital in the European Campaign and had to decide who they would attempt to save, and who they couldn't or shouldn't try to save. Which he explained that he had to kill more than most soldiers only they were mostly Allied, saying "what can you do with a boy who set off the landmine he was trying to disarm, no face, no eyes, no mouth, no hands, what can you do???". He was also the only physician of the original eight that he trained with to return from Europe, as he even had stray bullet spray his face with the brains, blood & bone of the Army Nurse who was assisting him in an amputation, and had to get another nurse to clean off his glasses so he could finish the job...
My grandfather was there as well. He survived the Bataan death march and Corregidor. He's passed away now, but growing up I heard many stories about it while he was still around. Just crazy what happened.
@@tomhernonjr it was the death march was before the fall of corregidor, no one on the island or nearby Fort Drum was involved in the death march the tour guides on the island will even tell you that.
Those who surrender in Bataan were the one who experienced the Death March not the one in Corregidor. They were transferred in Manila and later in Cabanatuan or Palawan
My uncle was on Corregidor as a part of the Navy radio intercept group. Their job was so secret that it wasn’t until the mid 1980’s that it was declassified. He was in the second of three groups that was submarined out before the Island fell to the Japanese.
@@jameskosusnik1102 a little. I'm no history buff, and I honestly never heard of most of the battles on this channel. Even though I'm living in the outcome, hearing the retelling has me on the edge of my seat. I know we won in the end, but I can only imagine what it was like back then to see such a defeat and not know if your sacrifice would bear fruit.
@@cranehero11 In the 70's I met retired Army Colonel who was on MacArthur's staff during WWII. He did not like him at all, said he was so full of himself he would not listen to anyone's opinion.
Legacy of Heroes. The Story of Bataan and Corregidor - got a detailed and great documentary here made by the Philippine Government with host and interviews from US and Filipino veterans themselves ruclips.net/video/ennb2ihsTR8/видео.html
There's an island. Called Fort Drum, also known as "the concrete battleship", is a heavily fortified island situated at the mouth of Manila Bay in the Philippines, due south of Corregidor Island. The other name is El Fraile Island 🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭
I was born in the Philippines, 1978 when my dad was stationed there the first time and met my mom. We went back when I was 5, 83-88. It was pretty cool growing up on Clark Air Base. We would alway be digging up WW2 artifacts. We would just be digging in the yard like kids do and start finding bullets, live ammunition, even a bayonet. The Fort Statsenburg Museum there had all kinds of interesting things. There was also the Bataan death March, the POW camp at Combanatuan, and Subic Bay. I remember while we were there, they were cutting back the jungle by the Post Office and found 3 big mounds That turned out to be mounds of .30 cal brass from 3 machine positions. Also, either right before or right after we left, they were extending one of the runways and found 2 stone obelisks buried at the end of the runway. The used to stand at the front gate to the base but the Japanese used them as landfill when they worked on the runway. They were restored and now sit on the parade ground. I never got to see Ft. Drum while I was there. When my daughter is old enough to appreciate it, I plan on going back.
@@Turtleproof There was one place we weren't allowed to go. Lilly Hill was down the street from my neighborhood. It was completely fenced off with signs saying it was a restricted area. There was a road on the backside leading to a water tank that you were allowed on. I remember there was a buried concrete structure up there that might have been an old bunker. We were told that the hill was off limits due to possible boobytraps and unexploded ordinance in the jungle. It's crazy that Lilly Hill Middle School was near the bottom of the hill.
Unfortunately. Fort Drum is left to rot and looted by scrap dealers. The barrels from the big guns are cut down to be sold by scrap dealers. Here is a documentary here in the Philippines about Fort Drum or El Fraile island. ruclips.net/video/nxwDhYHEhKs/видео.html
I’ve had the honor of touring numerous well-known WW2 sites around the world, and Corregidor was one of them. It is extremely humbling to see what’s left there, attempting to imagine the utter hell that had taken place. Very sobering.
I went to Corregidor back around 1990 when I was Sailor. The tour guide was an historian with a PhD. She said the island had so much ferrous metal on it from the shelling (The US took it back at the end of the war, so both sides shelled it) that Boy Scouts compasses don't work there.
Great video! Please do the recapture of Corregidor as well, my grandfather helped recapture it with the 503rd. It was the most dangerous combat jump in American history given the casualty rate and the high winds on the the jump. The bonzai charges on the mtn the battle for Malinta tunnel, tough fight. This island fortress was the key to the Manila bay and the Philippines. Would be honored to see a recapture video.
american pour gasoline on malinta tunnel top airvents.japanese wont surrender.they locked them selves up so american light them up.some committed hara kiri while the tunnel was burning.
This might interest you. It's the start of series that follows the 503rd's exploits on the island of Negros in 1945. ruclips.net/video/TksW3f_O3lo/видео.html
During COVID recovery I took an interest in the war in the pacific. While in college, my roommate from my hometown and another person became friends, and we eventually went on to dental school. One evening our conversation drifted to what each of our father’s did during WW2. My father landed on Omaha beach on D-Day. My high school friend’s (and college roommate) was on Corregidor when surrendered, and survived the Bataan Death March, and our 3rd friend’s father was in the 503rd that later jumped on Corregidor. I was fortunate to get to know the other 2 fathers, and even attended a 503rd annual convention in Steamboat Springs, CO in 1972. All 3 men left the military and went on to be good fathers and successful citizens. All humble, and NEVER spoke of the war. I didn’t put it all together about each of these men’s experiences and contributions. I’m a better person for having been able to have these 3 men in my life growing up and in higher education.
This was a very impressive defensive battle, knowing they are surrounded by japanese forces around 70thousand vs 10thousand combined american and filipino forces, salute to these brave soldiers, our heroes..
Retired from Texas to Cavite, Philippines. Raising two boys here. A couple of weeks ago we were swimming at a beach with Fort Drum visible in the distance. What a great time I had telling my kids all about the "Concrete Battleship".
My Father was in Corregidor in 1942, he was an Aviator waiting his turn to evacuate. On evacuation night he and his fellow flyers were bump off the USS Swordfish to make way for Philippine President Manuel Quezon and party. He volunteered to do beach defense with the US Marines assigned in Corregidor. Losing his left arm from incoming artillery a couple of days before they were overrun , that ended his flying career immediately. Then next was brutal life as a POW.
My grandfather was in the Navy and wound up on Corregidor after his ship was sunk very early in the war. He was captured when the island fell and spend the remainder of the war as a prisoner of the Japanese. He and other Corregidor survivors were moved to various POW camps during the war and he eventually wound up in mainland Japan. He survived his ordeal as a POW and remained in the Navy until he retired. He passed away in the late '90s, and our family only knows about his history from his service record since he never talked about his time during the war or as a POW.
General Wainwright was a board USS Missouri for the Japanese surrender. A few days later, he returned to the Philippines to receive the surrender of the Japanese forces on the Philippines and the personal surrender of General Yamashita. I would love to know what he said to General Yamashita.
With all respect and appreciation for Gen Wainwright, steeping into his shoes of my personal take would sound like this. " I would love to throw you overboard to feed the hungry sharks " But I will not lose my honor. Just saying. Peace
The Japanese were convinced that a Tunnel existed between Corregidor and the Baton peninsula, due in part to the tunnel system on the island itself and their disbelief that the defenders were able to hold out against them for so long with reinforcements and additional supplies.
In 1971 ,I was in the base defense force (SPS) that guarded Tan Son Nhut AB outside Saigon, Included in our unit was a Bataan Death March survivor, who still served in the US military. Tears come to my eyes even now 50 years later, as I recall what the death march experience had done to his mind, body and soul. As our First Sargeant said, it would take an Act of Congress to ever make him leave his home with us.
Epic story and footage. The only discrepancy I see is that the Malinta Tunnel did not connect the three fortresses of Fort Hughes, Fort Drum and Fort Frank. The tunnel was only on the island of Corregidor on which was Fort Mills. Fort Hughes was on Caballo Island, Fort Frank was on Carabao Island and Forth Drum was on El Fraile Island. In any case, I toured Corregidor a few times a couple of years ago and it was amazing. The ruins of the barracks, gun batteries, and the story of the forgotten Japanese Graveyard (which was discovered by chance when someone recognized Caballo Island off in the distance in a picture found in a garage sale in the '70s) were simply breathtaking.
I also toured Corregidor Island many years ago and it was a great tour. One of the best tours any foreigner, especially Americans who had relatives fighting in the Pacific during WW2, can and should take when they are in Manila.
I had a customer when I work as a mechanic back in the 80’s that jumped on Corregidor. He said that they jumped out at 300 feet. I remarked that was 100 yards. He said that 300 sounded much better.
It was so nice of Doug to run away and tell the troops to hold the line. The more I hear about him the more I despise him. When he also promised he would return come back to the phillippines he showed his true nature again. He didn’t care about the regular soldier at all. Because of his ego many men lost their lives. There was no need to go back there. The tide of the war had shifted and it was only a matter of time before Japan surrendered. Another very important thing about this prima Donna is he wanted to use nukes during the Korean War. Thank god Truman said no and relieved him of command.
And earlier MacArthur was arguing against accepting the Japanese surrender because he wanted the distinction of being the conqueror of Japan. The US military is STILL using the Purple Hearts that were made in anticipation of casualties from Operation Downfall, which Dugout Doug fought tooth and nail to implement.
Roosevelt ordered MacArthur by name to evacuate. Yes Mac did want to use nukes on the Chinese. It would have saved a lot of American and Korean lives. Truman fired him because he knew there were Russian advisers on those bases. So did MacArthur but he wanted to win not play politics. The war "ended" when Eisenhower essentially threatened to do what MacArthur wanted to do. As for the Philippines. MacArthur saw the Philippines not just as a way of interdicting Japanese supply lines but as a moral imperative. The Philippines was the land of semi american citizens (or allies atleast) AND POWs that surely would have been massacred if by passed.
@@navyreviewer yes Roosevelt fired him but rather that put up a fight with Roosevelt he wasted no time and got out of dodge. What leader in the military runs like that? The Philippines still cost more in lives by taking it back than just continuing with the island hopping.
@@kevintate768 Roosevelt didn't fire him that was Truman in the Korean war. Roosevelt told him "I'm your superior officer (commander-in-chief) and I'm ordering you out of the Philippines." And yes MacArthur did fight him on it. You're irrational hatred is making you unreasonable. Did the taking of the Philippines cost more lives than it would have cost in POWs and Philippinos being "revenge killed?" We dont know that. Either way. It didnt happen so any answer is a guess. It's like asking how many American lives would the invasion of Japan have cost? You can make an educated guess but it's still a guess. What we do know is it would have meant "bypassing" POWs and the Philippine people. That's like say POWs and our long time allies aren't worth fighting for. Are you ready to say that?
The rock of bataan💪 and the El fraile/fort drum are the last standing deffence of the philippines before its total fall by the way im proud filipino my late grandpa is one of the soldier survive the bataan death march
Borne and grew up around Bataan and Corregidor now living for the last 38 years in Florida. No doubt America and American soldiers bravery and sacrifices without which I would never enjoyed freedom in my life.
Thank you Dark Doc's. For so clearly, clearing up things about the Corriggador Battle, and defence, of the island, also the eventual campaign by the Japanese too take it. This short eleven minute Duc, most likely entailed what amounted too volumes of research. Thank you again for what you put on this video told me a lot that I never knew about before of those crucial say six months of World War II that my parents and relatives live through thank you dark Docs.🇨🇦🇺🇸🇨🇦🇺🇸🇨🇦🇺🇸🇨🇦🇺🇸. PS. The other comments and commenters have already voiced my thoughts. Thanks again. 🇨🇦🇺🇸🇨🇦🇺🇸🇨🇦🇺🇸🇨🇦🇺🇸
My Grandfather was a PFC in The 4th Marines and was captured after the surrender of the island. He spent his internment in Fukuoka in Pine Tree Camp. He was one of the men guarding the wounded in the tunnel during the retreat. I have film canisters with rocks from the island and dirt from the tunnels he guarded. Dated and labeled with locations. I am proud to be named after him and am glad to carry on his legacy. He passed away when I was 2 but helped my wife and I buy our first house.
The narrative is accurate and puts Battle of Corregidor in context. The supporting videos have several inaccuracies that distract - among others: USMC troops are shown initially but it was strictly US Army at Corregidor, video of Nimitz and MacArthur was taken years later at Hawaii; destroyed B-17 was at Hickam, Oahu, Hawaii on December 7. But narrative is accurate and very informative.
Do you speed up your narration in post production? When I play back the video at 0.75 speed it sounds normal, but at 1x speed it sounds artificial. Any reason why you do this, or is it just a coincidence?
one of a very few places with the original guns still there, some with unused barrels. Some mortars (Bethlehem Steels) date back to the late 19th century. If you plan to visit, make the overnight trip, it's well worth it. One of the highlights is entering the tunnel system branches (not just the main corridor). Sadly, the tour company filed bankruptcy in the early stage of the pandemic
I love your videos DarkDocs. But, you have to work out the formatting of your episodes. You give it all away in the first 30 seconds. Leave us wanting more.
5:56 There can be no retreat as they were surrounded. Most of the fighting forces have surrendered and for those who were still fighting, they are too far away to support them. MacArthur didn't want to leave his men but he needed to. Every day that they delay the Japanese is a day for other units (or what was left of it) to reorganize and conduct guerilla tactics. In the end, it was decided to surrender than to sacrifice thousands of lives.
When he starts talking about the defenses the Americans built on Corregidor he uses images of Intramuros, the fort constructed by the Spanish. It was started in 1590 and continued until 1871.
My Uncle was Surredered at Malinta Tunnel Struck by Dysentery,He survived the Death March&Escaped at Camp O'donnel,Tarlac. He continued fighting with in local Guerilla in our Masbate province. Post War became teacher&Mayor of our Town.
corregidor the last stronghold of Philippines before it fell but it wasn't the last to fall but the fort drum the concrete battleship.... i hope you'll have a video for fort drum
Thanks for that piece of information. I was looking to see if anybody else caught the mistake about December 8th being Pearl Harbor attack day. I didn't think about the International Date Line. Thanks again.
For those who want a more detailed account, (not a slam, this was a great video) try to find a copy of the book 'Corregidor; America's 20th Century Alamo'. Well worth reading with many little known details.
a great book written by Eric Morris.He interviewed a lot of the survivors of Bataan and Corregidor before writing the book. I have multiple copies and bought most off of ebay. I always visit Corregidor and the American Military Cemetery when I go to Manila, Both are a"must see"for any visit.
Nice one, thank you! My only point of - hopefully constructive - criticism is the suggestion to work on your pace of speech. To me the narration overhasty in some places, and in general I think you speak a bit too fast. Slowing down overall and narrating more smoothly would improve the whole thing in my opinion.
@@AS-zq2cq Fort drum is abandoned, and has been picked apart by scrappers over 70 years. Although it is forbidden to go there, people still go out illegally.
Fort Drum was pretty well destroyed when the US took back Corregidor. Rather than fight for it the way the Japanese had, we just seized the top level, pumped gasoline into it, and lit it up.
@@Carandini Yeah I know that part, but it’s possible to at least salvage the surface layer of the fort, IE the turret and the main structure. Provided if anyone has the cash for it.
My Dad was in the 25th division on Luzon . One day he was making a low profile because there was lead in the air.Then General MacArthur came up in a jeep,he looked like he was carved in stone.The man driving was not. My old man had a healthy respect for the MacArthur,end of discussion.
My great uncle Donald was a Marine on Coregedor and was listed as MIA until 1947 when it was reported that he was actually captured after the catipulation and was killed during transport to a POW camp.
I've read that MacArthur was furious at Wainwright for having surrendered, but, when Wainwright was released from POW status at the end of the war, Douglas warmly welcomed him back. Anyone else come across this? Just wondering.
Have you looked at the battleship island in Manila bay? It was also part of the Corregidor fortifications. It has a dark history from the way the Japanese and then Americans took it over. Might make a good episode.
MacArthur left and escaped from Corregidor via submarine and went to hide in Australia. Left all his troops both Americans and Filipinos to surrender to the Japanese and suffered heavier casualties being captured rather than fighting. MacArthur is a glory chaser kind of general. Take for example, the Americans claimed credit for the liberation of Panay island when in fact they never landed ashore until they got a signal from Filipino guerillas that the area was no longer occupied by the Japanese. The Americans proceeded to land ashore and paraded towards the City of Iloilo boasting of its liberation. Another fact, did you all know that hundreds of paratroopers died when they retook Corregidor? They died before they even fought because they were dropped way below the minimum of height where you can paradrop safely. Some died hitting the ground so hard and others hit the buildings.
At 5:03 when talking about the tunnel complex on Corregidor it's stated that the "tunnels connected to Ft. Hughes, Ft Drum and Ft Frank" This is not correct. Those forts were on separate islands in Manila Bay. Ft. Drum on El Fraile island, Ft Hughes on Caballo Island and Ft. Frank on Carabao Island. There were never any tunnels connecting these islands.
Before the fall of the natzis, they were developing a massive panzer that would've weighted 1000 tons it contained a small barracks, infirmary, 2 AA turrets and a duel cannon set up. It didn't get past blueprints because no bridge in Europe would support its weight and it would've been an easy target for bombers and it would have had a massive swastika making it even easier for aerial identification. Id add a Wikipedia link but i forgot its designation, you can probably find it by looking up "German super tank fortress".
He was ordered out by Roosevelt, who had ignored his requests prior to Dec 7th, had told him to hold on help was coming, etc. Roosevelt did not want to hand the Japanese the propaganda victory of capturing or killing an American general as well known as McArthur
At 2:59 minutes, you say "on December 8th, 1941, Japanese forces simultaneously attack Pearl Harbor". The attack on Pearl Harbor was on December 7th, 1941.
A little known fact: Only one "truck" exists on any US Mil Base. That "truck" = the ball (on top of the main flag pole). That Truck has; a razor blade (to cut up the flag and not allow it to be captured), a single rnd (to say - that it is the last rnd [to be used in defense of the base/camp]) and a match (to burn the cut up flag - to prevent it from the enemy getting the flag in surrender). Little known fact
An older guy at my mother's work was in the Philippines during the war. He saw and did too much. He was a simple guy but he 1000% absolutely hated the Japanese for what they did to him and his fellow soldiers when he was captured.
I was an HM (Navy medic) in '80. Had a patient that was only 60, yet looked far older - beat up and used - as many veterans do. Heard a nurse say 'he was at Corregidor'. All I knew about Corregidor was that was the place McArthur promised to return. He was good-natured, always smiling, yet never talked of war.
WWII Vets: All gave some, some gave all
I know, my grandfather was a US Army Feild Surgeon in Front Line Feild Hospital in the European Campaign and had to decide who they would attempt to save, and who they couldn't or shouldn't try to save. Which he explained that he had to kill more than most soldiers only they were mostly Allied, saying "what can you do with a boy who set off the landmine he was trying to disarm, no face, no eyes, no mouth, no hands, what can you do???".
He was also the only physician of the original eight that he trained with to return from Europe, as he even had stray bullet spray his face with the brains, blood & bone of the Army Nurse who was assisting him in an amputation, and had to get another nurse to clean off his glasses so he could finish the job...
@@davidhollenshead4892 _Hand Salute_ folks like your grandpa
Mcarrthur return after 5yrs
I was in the Navy same time as you. My uncle Julian Ponce was KIA during the Bataan death march in WW II.
Undoubtedly, he wanted very badly to forget about war, and live a happy life, but probably never ever would be able to forget.
My grandfather was there as well. He survived the Bataan death march and Corregidor. He's passed away now, but growing up I heard many stories about it while he was still around. Just crazy what happened.
Wow. G-d bless him. The debt we owe to such men can never be repaid
I thought it was the baton death march.. Corregidor held out several months after that
@@tomhernonjr it was the death march was before the fall of corregidor, no one on the island or nearby Fort Drum was involved in the death march the tour guides on the island will even tell you that.
Those who surrender in Bataan were the one who experienced the Death March not the one in Corregidor. They were transferred in Manila and later in Cabanatuan or Palawan
Makes you wonder why the GOP is turning fascist. It's a dead end street for all who have tried. . . .
My uncle was on Corregidor as a part of the Navy radio intercept group. Their job was so secret that it wasn’t until the mid 1980’s that it was declassified. He was in the second of three groups that was submarined out before the Island fell to the Japanese.
Spoilers :/
@@alastor8091 seriously?
@@jameskosusnik1102 a little. I'm no history buff, and I honestly never heard of most of the battles on this channel. Even though I'm living in the outcome, hearing the retelling has me on the edge of my seat. I know we won in the end, but I can only imagine what it was like back then to see such a defeat and not know if your sacrifice would bear fruit.
@@alastor8091 dudes telling his uncle's story about his sacrifice and you care more about spoilers... just wow... wow.
Thank heavens that he and others were so thorough and destroying the equipment and traces thereof.
They held out against such odds bravely regardless of dated equipment and being surrounded, kudos to the Fillipino-American troops.
My little bro is half Philippino 👍😎
@FlickeRRing Lightswitch Whoops sorry was half asleep when I wrote it😴
too bad MacArthur (and his staff) was overrated (ok he had a few good amphibious operations)
@@cranehero11 In the 70's I met retired Army Colonel who was on MacArthur's staff during WWII. He did not like him at all, said he was so full of himself he would not listen to anyone's opinion.
@@cranehero11 mac Arthur is responsible for the existence of South Korea
You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting for somebody to do a video on this subject
The battle of rock, americas last stand in the Philippines
Check out Army University Press, they have a far better video then this garbage
@Robert Sears that's because USA failed to prepare ahead of time.
Legacy of Heroes. The Story of Bataan and Corregidor -
got a detailed and great documentary here made by the Philippine Government with host and interviews from US and Filipino veterans themselves ruclips.net/video/ennb2ihsTR8/видео.html
*Filipino-American's last formal stand in the Philippines (Filipino guerrillas continued to fight even after the surrender)
There's an island. Called Fort Drum, also known as "the concrete battleship", is a heavily fortified island situated at the mouth of Manila Bay in the Philippines, due south of Corregidor Island.
The other name is El Fraile Island
🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭
"The unbreakable ship"
Also known as the USS No Go.
That's a nice video too
@@robertphillips6296 (or USS Never Sail)
So sad about the el fraile ( Fort drum) negleted for decades. The cannons at the side are gone sold for scrap.
I was born in the Philippines, 1978 when my dad was stationed there the first time and met my mom. We went back when I was 5, 83-88. It was pretty cool growing up on Clark Air Base. We would alway be digging up WW2 artifacts. We would just be digging in the yard like kids do and start finding bullets, live ammunition, even a bayonet. The Fort Statsenburg Museum there had all kinds of interesting things. There was also the Bataan death March, the POW camp at Combanatuan, and Subic Bay. I remember while we were there, they were cutting back the jungle by the Post Office and found 3 big mounds
That turned out to be mounds of .30 cal brass from 3 machine positions. Also, either right before or right after we left, they were extending one of the runways and found 2 stone obelisks buried at the end of the runway. The used to stand at the front gate to the base but the Japanese used them as landfill when they worked on the runway. They were restored and now sit on the parade ground. I never got to see Ft. Drum while I was there. When my daughter is old enough to appreciate it, I plan on going back.
So fun yet so hazardous, glad there were no landmines!
My little brother was born in the Philippines in 86, he's been there a few times, his mom owns a 🍌 plantation
@@Turtleproof There was one place we weren't allowed to go. Lilly Hill was down the street from my neighborhood. It was completely fenced off with signs saying it was a restricted area. There was a road on the backside leading to a water tank that you were allowed on. I remember there was a buried concrete structure up there that might have been an old bunker. We were told that the hill was off limits due to possible boobytraps and unexploded ordinance in the jungle. It's crazy that Lilly Hill Middle School was near the bottom of the hill.
Jonathan?
Unfortunately. Fort Drum is left to rot and looted by scrap dealers. The barrels from the big guns are cut down to be sold by scrap dealers. Here is a documentary here in the Philippines about Fort Drum or El Fraile island.
ruclips.net/video/nxwDhYHEhKs/видео.html
I’ve had the honor of touring numerous well-known WW2 sites around the world, and Corregidor was one of them. It is extremely humbling to see what’s left there, attempting to imagine the utter hell that had taken place. Very sobering.
Glad you used Honor without a u
yes sir it was. uh corrigador.
My father fought until May 5 when his left arm got blown by Japanese fire.
your father was a hero
@@hamsters247 Thanks, Yes he was a hero and even know the General. He was mentioned in a book as the small Filipino boy by another Marine.
@manuel hernaez mabuhay ang iyong ama.
@@RyeAiv07 salamat
@@manuelhernaez3542 do you know the books name?
I went to Corregidor back around 1990 when I was Sailor. The tour guide was an historian with a PhD. She said the island had so much ferrous metal on it from the shelling (The US took it back at the end of the war, so both sides shelled it) that Boy Scouts compasses don't work there.
Great video! Please do the recapture of Corregidor as well, my grandfather helped recapture it with the 503rd. It was the most dangerous combat jump in American history given the casualty rate and the high winds on the the jump. The bonzai charges on the mtn the battle for Malinta tunnel, tough fight. This island fortress was the key to the Manila bay and the Philippines. Would be honored to see a recapture video.
american pour gasoline on malinta tunnel top airvents.japanese wont surrender.they locked them selves up so american light them up.some committed hara kiri while the tunnel was burning.
This might interest you. It's the start of series that follows the 503rd's exploits on the island of Negros in 1945. ruclips.net/video/TksW3f_O3lo/видео.html
The Herd will always remember the sacrifices of our paratroopers, THE ROCK
Great content as always
Much appreciated content agree'd.. Nice to come home to the calm voice after work
During COVID recovery I took an interest in the war in the pacific. While in college, my roommate from my hometown and another person became friends, and we eventually went on to dental school.
One evening our conversation drifted to what each of our father’s did during WW2.
My father landed on Omaha beach on D-Day. My high school friend’s (and college roommate) was on Corregidor when surrendered, and survived the Bataan Death March, and our 3rd friend’s father was in the 503rd that later jumped on Corregidor.
I was fortunate to get to know the other 2 fathers, and even attended a 503rd annual convention in Steamboat Springs, CO in 1972.
All 3 men left the military and went on to be good fathers and successful citizens. All humble, and NEVER spoke of the war.
I didn’t put it all together about each of these men’s experiences and contributions.
I’m a better person for having been able to have these 3 men in my life growing up and in higher education.
This was a very impressive defensive battle, knowing they are surrounded by japanese forces around 70thousand vs 10thousand combined american and filipino forces, salute to these brave soldiers, our heroes..
Great and Honorable content.. proud filipino here... ancestor fought until the surrender on the rock
Retired from Texas to Cavite, Philippines. Raising two boys here. A couple of weeks ago we were swimming at a beach with Fort Drum visible in the distance. What a great time I had telling my kids all about the "Concrete Battleship".
My Father was in Corregidor in 1942, he was an Aviator waiting his turn to evacuate. On evacuation night he and his fellow flyers were bump off the USS Swordfish to make way for Philippine President Manuel Quezon and party. He volunteered to do beach defense with the US Marines assigned in Corregidor. Losing his left arm from incoming artillery a couple of days before they were overrun , that ended his flying career immediately. Then next was brutal life as a POW.
My grandfather was in the Navy and wound up on Corregidor after his ship was sunk very early in the war. He was captured when the island fell and spend the remainder of the war as a prisoner of the Japanese. He and other Corregidor survivors were moved to various POW camps during the war and he eventually wound up in mainland Japan. He survived his ordeal as a POW and remained in the Navy until he retired. He passed away in the late '90s, and our family only knows about his history from his service record since he never talked about his time during the war or as a POW.
General Wainwright was a board USS Missouri for the Japanese surrender. A few days later, he returned to the Philippines to receive the surrender of the Japanese forces on the Philippines and the personal surrender of General Yamashita. I would love to know what he said to General Yamashita.
With all respect and appreciation for Gen Wainwright, steeping into his shoes of my personal take would sound like this. " I would love to throw you overboard to feed the hungry sharks " But I will not lose my honor. Just saying. Peace
Yeah its like a fall short of saying "This time your ass is mine".. 😎 😁
Yama! say banzai now u little shitr
Do an episode for this!
I would love to hear more about this. Thanks for letting us know.
The Japanese were convinced that a Tunnel existed between Corregidor and the Baton peninsula, due in part to the tunnel system on the island itself and their disbelief that the defenders were able to hold out against them for so long with reinforcements and additional supplies.
In 1971 ,I was in the base defense force (SPS) that guarded Tan Son Nhut AB outside Saigon, Included in our unit was a Bataan Death March survivor, who still served in the US military. Tears come to my eyes even now 50 years later, as I recall what the death march experience had done to his mind, body and soul. As our First Sargeant said, it would take an Act of Congress to ever make him leave his home with us.
Epic story and footage. The only discrepancy I see is that the Malinta Tunnel did not connect the three fortresses of Fort Hughes, Fort Drum and Fort Frank. The tunnel was only on the island of Corregidor on which was Fort Mills. Fort Hughes was on Caballo Island, Fort Frank was on Carabao Island and Forth Drum was on El Fraile Island.
In any case, I toured Corregidor a few times a couple of years ago and it was amazing. The ruins of the barracks, gun batteries, and the story of the forgotten Japanese Graveyard (which was discovered by chance when someone recognized Caballo Island off in the distance in a picture found in a garage sale in the '70s) were simply breathtaking.
I also toured Corregidor Island many years ago and it was a great tour. One of the best tours any foreigner, especially Americans who had relatives fighting in the Pacific during WW2, can and should take when they are in Manila.
I had a customer when I work as a mechanic back in the 80’s that jumped on Corregidor. He said that they jumped out at 300 feet. I remarked that was 100 yards. He said that 300 sounded much better.
It was so nice of Doug to run away and tell the troops to hold the line. The more I hear about him the more I despise him. When he also promised he would return come back to the phillippines he showed his true nature again. He didn’t care about the regular soldier at all. Because of his ego many men lost their lives. There was no need to go back there. The tide of the war had shifted and it was only a matter of time before Japan surrendered. Another very important thing about this prima Donna is he wanted to use nukes during the Korean War. Thank god Truman said no and relieved him of command.
And earlier MacArthur was arguing against accepting the Japanese surrender because he wanted the distinction of being the conqueror of Japan. The US military is STILL using the Purple Hearts that were made in anticipation of casualties from Operation Downfall, which Dugout Doug fought tooth and nail to implement.
Doug doesn't have any knowledge of nukes at that time because nukes are new at that time.
Roosevelt ordered MacArthur by name to evacuate.
Yes Mac did want to use nukes on the Chinese. It would have saved a lot of American and Korean lives. Truman fired him because he knew there were Russian advisers on those bases. So did MacArthur but he wanted to win not play politics. The war "ended" when Eisenhower essentially threatened to do what MacArthur wanted to do.
As for the Philippines. MacArthur saw the Philippines not just as a way of interdicting Japanese supply lines but as a moral imperative. The Philippines was the land of semi american citizens (or allies atleast) AND POWs that surely would have been massacred if by passed.
@@navyreviewer yes Roosevelt fired him but rather that put up a fight with Roosevelt he wasted no time and got out of dodge. What leader in the military runs like that? The Philippines still cost more in lives by taking it back than just continuing with the island hopping.
@@kevintate768 Roosevelt didn't fire him that was Truman in the Korean war. Roosevelt told him "I'm your superior officer (commander-in-chief) and I'm ordering you out of the Philippines." And yes MacArthur did fight him on it. You're irrational hatred is making you unreasonable.
Did the taking of the Philippines cost more lives than it would have cost in POWs and Philippinos being "revenge killed?" We dont know that. Either way. It didnt happen so any answer is a guess. It's like asking how many American lives would the invasion of Japan have cost? You can make an educated guess but it's still a guess.
What we do know is it would have meant "bypassing" POWs and the Philippine people. That's like say POWs and our long time allies aren't worth fighting for. Are you ready to say that?
The rock of bataan💪 and the El fraile/fort drum are the last standing deffence of the philippines before its total fall by the way im proud filipino my late grandpa is one of the soldier survive the bataan death march
I'd like to see one on the retaking of the island. the 503PRCT jumped on Topside, a drop zone so small only 8 troopers could exit per pass...
I haven’t heard of this one before, tis def a surprise for a history dork like me to not know whats goin on
Keep up the good work 👍🏻
Surely if one follows WW2 in any real sense then this retreat of The General to Australia is common knowledge?
The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.
Probably six of one and half a dozen of the other.
Hating what's in front of you is a big help when your locked in mortal combat with an enemy who is out to kill you.
soldiers that are sorrounded with enemies: *visible confusion*
Blitzkrieg: imma do what's called pro gamer move.
And who’s beside him.
I'd never heard of Corregidor, and my uncle died in the Pacific theater. Good informative video. ❤
Borne and grew up around Bataan and Corregidor now living for the last 38 years in Florida. No doubt America and American soldiers bravery and sacrifices without which I would never enjoyed freedom in my life.
So badass. Always giving us the good stuff.
Great stuff, more on the Pacific war please!
Can you do Battle of Yuldong during Korean war ..great content
I really like the efficiency with words that you present information
Thank you Dark Doc's. For so clearly, clearing up things about the Corriggador Battle, and defence, of the island, also the eventual campaign by the Japanese too take it. This short eleven minute Duc, most likely entailed what amounted too volumes of research. Thank you again for what you put on this video told me a lot that I never knew about before of those crucial say six months of World War II that my parents and relatives live through thank you dark Docs.🇨🇦🇺🇸🇨🇦🇺🇸🇨🇦🇺🇸🇨🇦🇺🇸. PS. The other comments and commenters have already voiced my thoughts. Thanks again. 🇨🇦🇺🇸🇨🇦🇺🇸🇨🇦🇺🇸🇨🇦🇺🇸
I wanted to hear about the concrete battleship fortress, Ft Drum. The turret teaser photo is on Ft Drum.
My Grandfather was a PFC in The 4th Marines and was captured after the surrender of the island. He spent his internment in Fukuoka in Pine Tree Camp. He was one of the men guarding the wounded in the tunnel during the retreat. I have film canisters with rocks from the island and dirt from the tunnels he guarded. Dated and labeled with locations. I am proud to be named after him and am glad to carry on his legacy. He passed away when I was 2 but helped my wife and I buy our first house.
The narrative is accurate and puts Battle of Corregidor in context. The supporting videos have several inaccuracies that distract - among others: USMC troops are shown initially but it was strictly US Army at Corregidor, video of Nimitz and MacArthur was taken years later at Hawaii; destroyed B-17 was at Hickam, Oahu, Hawaii on December 7. But narrative is accurate and very informative.
Do you speed up your narration in post production? When I play back the video at 0.75 speed it sounds normal, but at 1x speed it sounds artificial. Any reason why you do this, or is it just a coincidence?
Why waste more time
Amazing story, glad to see there is a episode on it
one of a very few places with the original guns still there, some with unused barrels. Some mortars (Bethlehem Steels) date back to the late 19th century. If you plan to visit, make the overnight trip, it's well worth it. One of the highlights is entering the tunnel system branches (not just the main corridor). Sadly, the tour company filed bankruptcy in the early stage of the pandemic
I love your videos DarkDocs. But, you have to work out the formatting of your episodes. You give it all away in the first 30 seconds. Leave us wanting more.
Been to corregidor island a few years ago amazing how 80 years later you can still see the damage as well as in many places in manila.
5:56
There can be no retreat as they were surrounded. Most of the fighting forces have surrendered and for those who were still fighting, they are too far away to support them. MacArthur didn't want to leave his men but he needed to. Every day that they delay the Japanese is a day for other units (or what was left of it) to reorganize and conduct guerilla tactics. In the end, it was decided to surrender than to sacrifice thousands of lives.
But thousands of lives were lost in the end.....surrender is a high price to pay for a long odds shot at survival.
When he starts talking about the defenses the Americans built on Corregidor he uses images of Intramuros, the fort constructed by the Spanish. It was started in 1590 and continued until 1871.
My grandfather was there. He was among those who took the death march. He detailed all their struggles in his journal.
Make one about the second Battle of Corregidor.
Great vid! Thanks!!
My Uncle was Surredered at Malinta Tunnel Struck by Dysentery,He survived the Death March&Escaped at Camp O'donnel,Tarlac. He continued fighting with in local Guerilla in our Masbate province. Post War became teacher&Mayor of our Town.
He saw the score and and acted wisely.
Lifting a toast of the earth's good wine, to his spirit.
Why the click bait "this gun was its own island" cover image?
Best narration ever, makes a mind excited about this particular education series by the uniqueness.😎
corregidor the last stronghold of Philippines before it fell but it wasn't the last to fall but the fort drum the concrete battleship.... i hope you'll have a video for fort drum
Retake of Corregidor by Airborne raid was also featured by historian Mr. Mark Felton.
And fictionalized by Neil Stephenson in Cryptonomicon
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’m a simple man, I see a new dark doc, I stop what I’m doing and click lol
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Love battle of the pacific vids. 👍
The dec. 8 attack in the Philippines coincided with pearl harbor (dec. 7), the Philippines is ahead by 1 day in calendar.
Thanks for that piece of information. I was looking to see if anybody else caught the mistake about December 8th being Pearl Harbor attack day. I didn't think about the International Date Line. Thanks again.
Great content , please make a content about " Fort drum"
December 8th? Is that because time zones are different between Pearl and the Philippines
yes probably
Noticed that too
For those who want a more detailed account, (not a slam, this was a great video) try to find a copy of the book 'Corregidor; America's 20th Century Alamo'. Well worth reading with many little known details.
a great book written by Eric Morris.He interviewed a lot of the survivors of Bataan and Corregidor before writing the book. I have multiple copies and bought most off of ebay. I always visit Corregidor and the American Military Cemetery when I go to Manila, Both are a"must see"for any visit.
Great video.
Great content, but could you narrate just a tad bit slower? Please
Nice one, thank you!
My only point of - hopefully constructive - criticism is the suggestion to work on your pace of speech. To me the narration overhasty in some places, and in general I think you speak a bit too fast. Slowing down overall and narrating more smoothly would improve the whole thing in my opinion.
"This giant gun was its own island" is the title on this video, along with a (supposed) photo of it. But it is NOT even mentioned nor shown. Why???
Can you pls do Fort Drum next,
I'm amazed with every episode.
Wow I went there when I was in my teens I think the huge guns set my love for videos like this
It’s sad that they haven’t preserved fort drum, or even made it into a museum or anything.
I'm pretty sure that they made it a museum. My dad would tell me stories about how he went there a while back.
@@AS-zq2cq Fort drum is abandoned, and has been picked apart by scrappers over 70 years. Although it is forbidden to go there, people still go out illegally.
Fort Drum was pretty well destroyed when the US took back Corregidor. Rather than fight for it the way the Japanese had, we just seized the top level, pumped gasoline into it, and lit it up.
@@Carandini Yeah I know that part, but it’s possible to at least salvage the surface layer of the fort, IE the turret and the main structure. Provided if anyone has the cash for it.
Tnx to the legendary cameraman!!
I'd be interested in a video from you about the battle of New Guinea. I've heard the terrain described as "alpine rainforest"......
My Dad was in the 25th division on Luzon . One day he was making a low profile because there was lead in the air.Then General MacArthur came up in a jeep,he looked like he was carved in stone.The man driving was not. My old man had a healthy respect for the MacArthur,end of discussion.
Please do a video on combat outpost keating in the korangal valley
My grandfather was in the 59th coast artillery on corregidor. He ended up being captured and was a POW for the rest of the war
My great uncle Donald was a Marine on Coregedor and was listed as MIA until 1947 when it was reported that he was actually captured after the catipulation and was killed during transport to a POW camp.
Many japanese ships were sunk by the guns of corregidor. In fact a japanese commander committed hara kiri for his failed attacks.
I really love this. It's just sad to see that many don't know this types of history. Unless they had loveones who was there.
Honest question. Is the script writer a native English speaker? Some of the wording in all of the darkdocs videos is very strange.
I have been wondering how big/strong forces were left in Japan for defence?
How vulnerable were the islands for a northern invasion?
So, why didn’t you cover Battleships Island since it’s your thumbnail?
What an IMMORTAL CAMERAMAN
@2:11: MacArthur was recalled to active duty in 1941 to be the commander of the US Army Forces in the Far East, not the Army Air Forces...
I've read that MacArthur was furious at Wainwright for having surrendered, but, when Wainwright was released from POW status at the end of the war, Douglas warmly welcomed him back. Anyone else come across this? Just wondering.
Have you looked at the battleship island in Manila bay? It was also part of the Corregidor fortifications. It has a dark history from the way the Japanese and then Americans took it over. Might make a good episode.
Fort Drum!
I always wanted to visit it!
MacArthur left and escaped from Corregidor via submarine and went to hide in Australia. Left all his troops both Americans and Filipinos to surrender to the Japanese and suffered heavier casualties being captured rather than fighting. MacArthur is a glory chaser kind of general. Take for example, the Americans claimed credit for the liberation of Panay island when in fact they never landed ashore until they got a signal from Filipino guerillas that the area was no longer occupied by the Japanese. The Americans proceeded to land ashore and paraded towards the City of Iloilo boasting of its liberation.
Another fact, did you all know that hundreds of paratroopers died when they retook Corregidor? They died before they even fought because they were dropped way below the minimum of height where you can paradrop safely. Some died hitting the ground so hard and others hit the buildings.
Awesome Content 🇵🇭
At 5:03 when talking about the tunnel complex on Corregidor it's stated that the "tunnels connected to Ft. Hughes, Ft Drum and Ft Frank" This is not correct. Those forts were on separate islands in Manila Bay. Ft. Drum on El Fraile island, Ft Hughes on Caballo Island and Ft. Frank on Carabao Island. There were never any tunnels connecting these islands.
Can you make about the bataan death march in the 🇵🇭? 102km US-Fil forces walk to death. A very few people knew that
You can also watch the great raid.
I have nostalgia for those movies that used miniature ships por scenes
Ja ja ja. Yes. Before CGI.
Wasn’t Singapore suppose to gibraltar of the east
For the British.
@@navyreviewer We will fight them on the beaches etc etc,,,,,we will never surrender.........what???.....how about Singapore?
Great one!
Before the fall of the natzis, they were developing a massive panzer that would've weighted 1000 tons it contained a small barracks, infirmary, 2 AA turrets and a duel cannon set up. It didn't get past blueprints because no bridge in Europe would support its weight and it would've been an easy target for bombers and it would have had a massive swastika making it even easier for aerial identification. Id add a Wikipedia link but i forgot its designation, you can probably find it by looking up "German super tank fortress".
I like how McArthur was like be brave, resist every attack........... I have a plane to catch. Good luck!!
Well he really wanted to go back....
Classic McArthur 😉
My understanding is that his superiors ordered that he leave, but I could be wrong.
It was a PT boat not a plane!
He was ordered out by Roosevelt, who had ignored his requests prior to Dec 7th, had told him to hold on help was coming, etc.
Roosevelt did not want to hand the Japanese the propaganda victory of capturing or killing an American general as well known as McArthur
At 2:59 minutes, you say "on December 8th, 1941, Japanese forces simultaneously attack Pearl Harbor". The attack on Pearl Harbor was on December 7th, 1941.
international dateline.
A little known fact:
Only one "truck" exists on any US Mil Base.
That "truck" = the ball (on top of the main flag pole).
That Truck has; a razor blade (to cut up the flag and not allow it to be captured), a single rnd (to say - that it is the last rnd [to be used in defense of the base/camp]) and a match (to burn the cut up flag - to prevent it from the enemy getting the flag in surrender).
Little known fact
The US armed force has been tasked within winning a two front conflict, but that is really only possible with allies on both fronts.
My great grandpa fought there. He died last 2013
my father, a USAFFE soldier fought and wounded in corregidor ,survived in death march and imprisoned in capas concentration camp,
Make a video on "The lost legion"
They were surrounded during the Korean war and managed to not get completely destroyed.
Japanese:
Tenno heika banzaii!!!
Filipinos:
Mabuhay ang Pilipinasss!!!
An older guy at my mother's work was in the Philippines during the war. He saw and did too much. He was a simple guy but he 1000% absolutely hated the Japanese for what they did to him and his fellow soldiers when he was captured.