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The FReeper Foxhole Remembers The 200th Coast Artillery (AA)- (12/8/1941) - May 26th, 2004
www.angelfire.com/nm/bcmfofnm ^ | Larry Sanderson

Posted on 05/26/2004 12:20:11 AM PDT by SAMWolf



Lord,

Keep our Troops forever in Your care

Give them victory over the enemy...

Grant them a safe and swift return...

Bless those who mourn the lost.
.

FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer
for all those serving their country at this time.


...................................................................................... ...........................................

U.S. Military History, Current Events and Veterans Issues

Where Duty, Honor and Country
are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.

Our Mission:

The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans.

Welcome to "Warrior Wednesday"

Where the Freeper Foxhole introduces a different veteran each Wednesday. The "ordinary" Soldier, Sailor, Airman or Marine who participated in the events in our Country's history. We hope to present events as seen through their eyes. To give you a glimpse into the life of those who sacrificed for all of us - Our Veterans.

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Sons of the West
The men of the Two Hon'red


History is filled with stories of heroism and valor. As a society we build and repeat the legends to later generations. Some tales are immortalized in verse such as "Into the valley of death rode the 600..." Others are cast as challenges and rally cries such as "Remember the Alamo." In many of these cases we lose sight of the actual story and the human sacrifice and heroism in the original acts. In other cases we unfortunately lose sight of the story entirely because for whatever reason it did not capture the imagination or it was overshadowed by other events.


Coat of Arms - 200th Coast Artillery


Such is the case of the sons of the west who formed the most decorated unit in Army history. Eighteen hundred young men of New Mexico went to war in 1941 and within one hundred and twenty-two short days became one of the most heroic fighting forces in the history of the United States. But that was just the beginning of their battle and of their sacrifice.

Six hundred men died in the valley of death and were immortalized by Tennyson. Two hundred men died at the Alamo and every American schoolchild knows the story. Of the 1800 New Mexicans in the 200th Coast Artillery who fired the first shots of World War II only 900 came home and of those 900 only 600 survived past twelve months of peacetime. How many Americans know that New Mexico gave more sons and daughters per capita than any other state in the Union in World War II? How many Americans know that of the 12,000 Americans on the Bataan Death March that 1 in 6 was from New Mexico? How many Americans know that the now famous Navajo Code of World War II started when the Taos Pueblo Indians of the 200th were used to communicate between units because the Japanese had broken every other code? And how many Americans know that on April 9th, 1942 when the rest of the army surrendered the New Mexicans dug into a ridge above Cabcaben airfield for the express purpose of proving that the Alamo was nothing compared to what New Mexico could do?

Oh those New Mexicans, they were something special.


PFC Vernie James


The story we want to tell you today occurred over 60 years ago but our journey to the story started just a year ago in a broken down building in Forrest, NM. On the wall of an outbuilding at the James homestead we saw the name Vernie James written in whitewash. It is the name of a lost brother, an uncle never known, a hero unrecognized.

The story of Vernie is the story of the fabled 200th Coast Artillery, the "Two Hon'red" as it was known to the men. In January 1941 the 200th NM National Guard Regiment was federalized. On April 4th 1941 the first major flood of peacetime draftees were inducted into service. At Ft. Bliss in El Paso the 200th was scheduled to virtually double its ranks. The officers of the regiment wanted nothing to do with men from other states and told their sergeants, "Stand in the doorway at the induction center and pick out the New Mexicans, those are our boys and we want them."

The result was an 1800 man regiment almost exclusively composed of New Mexicans including men like Manuel Armijo of Santa Fe, Jack Aldrich [then] of Clovis, Lee Roach of Clovis and Otis Yates and Vernie James both of Forrest. April through September was spent in training and, of course, some weekend passes. Old Otis Yates had a system worked out. Each soldier got $5 for the weekend. Otis would rent a car and charge each man $5 and drop them off on his way home to Forrest. Otis survived the war and lived here in Clovis until his death about five years ago.


Camp Maximiliano Luna, 1940.


The regiment trained hard and received their orders to ship out in September 1941... destination Manila. Our leaders in Washington needed to show that they supported MacArthur in the Philippines and the 200th was chosen. After all it had proven in training that it was the equal or better of any regular army regiment when it was selected as the best Anti-aircraft Regiment in the army.

The job of the 200th was to defend Clark Field (Ft. Stotsenberg) and on December 8th, 1941 their work began. On that day, despite the fact that they had never fired the live ammunition, it was old and limited in altitude, they downed a half dozen Japanese planes, the first of 86 that they would shoot down in the conflict. That evening the regiment was split with 500 troops charged to defend Manila. Vernie was in Battery C and remained with the 200th at Clark Field.


3-inch anti-aircraft gun


Very quickly MacArthur decided to implement his plan to retreat to Bataan where the army could hold out until reinforcements arrived. The retreat to Bataan, often called one of the most skillful military maneuvers in history depended on the New Mexicans as the rear guard. In the process they were in the center of a battle that decimated a Japanese army of 14,000 men. By the time the retreat was complete the army was intact, the Japanese had to pause for reinforcements and the New Mexicans were becoming a legend in MacArthur's command.

Over the next four months the New Mexicans shot down plane after plane, defended the line and protected airfields. Along with their comrades they starved, fought and waited for reinforcements. They became part of the famous sobriquet "The Battling Bastards of Bataan, no momma, no poppa and no Uncle Sam."



In April 1942 the Japanese broke the lines and by the 9th of April the army knew the peninsula was lost. The army was ordered to surrender but the New Mexicans picked up their shovels and started to dig in for their last stand. Eventually they were persuaded to surrender but not First Sergeant Armijo, PFC Vernie James and the communications squad of C Battery. These six men headed for the hills to continue the fight. They were captured later and brought back to make the Death March with 12,000 fellow Americans.

The first stop after the March was Camp O'Donnell and the New Mexicans did it again. When the first ones arrived they took up station at the main gate and waited for each of their comrades to come through. Once again the sergeants claimed their boys at the door and soon they were together.


Prisoners of the Japanese


Most everyone was sent to Cabanatuan prison camp. Almost 10,000 Americans were in the camp. Many were in other smaller camps and many, like Lee Roach, were sent to perform labor by building airfields. By all accounts Vernie spent his time at Cabanatuan. Several years ago his sister Bertha was told that Vernie spent much of his time assisting the Chaplains at the camp.

By 1944 the Japanese knew it was only a matter of time until the Americans came back to the islands and they began packing prisoners into ships for transport to Japan or Manchuria. These ships became known as Hell Ships because of their horrible conditions. Of the over 13 Hell Ships three were sunk and one, the Arisan Maru, became infamous as the worst disaster in American naval history.


Arisan Maru (June 5th, 1944)


Vernie James and the Arisan Maru began their voyage together in September 1944. That month Vernie was likely sent to Bilibid prison in Manila in preparation for shipment to Japan or Manchuria. He and 1800 other Americans were loaded on the Arisan Maru and they set sail in October 1944. On the night of October 24th as the battle of Leyte Gulf raged the Arisan Maru was in convoy in the South China Sea. Two American submarines attacked the convoy. The torpedoes of one found the Arisan Maru. To this day it is not known which submarine fired the torpedo. A Catholic Priest from Indianapolis, Father Thomas Scecina, was on deck at the time. He went down into the holds and brought the comfort of God to the men he would die with. For his valor he was awarded the Silver Star posthumously.

Vernie James was lost at sea but his spirit and memory are enshrined in the American Cemetery in Manila. His name is carved in the tablets of the Missing and he has been blessed with a Christian service.



PFC Vernie James died in October 1944 just three months before American Rangers liberated the Cabanatuan camp in a daring raid deep into enemy held territory. Vernie and 900 of his comrades did not make the trip home but they made history. Vernie and his comrades were recognized with awards and commendations the like of which had not been bestowed on any other regiment in American army history. For the record, PFC Vernie James is entitled to:

  • The Purple Heart
  • The Philippines Defense Medal
  • The Philippines Liberation Medal
  • The Prisoner of War Medal
  • The Bataan Medal
  • The World War II Victory Medal
  • The Asia-Pacific Campaign Medal
  • The American Defense Medal
  • The Presidential Unit Citation with three clusters
  • The Philippine Presidential Unit Citation

Vernie and his comrades were never immortalized in prose or in a slogan. But they have also never been forgotten by their families or their government. These Sons of the West showed the world what it means to bring Anglos, Indians and Hispanics together in a common cause. These amigos lived, fought and died together and showed their army and their enemy that men of the West are something special indeed.


New Mexico Special MacArthur Service Medal (Bataan Medal)


In December 1945 in a speech in Deming, New Mexico General Jonathan Wainwright paid tribute to the men of the regiment when he said:

"On December 8, 1941, when the Japanese unexpectedly attacked the Philippine Islands, the first point bombed was Ft. Stotsenberg. The 200th Coast Artillery, assigned to defend the Fort, was the first unit under The General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, to go into action defending our flag in the Pacific. First to fire, and last to lay down their arms! A fitting epitaph for a valiant Brigade which fought standing firmly in its appointed place and facing toward the enemy."

AMERICAN BATTLE MONUMENTS COMMISSION

Vernie L. James
Private First Class, U.S. Army, 38012675, 200th Coast Artillery Regiment
Entered Service from: New Mexico
Died: October 24, 1944, Missing in Action or Buried at Sea
Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery Manila, Philippines
Awards: Purple Heart



TOPICS: VetsCoR
KEYWORDS: 200coastartillery; bataan; clarkfield; deathmarch; freeperfoxhole; japan; philippines; usarmy; veterans; warriorwednesday
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To: SAMWolf

This explains a great deal, and why people move away from me all the time.


Back(and front) in the morning.


121 posted on 05/26/2004 10:22:20 PM PDT by Valin (Hating people is like burning down your house to kill a rat)
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To: snippy_about_it

I'm convinced Sam cannot be out ranted by anyone!

You should see me at tax time. It's not a pretty sight.


122 posted on 05/26/2004 10:24:19 PM PDT by Valin (Hating people is like burning down your house to kill a rat)
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To: SAMWolf; snippy_about_it; Light Speed; Aeronaut; E.G.C.; The Mayor; Professional Engineer; ...

These soldiers in the 200th Coast Artillery line up for chow while in training at Camp Luna near Las Vegas, N.M., in 1940. The following year, this unit was sent to the Philippines, where it took part in the unsuccessful defense of Bataan and Corregidor. Some of the men were killed in action, while many more died in the horrific Bataan Death March and ensuing captivity. Only a handful of the original dispatch survived the inhumane wartime atrocities committed by the Japanese military. (Photographer unknown, New Mexico Magazine Archival Collection)

Here's to true heroes in the face of genuine atrocities.

Now is the summer of the fifth column when Democrats, terrorists and media unite on the wrong side of Armageddon.

URL of photo above

200th Coast Artillery veterans gathered in May 1948 after the funeral of fellow survivor, John Barberia, in Carlsbad, New Mexico. From left to right, front row: George "Tony" King, William Parchman, Paul Womack, Calvin Buckner, Laddie Miller; second row: Roy Castleberry, Joe S. Smith, Bob Malone, Adolph Hernandez, Bill Williamson, Loyal "Bill" Brunt; third row: Newton Kemp, Carl Foster, Robert Dunlap, Bob Mitchell, Floyd Johnson, Chester Philpott, Dick Malone, John Conner, Jack Rupe, Marvin Bailey, Donald Dansby, Virgil McCollum; top row: Mike Pulice, James Oden Jr., Charlie James, Frank Forni, Wayne Nieman, Leon Beasley and Jack Pruette.

Photo by Ray Davis whose sons, Dwayne and Eugene, perished on the Hell Ship Arisan Maru.

Bataan-Corregidor Memorial Foundation of New Mexico, Inc.

URL of above photo

Mr. Luis G. Espinosa, 81, a resident of Albuquerque, passed away on September 25, 1998. Mr. Espinosa is survived by his beloved wife of 47 years, Victoriana (Vicky) Espinosa; two daughters, Bertha Benavidez and Linda Sanchez and husband, Alfred; one son, Eusebio (Sam) Espinosa; three sisters, Lupe Mendez, Marcella Abeyta, and Estella Wheat; four grandchildren, Jeremy, Elliott, Jared and Kimberly; one great-grandson, Eliott; special caretakers, Ernie, Jesus, Nancy and Rachel; many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Mr. Espinosa was a member of the Catholic Church, Veteran of the U.S. Army, serving during WWII, a life member of the D.A.V. Chapter #3, member of the National Organization of P.O.W.'s and M.I.A.'s, the Bataan Veterans Organization. Mr. Espinosa survived being a P.O.W. for three and a half years under Japanese capture and walked the Bataan Death March. The family will be receiving friends after 2:30 p.m., Sunday afternoon in the Gabaldon Memorial Chapel, 1000 Old Coors Dr. SW, with a Rosary to be recited at 3:00 p.m. Final visitation will be Monday morning in The Our Lady of the most Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 5415 Fortuna NW, from 8:30 a.m. until 9:00 a.m., with a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 9:00 a.m., Father Gene Greis, Celebrant. Committal service is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on Monday in the Santa Fe National Cemetery with full Military Honors. Pallbearers will be Jeremy Sanchez, Jared Sanchez, Johnny Gutierrez, David Griego, Jerry Moya and Gilbert Thomas. Honorary pallbearers will be Freddie Thomas and Joseph Villegas. Gabaldon Mortuary in charge of arrangements.

Bataan-Corregidor Memorial Foundation of New Mexico, Inc.

200th Coast Artillery, 515th Coast Artillery, Veteran, Survivor

The authors Henry Mark Holzer and Erika Holzer had the signing of this book at the VFW in Santa Fe. It was my pleasure to help in prepublication assembling emails for ten thousand veterans and attend.

"Aid and Comfort": Jane Fonda in North Vietnam

We can use the spirit of the two hon-erd and the Duke to defeat the abscess of evil.

Celuloidischpankenduken

I haven't lost my temper in forty years, but pilgrim you could've gotten somebody killed today and somebody oughta belt you in the mouth, but I won't. I won't. The hell I won't!

And he was talking about this guy:


123 posted on 05/26/2004 11:34:31 PM PDT by PhilDragoo (Hitlery: das Butch von Buchenvald)
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To: Valin
You should see me at tax time.

Some of by best rants come at tax time and next year ought to be a beaut!

124 posted on 05/27/2004 12:07:43 AM PDT by SAMWolf (Home is where you hang your @.)
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To: PhilDragoo
Mornming Phil Dragoo

Celuloidischpankenduken

LOL! We're gonna have to start a Foxhole DIctionary.

McClintock, IMHO one of the Duke's Best.

ROTFLMAO on the BowelMove.Org.! That picture goes perfect with it!!

Snippy and I caught a clip of a Bataan Death March survivior interview. The guy was in tears and said he'd commit suicide before he would endure anything like that again.

125 posted on 05/27/2004 12:13:11 AM PDT by SAMWolf (Home is where you hang your @.)
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To: PhilDragoo

Thanks for the stories and links.

gore looks like he's about to explode. Yuck.


126 posted on 05/27/2004 12:13:13 AM PDT by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
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To: Johnny Gage

Read your link to the General Scott interview. Scott is about ten standard deviations more wild than the "average" fighter pilot. Must be the exception to the rule "there are old pilots, and there are bold pilots, but there are no old, bold pilots"!


127 posted on 05/27/2004 2:26:23 AM PDT by Iris7 (If "Iris7" upsets or intrigues you, see my Freeper home page for a nice explanatory essay.)
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To: PhilDragoo

BTTT!!!!!!!


128 posted on 05/27/2004 3:05:32 AM PDT by E.G.C.
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To: PhilDragoo

My cousin was a German POW. He was a sack of skin when he was liberated by Patton's troops. He didn't talk much about his ordeal. He was grateful to one guard who sneeked extra food to him, and he felt fortunate compared to the Japanese POWs. I wonder what he would have to save about this prison scandal.


129 posted on 05/27/2004 5:11:07 AM PDT by Samwise (The day may come when the courage of men fails...but it is not this day. This day we fight!)
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To: PhilDragoo
LOL! Great post, Phil, linking McClintock! to taking Algore out to the woodshed!

Bataan Death March and the Hell Ships were war crimes. And the lefties think taking pictures of naked terrorists is the same thing. Disgusting.

130 posted on 05/27/2004 9:43:05 AM PDT by colorado tanker
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