The WWII Story of An American Guerrilla on Mindanao, Philippine Islands
By
NORMAN RUDI
tilth 71 Copyright 2003 McMillen Publishing All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Published, printed and distributed by:
McMillen
Publ~~h!gg¡
Library of Congress Control Number: Pending ISBN: 1-888223-52-9 www.mcmillenbooks.com All opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author or subjects and do not necessarily reflect those of McMillen Publishing. Editor's note: Text written by subjects (letters, logs, etc.) are mostly unedited so as to preserve the integrity of the writing; any inconsistencies in spelling, capitalization, style, etc., have been left intentionally.
This book is dedicated to Margaret Carmody Lang whose personal strength, faith and character has been shared by millions of wives, parents and lovers during periods of national conflict.
Other books by Norman Rudi
An Iowa Pilot Named Hap
2001 A Neighborhood of Eagles
2003
First Lieutenant Dick Lang in a picture taken the month he returned to the United States.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction . ............................. .. .. . ............. 9
Chapter One - Clark Field ....... . ..... ........... .... .. 13 Chapter Two - Passage to Mindanao . ......................... 19
Chapter Three - Surrender . ... ....... ... ................ 29 Chapter Four - Into The Jungle .......................... 37 Chapter Five - Becoming A Guerrilla ...................... 49 Chapter Six - Raising "Juanita" .............. ..... ....... 59 Chapter Seven - On The Recruiting Trail . .................. 67 Chapter Eight - Haverhill. .............................. 75 Chapter Nine - Father LeFleur ........................... 85 Chapter Ten - Port Lamon .............................. 91 Chapter Eleven - The Naval Battle . ...................... 101 Chapter Twelve - Retreat . .......... ...... ............. 109 Chapter Thirteen - Trapped ...... ...................... 115 Chapter Fourteen - "I Shall Return" ..................... 123 Chapter Fifteen - The Long Trip Home . ................... 129 Chapter Sixteen - Life After Service . ..................... 135 Glossary of Filipino Terms ............................ 143 Some Important Dates ........... .......... .......... 144 Acknowledgements and Resources ........... ..... .... 146
INTRODUCTION Imagine putting down this book, getting out of your chair, and walking out the front door into a jungle, where you will subsist for over two years with what you have with you. What are the conveniences of necessity you will miss the most? Make a list of those items we take for granted, that would make our life unbearably uncomfortable without. Would the list include: toothpaste, toilet paper, eating utensils, soap, hand towels, salt and pepper, dry stockings, a calendar, a knife, drinking water, matches, electricity? The prospect is rather intimidating, even in today's world. In the last sixty years, our. civilization has responded to our every whim, desire, and frivolous pursuit. We tend to overlook those basic items that in reality make our life comfortable. In 1941, the options were limited. When Dick Lang entered the jungle, not only were environmental conditions unfriendly, but the enemy and some of the local inhabitants, plus disease, added to their unknown peril. When survival is at stake, a whole new attitude prevails. War in the Southwest Pacific is difficult to comprehend. The emphasis on the international conflict centered in Europe. It received the most news ink, since more of our forbearers originated from there, but also because members of the press found living conditions far more civil in London's hotels. The Army and Air Corps were more highly involved in Europe since they had a stable base to work from, called England. Fighting in the Southwest Pacific required more water transportation to disseminate supplies and personnel. Members of the United States Naval staffs and Army staffs were still involved in a command power struggle when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and the Philippine Islands. As a result, they were little prepared to withstand attack and invasion in the early stages of the war. The few military resources available were not properly utilized in preparation for defensive or offensive advantage. LANG
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The Japanese military had been active for over a decade, preparing to expand their empire to acquire material resources necessary to sustain their grand scheme. The middle 1930's saw Japan invade China and Manchuria, which helped to develop their military mindset for later application. Their intricate planning and distribution of military capability to accomplish their expansion during the end of 1941 and first six months of 1942 was remarkable. In spite of their treachery of unprovoked attack, the success of their military conquests must be acknowledged. In order for America to rebuild and respond required a highly concentrated effort to recover from the disasters experienced in December of 1941. The United States' isolation from direct conflict enabled planners and logicians to respond to the big picture. The expansion of manufacturing capability was not hindered by military battles or physical intrusions. The only impedance to organize and produce the material to wage war was the chaos of establishing priorities and the enthusiasm "to do our part." Many isolated victims caught in the forefront of Japan's expansion and were unprepared for being thrust in a role to simply survive. The people of the Philippine Islands were particularly destabilized because of the geology of their islands, lack of communication and the far-flung political diversity caused by a number of historical precedents. The Filipinos virtues of resilience, family centricity, and adaptability helped them to survive, even though subjected to atrocities difficult for the western mind to imagine. The American soldiers, who were also isolated victims in the forefront of Japan's expansion, responded in several different ways. Those who fought a defensive battle in Bataan and ultimately surrendered suffered humiliation and death in the hands of their Japanese conquerors in several prison camps throughout the islands. Many soldiers chose not to surrender to the Japanese as ordered to do, and entered the jungle in an attempt to find a way to get to Australia where they could return to perform their military duties. These soldiers put down their book, got out of their easy chair,
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and walked through the front door into the jungle where for over two years they learned to subsist, adapt, and survive. They confronted hunger, disease, and a raw harsh environment. They learned that working together, many obstacles can be overcome, and the difficult can be accomplished. This is one person's story of walking through that door into the jungle.
LANG
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DICK LANG, an assistant, the 19th Bomber Group, was w Philippine Islands on Decembe..-_- _ _ _ __ field. The 19th Bomb Group then moved to Mindanao, the southern most island in the Philippines, and Pfe. Lang was present when General Douglas MacArthur climbed aboard a B-17 bound for Australia and proclaimed to the Filipino people, and to the world, "I shall return." When the Japanese invaded Mindanao, Lang refused the order to surrender and became a guerrilla, working with Filipinos to fight the Japanese. While organizing local Filipinos to set the stage for the return of General MacArthur, he helped to recruit roving bands of insurgents to fight the Japanese. He received a battlefield commission and was put in charge of the Port Lamon District on the eastern coast of Mindanao, where they built a number of boats for use by the guerrillas. He also ran an observation post for reporting Japanese shipping and troop movements. In between these activities he repaired airfields, raised sunken launches, and led hit and run sorties against Japanese installations. This is the amazing World War II story of an Iowa farm boy coping with adverse circumstances in the jungle environment. It is the story of the Philippine citizens who suffered immeasurably under the Japanese occupation. It is the story of diligence, sacrifice and bravery. Lang's experience of living in the jungle and fighting Japanese invaders for three and a half years are exciting and breathtaking.
The AUTHOR Norman Rudi first heard of Dick Lang's experiences while doing resean::h on another book. He decided it was a special story that needed to be preserved and shared, and immediately began researching the war in the Philippines. This book represents Rudi's third writing effort. "An Iowa Pilot Named Hap" was published in 2001, and "A Neighborhood of Eagles" was published in early 2003. Rudi observes, "There are so many exciting and unique stories of persons who risked their lives to protect our freedoms during World War II, the Korean War, the Viet Nam Conflict, the Gulf War and Freedom for Iraq. These very personal stories should be documented so future generations will understand the true cost of freedom."