Blood Brothers | Page 4

the Allies would conquer Germany and
Italy. As for Japan, the Allied strategy in the Far East was purely
defensive. MacArthur opposed the idea of the Philippines being
abandoned, but agreed with the plan "to defend all Philippine soil." He
told his officers: "The beaches must be defended at all costs; prevent
the enemy from making any landing!"

We at Camp John Hay believed ourselves reasonably safe in this
mountain resort, even when war seemed imminent. President Manuel
Quezon also must have considered himself secure in Camp Hay as he
was in residence at the beautiful presidential mansion.
Finally, Colonel Horan, standing tall behind his desk, announced: "I
have been unable to obtain any new information from USAFFE in
Manila. I understand the damage done to the Pacific Fleet in Pearl
Harbor has been extensive. Captain Warner (CO. of Military Police
(M.P.): take your M.P.s and any scouts that you need, round up all
Japanese civilians in the Baguio area, and bring them into camp!
"Lieutenant Velasco: build an eight-foot fence around Barracks
8 and 9; confine all Japanese internees there!
"Other officers: acquaint your troops with the present war situation, and
War Plan Rainbow 5. Stay near your telephones!"
At 0730 hours, with a lump in my throat and a complete loss
of appetite, I tried to swallow a few bites of breakfast at the Officers'
Mess, overlooking the gorgeous valleys below. Everyone was excited,
wondering what the next news would be. Normally I would have
walked the few blocks from the hospital to the mess hall and back, just
for the exercise; this morning I drove my1936 Model A coupe. Time
might become very important at any moment.
At 0800 hours I was in my office in the hospital, on a hill overlooking
Camp Hay, carefully studying my orders and maps.
At 0805 hours our two Army nurses, Captain Ruby Bradley and
Lieutenant Beatrice Chambers, entered my office. I inquired, "Do you
know that we are at war with Japan?"
Before either could answer, bombs were falling on all sides of the
hospital. "There they are!" I exclaimed. Not yet realizing how
dangerous the bombs could be, we casually walked to the windows and

watched the tremendous explosions moving across the camp-toward
headquarters-raising clouds of dust to the rooftops. The war arrived at
Camp John Hay at 0809 hours, Dec. 8, 1941. Between twenty and
twenty-five twin-engine bombers were overhead in a diamond
formation. Soon some 150 bombs of various sizes were bringing
disability and death to many of our soldiers-drilling on the parade
ground-and to their families in their small homes. It seemed unreal that
Camp Hay could be the first target of the Japanese bombers, actually
starting World War II in the Philippines.
Where were our American planes? We probably did just what the
Japanese planned that we would. We called Clark Air Field-about
one-hundred miles to the southwest, and told them, "Camp John Hay is
being bombed! Get some fighters up here, and keep those bombers
away!"
We had no air-raid sirens, no machine guns, no anti-aircraft guns,
nothing to deter them. We were surprised by the air attack, and even
more by their accuracy. We heard the bombers were led by German
pilots-possibly the very ones we were playing golf with the previous
week.
If the Japanese thought that they would catch our military and naval
officers on weekend leave at Camp Hay, they were fooled, as all
personnel had previously been restricted to their stations and ships by a
General Alert. Within thirty minutes, the U.S. fighters were circling
overhead looking for Jap planes. Finding none, they returned to Clark
Field just before noon to
gas up and get lunch. Along with thirty-five U.S. bombers, the fighters
lined up on the runways, soon to be blasted by two waves of 50 heavy
Japanese bombers. About the same time, Nichol's Field, Fort McKinley
and Cavite Naval Station were being heavily bombed. Nearly half of
the U.S. Army Air Corps planes were destroyed during the first day of
war, the day before Congress declared war.
Wounded were now arriving at the hospital by every available vehicle.
It was a horrible scene, an unforgettable sight, as corridors quickly

filled with seriously wounded and dying soldiers, lying in puddles of
blood, moaning, groaning, screaming, and begging for mercy.
Being the only Army doctor on Northern Luzon, I was to be tested as
never before in my life. I was a Regular Army professional soldier,
alone, and on my own. If we didn't act quickly, we would very soon
have many dead patients. I had seen many bad auto accidents, but never
anything like this. Shaking and woozy, I told myself, "This is no time
to 'chicken out.' God, give me strength!"
Mustering my strongest voice, I screamed: "Everybody! Listen to