Corregidor "The Rock"

Another first for me was the opportunity to go on an MWR guided tour. As great as it was to explore the country a little on my own, I wanted some history and culture mixed in. The Philippines played a vital role during the early part of WWII. The United States had a large presence in the country when Japan invaded. Most of the country was taken over in the course of a few days. The island fortress of Corregidor held out for 27 days.

Corregidor is not an easy place to visit. It sits in the middle of the bay with the only access being a small tour boat. After several hours of heavy pounding from waves that made many of the tourists seasick, we moored at the island. We arrived just prior to lunch so that was our first stop. The island has a modern hotel for those looking to spend more time there. That was where we enjoyed a delicious buffet. The view from the balcony was breathtaking. Our announcer was somewhat surprised to see a group of American sailors with a Japanese tour group. I thought it symbolic of how the region has changed in the last sixty years. The fact that Philippine, Japanese and American people and cultures now peacefully coexist after such a costly conflict serves as an example for other countries.

Lacking for modern weapons, ammunition, food and water and manpower, US and Philippine forces put up a valiant fight. The island had originally been intended to protect Manila Bay during WWI, though it never saw any action during that war. All the batteries had been constructed prior to the outbreak of the first world war. These were quickly taken out of action, leading the army to concentrate on defense. The main factor that lead to the island being able to hold out was an extensive tunnel system.

The bombing inflicted on the island reduced all buildings to rubble. Many of the bombed out remnants can still be seen. They stand as monuments to the ferocious fighting. The only reason fighting stopped was because the island ran out of water without any hope of resupply. This forced an unconditional surrender and Japan took control of the fortress.

The dock where General MacArther uttered his famous words "I will return," still remains in place. The mast where colors were hung during the hold out still stands today as well. In the first hours of General MacArther's return, the flag was returned to the same mast. Monuments and museums have been erected to showcase many of the historical artifacts found over the years. Many of the artifacts are still commonly used in today's military. Statues and plaques stand in memory of the divisions who fought and died on the island.

The island was returned to the possession of the Philippines after American forces pulled out. It had been held by many foreign powers over the years starting with a Spanish invasion. There is still a token military presence, in the form of a retired Officer living on the island who finds and restores artifacts for the museums.