Fourth Marines on Corregidor

Final Days in Defense of the Philippines

Oct 22, 2008 Lee Bergee

On May 6, 1942, the final curtain fell on the defenders of "The Rock." The Fourth Marines had battled the Japanese until overwhelmed.

Arriving in the Philippines

Led by their commanding officer, Colonel Samuel L. Howard, the Fourth

Marine Regiment left Shanghai, China, where they had been stationed for fifteen years. Aboard the President Madison and the President Harrison, the Marines landed in the Philippines at the Olangapo Navy Yard, Bataan. On November 30 and December 1 they disembarked on what was to become their final days as a regiment.

War Came to the Philippines

On December 7, 1941 the Japanese initiated a sneak attack on Pearl Harbor and neighboring military installations in Hawaii. It was December 8 in the Philippines and the warning was given by Lieutenant Colonel William T. Clement, Duty Officer at Fleet Headquarters. In the following days, the Japanese bombed Clark Field, Nichols Field and Cavite Navy Yard. After the Japanese landed troops in northern Luzon the Marines set up a defensive circle around Olongapo.

Marines Move to Corregidor

As the Japanese Army drove south toward Manila, General MacArthur ordered the Marines to Corregidor for beach defense. Admiral Thomas C. Hart, Commander Asiatic Fleet, told MacArthur that the Fourth Marines was the strongest infantry regiment in the Philippines.

The First and Second Battalions plus Marines from the First Separate Battalion at Cavite, were transferred to “The Rock.” A few Marines were left on Bataan to man anti-aircraft weapons around Cabcaben and Mariveles. A few days later, these Marines were called upon to fight off a surprise landing on the west coast of Bataan. With a mixture of Marines, sailors and Air Corps personnel this “provisional infantry unit” battled the intruders to a standstill. Finally, with the assistance of some 57th Philippine Scouts, the Japanese “invasion” was destroyed.

Beach Defense on “The Rock”

The Marines built trenches, dugouts, foxholes, tank traps and strung barbed wire. When they ran out of sandbags, they used empty artillery powder cans filled with sand. In the First Battalion area there were 350 men defending 3500-4000 yards of beach. After the Japanese began shelling Corregidor, much of the beach defenses were ripped apart.

By the end of March, the Japanese had pounded Corregidor unmercifully. They used 400 guns ranging in size 75mm to 240mm. Japanese planes bombed and strafed daily. Nine enemy squadrons flew missions against Corregidor. After Bataan fell on April 9, the shelling became heavier. When Bataan fell, Corregidor became a large bullseye! The

heavy shelling went on for three weeks. It intensified on May 4, when they threw 16,000 shells during a 24-hour period. The Marines’ sandbagged positions had been battered so heavily they were hardly recognizable.

On the night of May 5th, the Japanese artillery suddenly ceased and the terrible roar was replaced by the chattering of machine guns. The enemy had landed on Corregidor!

The Final Hours

The Marines stopped the Japanese for awhile, but slowly had to give ground. There was hand-to-hand combat and many heroic acts of bravery happened that night. One of the key positions was called Denver Hill. On top of Denver Hill was a water tower and this position was heroically held for awhile by courageous Marines.

By daylight, the Japanese had brought in three tanks. General Jonathan Wainwright, commanding general of all forces, did not want those tanks to get into Malinta Tunnel and wreck total havoc on the wounded. He made arrangements with the enemy that his men would surrender at noon.

This ended the defense of the Philippines, but three long years of brutal captivity was in the future for these brave and exhausted Americans

Sources:

Guest of the Emperor: The Personal Story of Ex-POW Frank O. Promnitz,USMC by Lee Bergee, Four Freedoms Press (1987

History of United States Marine Corps Operations in World War II, vol 1 Pearl Harbor to Guadalcanal(1958)

The Fourth Marines on Corregidor ,Marine Corps Gazette Nov-46 –Feb 47

Corregidor: The Saga of a Fortress, Harper & Row (1967) James H. and William M. Belote(1967)

The copyright of the article Fourth Marines on Corregidor in Military History is owned by Lee Bergee. Permission to republish Fourth Marines on Corregidor in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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Feb 5, 2009 8:50 AM

Guest :

My father was captured on Corregidor along with the rest of the Regiment. He would eventually end up in Tokyo 01B Kawasaki camp in Japan. He was with Delta Company, not sure of the Battalion. I joined the Marine Corps in 1967, did my training at MCRD San Diego & Camp Pendleton. I arrived in Vietnam in April of 68 and was assigned to A Co. 1st Battalion 4th Marines. Because my dad never really spoke of his time in the POW camps I never realized that we were in the same outfit. I'm sure it was as good a unit when he was in it as it was when I was in it. Each year members from A Co. meet for a reunion. Last year we had about 40 Vets in attendance, we hope for more and more each year. A great bunch of Marines! I will forever be proud to have served with this glorious unit.

Semper Fi

Rodger (Clem) Clemons

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