Memories by Marion Chesney B/130

25 April 1945 - The assault was begun on Hill 24A, also known as Dominican Hill, as a Catholic convent was there. My 1st platoon led the attack supported by D Company's heavy machine guns.

Just as we started we were hit by our supporting fire. "Mouldy" Cline's M-1 was shot from under his arm and Pfc. Carl Plum was hit in the lower back. I yelled into the Walkie-Talkie to cease the supporting fire and to send the medics.

At the base of the hill was a large boulder about 7x8x8 feet above the ground. As I dove for cover behind it a shell from a Jap anti-tank cannon hit the other side. Since it was late in the day, we were ordered to withdraw and wait for artillery support in the morning.

At daybreak, four artillery battalions of 105s and 155s began firing on our objective. Emotions were high as there was no one between us and the enemy. When we reached the top of the hill and the convent building, we found it vacant. The Japs had retreated during the night. At this time there were only 58 fighting men in Company B and my first platoon was largest with 19.

Captain Brown, Company Commander, said, "Good job, Chesney. While not recommending you for a commision, I will make you first sergeant."

While the 33rd Division became known as the "liberators of Baguio," elements of the 37th Division beat us downtown!

In action north of Baguio, we moved along a trail close to a precipice and branched off to a ridge with sparse trees.

The 1st Platoon leader, Lt. O'Donnell, was again in command. We by-passed a 75mm Japanese cannon at the entrance to a cave. Having no satchel charges to destroy it we reluctantly continued on by.

A Jap officer was in a foxhole only a few yards ahead. Forgetting that I had both silent and "pop" type hand grenades, I pulled the pin on one which didn't pop, looking at it I suddenly realized it was the silent type and threw it toward the Jap foxhole and yelled as I hit the dirt. It exploded about six feet in the air and about 75 feet in front of me.

One piece of shrapnel hit our BAR man in the chest. It was not a serious wound and it allowed him enough additional points to go home a short time later. He thanked me but I was thankful we both were not killed or seriously wounded.

Lt. O'Donnell shot and killed the Jap officer with his 30 cal. carbine and I picked up his sword.

Meanwhile, the Japs began firing their 75-mm cannon, dividing our company into two parts. S/Sgt. Edward Rajnecht had his legs severed at the knees and later died. And a recent replacement, said to have five dependents, was killed and buried by the soil and rocks dislodged by the enemy's cannon rounds. His body was not recovered. Captain Brown called up an M-7 half-track that knocked out the Jap cannon and crew.

At one time we were in a temporary rest area and were given a ration of fresh oranges. They were sour and full of seeds.

Since we were starved for vitamin C, they were the best tasting oranges I had ever eaten.

Our last combat mission in the Philippines was north of Baguio. The 1st Platoon, now reinforced, was assigned a mopping up mission on a mountainous ridge, with scattered large trees.

Jap soldiers were sniping at us from behind these trees, evidently seeking to delay our movement. Pfc. Ray Schwenke was wounded in the chest very close to his heart. We pulled back and set up a defensive perimeter and a doctor came up to give him emergency treatment. It was decided that moving him would be too dangerous so the doctor stayed the night with him.

John Welch stated that Dick Robinson also was wounded, which I don't recall. Both men did recover from their wounds. I do recall, however, that rain began falling heavily and we had ponchos over our foxholes and slit trenches.

The Japs kept harassing us with knee mortars and our artillery returned fire. B Company sustained 22 men KIA or died of wounds, although Walter Liska, listed 25. One man died of acute hepatitis. Many were wounded. Some twice. Howard Holt was wounded three times. I became Company B acting first sergeant 2 July 1945, with 1st Sgt. Ray Watkins around for awhile to help me before he was transferred to another company. My rank was made permanent 30 August.

With combat action on Luzon behind us we received many replacements from the ETO. These men of various services had to be trained as infantry. One replacement I remember well was a 2nd. Lt. from the Army Air Corps. Because of his attitude we clashed from the start. On one occasion he was Officer of The Day for guard duty and I had selected the guard roster. He said, "Sergeant, I want every man to wear the Combat Infantry Badge!"

I replied, "Sir, several men on the guard roster are not entitled to wear the C.I.B." When I relayed this to the C.O., 1st Lt. Campobello, he countermanded the lieutenant's order.

We were in the midst of amphibious training for the invasion of the Japanese mainland when news of the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima, 6 August, and Nagasaki, 8 August reached us.

This raised hopes that the war would soon be over, but we were skeptical of the Japanese overtures. Then, on 14 August, when Japan accepted the terms of surrender we were overjoyed!

The official surrender on VJ Day September 2nd made it possible to be "home alive in 45!"

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