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After loading our supplies on an LCT (landing craft
tank) at Subic Bay on the afternoon of February 15th, 1945, we
headed southward, turned into Manila Bay and anchored around midnite
some 2 or 3 miles south of Black Beach on Corregidor. Rumor
had it that Jap "Shinyo" (suicide) motorboats, each loaded with a
ton of high explosives, would issue forth at night from waterlevel
caves on western Corregidor in search of victims like ourselves.
This rumor was true, as the quiet, dark night was
suddenly torn apart by a fiery explosion, perhaps a mile away. A
moment of quiet was followed by a rising crescendo of cries for
help. In spite of his blackout orders our captain slipped his cable,
turned on his searchlight and headed for the disaster. Instantly
radio orders flashed in, "Put out your searchlight or we'll shoot it
out." No choice and the captain complied. However, we did help a
bit, operating in total darkness. Hearing nearby calls I swam out
and made rescues of three wounded men. The first man, I recall, said
"Thank God you came. I prayed you would." He had a broken arm and
leg.
Weldon B. Hester
Field Director, American Red Cross
34th Regiment, 24th Infantry Division |
(Photo: Housed suicide "Q" boats
which the Nips did not use.)
