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Posted on 05/26/2004 12:20:11 AM PDT by SAMWolf
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 are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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| 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.
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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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:
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." 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
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Of course, it's in their job description.
You're welcome, WaterDragon. Some of the better units in WWII came from the Guard.
Afternoon Samwise. Colic I could handle, diapers left me gagging. :-(
It's a shame to have to give up something because of the coach. Any chance of a new coach before she totally loses interest?
Afternoon CT. It's always bugged me when people play down the role of the Guard.
Hi, I've been awol the last couple days..
busy, busy, busy
not making any money, just busy....
Boy can I relate to that!
Evenin', snippy...MUD
The story I saw was about a young squad leader who jumped on a grenade to save members of his squad. Here it is. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1142619/posts
I saw that story.
I always think of "Greater Love hath no man..." when I read one of those.
LOL. I know the feeling!!
The coach is "tough, and tough is OK" per the owner.
Evening.
I'm back, and probably must light out again.
*ugh!*
G'evening.
Evening Darksheare. Seems we are all pretty busy lately.
There's "tough" and "being an Ass". That's two different things. My daughters track coach was an ass.
Evening Victoria.
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