Summer 2002

Preserving the history, heritage,andlegacy of the Philippine Scouts for

present and future generations

Death March Horrors to the Fore

Philippine Scouts Heritage Society

What’s Inside?Summer 2002 Issue

President Aquino’s Farewell..................2

Message From Our New President........2

Victory In Defeat...................................3

About Our New President......................6

Meet Our New 2nd Vice President........7

Annual Reunion Attracts 116................8

Chapter Reports.....................................9

Lt. Gen. Thomas Trapnell Dies...........10

Willibald C. Bianchi: Heroe.................11

Bataan & The Philippine Scouts..........12

The Philippine Scouts Heritage Society’s Legal AdvisorCol. Mel Rosen was featured in a Washington Postarticle describing WWII atrocities committed by theJapanese and the continuing efforts by the victims toreceive an apology. The text of the article is at left.

See Editor’s Comments: Page 3

Mel Rosen’s introduction to being aprisoner of war came in the first hoursafter he and his troops surrendered tothe Japanese in the Philippines inspring 1942.

As they sat in a big field ringed byJapanese machine guns on the Bataanpeninsula, a GI tried to use the latrine.A Japanese soldier thrust his bayonetthrough the American’s chest, andwhen the blade did not come out

cleanly, the Japanesesoldier used his foot topush the dying GI intothe latrine.

“Another Japanesesoldier nearby wasleaning on his riflelaughing, like it was ajoke,” said Rosen, avibrant 83-year-oldretired Army colonelliving in Falls Church,who 60 years later cannottell the story withoutchoking up. “You don’tknow what frustration istill you have to watchsomething like that andcan’t do anything aboutit.”

With the 60th anniver-sary of the Bataan DeathMarch being observed

Bataan Survivors Sue, Push forRecognition of Suffering 60 Years

By Steve VogelWashington Post Staff WriterSunday, May 26, 2002; Page A1

See Death March: Page 4

Editor’s CommentsThanks to the hard work and

dedication of the Golden Gate BayArea Chapter members and spouses,our 18th Philippine Scouts HeritageSociety reunion commemorating the60th anniversaries of the fall of Bataan

and Corregidor was a resoundingsuccess. About 116 of our membersand friends paid tribute to the braveresistance of the Scouts and enjoyedthe good fellowship of the event.

Philippine Scouts Heritage Society Summer 2002

Page 2

Jose “Joe” AquinoNational President(650) 873-5272

National President Aquino’s Farewell

Photo: David Rosen

Once again, we were privileged tobe given an opportunity to enjoy andrejoice during the 18th annual reunionof the renowned Philippine ScoutsHeritage Society, accented by the 60thanniversary of the fall of Bataan (4/9/42) and Corregidor (5/6/42).

Those who fought in the battlefieldsof Bataan and Corregidor left anageless heritage. Had they had thechance to look back, theirs would havebeen the greatest satisfaction to seetheir efforts had not been in vain. Letit be the duty of every freedom lovingmembers to uphold and preserve thedignity of our heritage.

The18th annual reunion marks thetermination of one of the manyactivities I have devoted time to. Asone steps down from a coveted office,such as the presidency of the Philip-pine Scouts Heritage Society, he findsit the greatest privilege to look back tothe recorded history of his perfor-mance.

This privilege he can do with hishonest thinking, his term of servicehas been spent worthily in the realiza-

tion of goals, in the furtherance ofamicable relationships and in therendering of unfaltering loyalty anduntainted dedication to service despitethe many obstacles that were so oftenstrewn in the way. Discharging theduties and responsibilities of the officeof the National President has beenchallenging and rewarding.

To my fellow members, I have thisto say: For all my shortcomings, Igratefully appreciate your toleranceand understanding. For your faithfulcooperation and unrelenting moralsupport during the six years of myadministration, my heartfelt thanks. Ican only say that I am a better man forhaving served you. Thank you forletting me.

May the Philippine Scouts HeritageSociety keep its banner waving highand may the spirit of our reunions bekept alive in our hearts and reflected inour thoughts.

To the incoming National President,I gracefully extend my warm con-gratulations. May Our Lord bless usall. God bless America!

A Message from Our New National PresidentDear Members and Friends,It is now official. At the general

membership meeting on May 11,2002, at the Villa Hotel, San Mateo,the following National Officers wereelected and installed by Maj. Gen.Walter Titus, SNG (Ret).

President: Larry L. Pangan2nd Vice President: Menandro

ParazoSecretary: Joe S. AquinoTreasurer: Nora G. WarrenAssistant Treasurer: Nita GuiangOn a personal note, I would like to

take this opportunity to thank JoeAquino for the years of hard work hehas put in as President of the Philip-pine Scouts Heritage Society (PSHS).

I am also pleased to note that he willcontinue to serve the organization asSecretary and as a member of theBoard of Directors.

On behalf of the Society, I wouldalso like to thank retiring officersLavinia Aquino (Secretary), FeliseoCabaddu (Treasurer) and G.M. Torres(Assistant Treasurer). Their effortshave been invaluable in assuring thatthe PSHS ran smoothly.

During the Board of Directorsmeeting on May 10, we agreed that weshould focus our membership recruit-ing on the second and third generationScout blood relatives and friends. Asyour new President, I am appealing to

See Pangan: Page 5Photo: David Rosen

Philippine Scouts Heritage Society Summer 2002

Page 3

Mike HoulahanPublic Relations Officer

Victory In DefeatComments by Col. Mel Rosen at 18th Annual Reunion

The gathering also marked thepassing of the leadership baton fromJoe Aquino to Larry Pangan. Joe, whohas been our active and capable leadersince 1996, will continue to serve thePhilippine Scout Heritage Society asSecretary and as a member of theBoard of Directors. Thank you, Joe,for your able leadership, which will belong and favorably remembered!

We also are fortunate to have asable and dedicated a Scout as LarryPangan as our new National President.Menandro Parazo, President of theGeneral John J. Pershing Chapter in ElPaso, has graciously agreed to beacting Second Vice President for theremainder of Larry’s term. Congratu-lations and best wishes to you both!

By the time you receive this news-letter, our PSHS website will be upand running at http://philippine-scouts.org. My daughter, ChristaHoulahan, who works in the websitedesign field, has engineered a veryprofessional looking site which shouldbe an asset to the PSHS membershipand to anyone wanting additionalinformation on the Philippine Scouts.

Editor’s Comments: from front page

In the coming months, the website willbe expanded and various links will beprovided to other sites relevant to theScouts and their history. If you haveany suggestions or comments, pleaseemail her at webmaster@philippine-scouts.org.

I also would like to begin listingspeaking engagements of memberstalking about the Philippine Scouts.One of the missions of the PSHS isperpetuating the memory of the Scoutsand their exploits, so such eventsdeserve to be recognized and recorded.Please pass speech information on tome for inclusion in future newsletters.I am already aware that Sen. JohnPatterson, Capt. Menandro Parazo,Col. John Olson and Col. Mel Rosenare all very active speakers on behalfof the Scouts. I’m sure there areothers.

Also I am interested in knowingabout events which take place to honorthe Scouts specifically or the defenseof Bataan and Corregidor in general.For example, in early June, Col. Olsonpresented to the Fort Sam HoustonMuseum two Philippine Scout draw-

ings purchased by the PSHS fromnoted Filipino artist Daniel Dizon. Asdetailed in the El Paso Chapter report,Capt. Parazo also took part in a seriesof ceremonies and speeches in Texasand New Mexico.

I’m pleased that we are able toinclude in this issue an inspirationalshort speech by Col. Mel Rosen; anexcellent article by Washington Poststaff writer Steve Vogel on the effortsof U.S. POWs to obtain an apologyand compensation from the Japanese;and an interesting piece by Sen. JohnPatterson detailing additional informa-tion on Scout Medal of Honor winnerCapt. Willibald Bianchi.

I look forward to receiving materialfrom many of you for our next news-letter edition.

I get rather disturbed by constantlyhearing that the fall of Bataan andCorregidor was such a great disasterfor the United States. Let me tell youmy approach to this. If you agree withme, I request—no, I implore you tohelp me spread this word!

In 1941, the Japanese ImperialHeadquarters gave Lt. Gen. MasaharuHomma 50 days in which to com-pletely conquer the Philippines. At theend of that time, they were going totake half of Homma’s 14th Army withappropriate parts of his air and navalsupport for operations in the South

presumably against New Zealand andAustralia. At that time, New Zealandhad few if any defensive forces, andAustralia had only about 6,000 troops,as their forces were all fighting inNorth Africa. The Japanese wouldhave gone through New Zealand andAustralia like a hot knife throughbutter. Then what was going to stopthe Japanese from taking Hawaii? TheU.S. was still reeling from the disasterat Pearl Harbor. Instead of 50 days,the Fil-American forces on Bataan andCorregidor held out for 150 daysthereby completely upsetting the

Japanese timetable for victory in thePacific. The Fil-American forces,fighting with no air support and withno hope of ever getting any replace-ments, held out until their ammunition,their weapons, medicine, food, and,yes, people just plain gave out. Butwe gave the United States what itneeded most at that time and that wastime!

I submit that even in defeat, the Fil-American forces on Bataan andCorregidor may have given the UnitedStates one of its more importantvictories of WWII.

Philippine Scouts Heritage Society Summer 2002

Page 4

Death March: from front page

this spring, new attention is being paidto one of the most horrific episodes ofWorld War II.

On Sunday, Rosen will be amongthe dwindling number of Bataansurvivors who will be honored as partof the National Memorial Day Con-cert. The event will be broadcast liveacross the country from the WestLawn of the U.S. Capitol, starting at 8p.m.

Meanwhile, there is a growingmovement among Bataan veterans toforce Japan to apologize and compen-sate them, with lawsuits being pursuedin U.S. and Japanese courts.

Legislation that would allowsurvivors to sue Japanese corporationsthat allegedly enslaved AmericanPOWs during World War II wasintroduced last year in the House andSenate. A House resolution with morethan 225 co-sponsors will be pushed incoming weeks.

While the Bataan Death March hasentered the lexicon – often in refer-ences that trivialize its inhumanity –the full extent of the horrors thatensued for survivors is little under-stood.

“I think its time people learned whathappened over there,” said PaulRutter, 81, an Oxon Hill man whosurvived the march and more thanthree years of captivity. “That part ofhistory has been lost.”

Marching for days in terrible heat,beaten and deprived of food and water,an estimated 7,000 to 10,000 of the78,000 Americans and Filipinos whosurrendered to the Japanese diedduring the march.

Over the next three years, those whosurvived were kept in horribly debili-tating conditions and exposed totropical diseases, transported in “hellships” to camps in Japan and else-where, and forced into slave labor.

Of the 12,000 Americans takenprisoner at Bataan, only 4,000 were

alive by the end of the war, accordingto authorities on the subject.

Rosen is the lead plaintiff in a $1trillion class-action lawsuit againstJapan filed in September in federalcourt in Chicago. “Everything theJapanese did to us was deliberate,inhuman, brutal, calculated andracist,” he said.

Rounded UpHours after the raid on Pearl Harbor

on Dec. 7, 1941, U.S. forces in thePhilippines also were attacked byJapanese bombers and fighters, andlater that month, by a large invasionforce of the Imperial Japanese Army.

The U.S. troops and their Filipinoallies fighting on the Bataan peninsulaacross the bay from Manila held outagainst heavy odds for 150 days, untiltheir ammunition, medical suppliesand food gave out. After their surren-der April 9, the prisoners wererounded up and marched north fordays, up to 55 miles in the heatwithout water.

“If anybody dropped or couldn’tmake it, we were not allowed to help.The Japanese clubbed them to death,bayoneted them, shot them or be-headed them,” said Rosen, a 1940West Point graduate who was alieutenant with the Philippine Scouts.“There were hundreds of Americanbodies and thousands of Filipinobodies left along the route of the deathmarch.”

At a railhead, they were loaded intohot, crowded box cars. “If you died inthere, you couldn’t fall to the flooreven,” said Rutter, a B-17 radiooperator who had been based at ClarkField.

At their eventual destination, CampO’Donnell, 54,000 prisoners werecrammed into facilities built for afraction as many people. Malaria anddysentery killed thousands more.

In November 1942, Rosen was sentto a penal colony on the island of

Mindanao, and he spent the next twoyears working in rice fields. “I plantedrice, weeded rice, harvested rice,milled rice. Got damn little of it toeat,” he said.

Aboard ‘Hell Ships’Two years later, he and 1,600 other

Americans were loaded onto a shipbound for Japan, where they were tobe used as slave labor in factories.Rosen was put in a 30-by-50-foot holdwith about 680 prisoners.

People had diarrhea and dysentery,and the hold soon filled with humanwaste. The next morning, the ship wasattacked by U.S. dive bombers, whosepilots did not know that Americanswere aboard.

Another attack by U.S. planes camethe next day, and as the ship began tosink, prisoners emerged from the hold.“Those of us still alive decided gettingour heads blown off by machine gunfire was preferable to going down in asinking, burning ship,” Rosen said.

The 1,300 American survivors whoswam ashore were loaded onto asecond ship. They reached a harbor inFormosa, now Taiwan, in January1945 when U.S. bombers struck again.“The Japanese kept us down therewith our dead and dying for four days,and on the fifth day, lowered a net andsaid, ‘Pile all your dead in here,’ “Rosen said.

Aboard a third ship, prisoners frozeas they sailed in the North China Seawith little protection from the Januarycold. “We were throwing Americanbodies overboard at the rate of 30,then 40, then 50 a day all the way toJapan,” Rosen said.

By various estimates, 200 to 300 ofthe 1,600 prisoners loaded on the firstship made it to Japan. “The deathmarch was a Sunday stroll comparedto the three hell ships,” Rosen said.

Rutter, who had been shipped toJapan earlier, spent two years working

See Death March: Page 5

Philippine Scouts Heritage Society Summer 2002

Page 5

the Golden Gate Bay Area Chapterwhich sent in their payment. The onlyother source is our annual reunion.

We also approved donating thecentennial magazine to city and schoollibraries. This is one way of lettingyoung students know about the historyof the Philippine Scouts. I am askingChapter Presidents to canvas yourrespective communities and find out ifthe libraries are willing to take themagazines. As soon as I hear fromyou, I will mail the box containing 50magazines. If you need more, just letme know and I will ship them to you.

For your information and guidance,I am sending you a copy of the “By-Laws” of the PSHS. All I ask is foryou to review it and let us all abide byits rules.

God willing, we will all be togethernext year. We have anticipated thatnext year our 19th annual reunion willbe held in the Villa Hotel again, unlessanother Chapter is willing to host it.

My best regards to all of you andyour families,

Death March: from Page 4

in a steel mill south of Osaka. Otherswere sent to coal mines. “We weremoney machines for them,” Ruttersaid.

One day in August 1945, Rutter andhis fellow prisoners found that theirJapanese guards were gone. TheAmericans asked some Koreanprisoners what had happened. “Theysaid the war was over. Something hadhappened at Hiroshima.”

When Rosen arrived in Japan and

was put on a scale, his weight haddropped from a normal 155 pounds to88 pounds.

“A lot of people say you must reallyhate the Japanese,” Rosen said. Hedoes not, he is quick to say. The homehe shares with his wife, Olive, in-cludes Japanese artifacts picked up ontravels during a 30-year Army career.

The lawsuit he has filed is beingpursued for symbolic, not monetary,reasons, Rosen said. “The Japanese are

waiting for us to die off,” he said.When a U.S. Navy submarine

accidentally sank a Japanese trawleroff Hawaii last year, the U.S. promptlyapologized, a proper gesture, Rosensaid.

“I have been waiting 60 years for anapology from Japan.”

© 2002 The Washington PostReprinted with permission

you all, to do your very best to accom-plish this recruiting drive.

I know most of us are havingproblems with our health. In my case,I am trying to ignore the many achesand pains. I do my walking exercisewhenever I can during the day. Scoutsjust don’t suddenly abandon their post,even under fire. We have proven thistime and again.

What I am asking from all of youmy fellow Scouts and good friends, isby next year’s reunion time, eachChapter will be able to muster the oldand new members to attend and enjoythe good times. Forget the pains andenjoy life while we can.

As you are all aware, FilipinoAssociations are in every corner of thecountry. Filipinos (especially themiddle age parents) like to go out andsocialize on Saturday nights. Maybethis is the time for every Chapter tothink about fund raising. Call theevent “Philippine Scouts CentennialDinner and Dance.” This is one wayof attracting younger new membersand letting the Filipino Community inyour area that we exist. Believe me,every Filipino event I have attended isalways well attended, especially ifthey have a good band or DJ playing.

If you agree with this idea, you canorganize your Chapter Fund Raising

Committees. I recommend holding itduring October, since this is the monththat we celebrated the centennial. Theonly condition I ask of you, if you aregoing to hold this dinner-dance, is forthe Chapter to donate 10% of your netproceeds to the National ‘Treasury.Right now, the National cash assets aregoing down very fast. There is norevenue coming in as far as Chapterdues apportionment to National except

Pangan: from Page 2

Larry PanganNational President

National President Larry Panganencourages Regional Chapters of thePhilippine Scouts Heritage Society tohost dinner/dances to raise funds forthe organization. Photo: David Rosen

Philippine Scouts Heritage Society Summer 2002

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Bataan Survivor Heads Philippine Scouts GroupThis article, from the June 5-11

edition of the Philippine News, isrepublished with permission.

If Larry L. Pangan survived thedeath march, he can wing anything.

The Fairfield, California war herowas recently elected national presidentat the 18th annual reunion and generalmembership meeting of the PhilippineScouts Heritage Society held at theVilla Hotel here. He is the third tooccupy the post since the inception ofthe society in 1989. The first presi-dent is retired Brigadier General RoyalReynolds, Jr. of Arlington, Virginia;followed by Jose “Joe” S. Aquino ofSouth San Francisco, California, from1996 to 2001.

Pangan was born in Arayat,Pampanga, and moved to Manila in1938 after graduating from highschool. He was attending the Philip-pine Harvardian Business Collegewhen he was drafted in the PhilippineScouts at Fort William McKinley inMarch 1941 and assigned for trainingto the 57th Infantry Regiment. Hewas taken as prisoner of war whenBataan surrendered on April 9, 1942.A survivor of the infamous “deathmarch,” he was incarcerated in Camp0' Donnell in Capas. Four months inthe camp, he was afflicted with

malaria, dysentery, beriberi,and malnutrition. From ahealthy 135 pounds when heentered the army, he crashedto 70. The Japanese guardsusually go out with a truckonce a week taking at leastfour or five prisoners withthem who can still walk andhelp them gather live stocks,like pigs, and chickens, andvegetables from the villagefarmers. They never pay forthe food they take. Panganwas on one of the detailsone day in September 1942,when he managed to escapewith another prisoner by running intothe nearby sugarcane field while thetwo guards were busy fooling aroundwith some young village women.

He returned to his hometown wherehe received medical attention. Withinthree months, he was able to regainsome weight and strength. He thenjoined Col. W. Fertig’s guerrilla unit asan intelligence officer operating incentral Luzon, reporting to his friendand fellow scout Captain Jose Floresfrom Zamboanga. For his service inWorld War II, he was awarded theBronze Star Medal, Combat InfantryBadge, American Defense Medal,

American and Asiatic PacificCampaign Medals, Philip-pine Liberation Medal andthe Victory Medal. His unitreceived three PresidentialUnit Citations during thebattles against a superiorenemy in Bataan. Panganreceived his second BronzeStar Medal during hisservice in Korea in 1951 to1952. When he retired fromthe U.S. Army in 1961, hewas awarded the ArmyCommendation Medal forhis excellent service as a

senior enlisted adviser to the USARSchool at the Presidio of San Fran-cisco. He is very active in the variousveterans’ organizations. Even at 82,Larry Pangan has not slowed down.He was past President of the Retireesand Veterans Association in San

Francisco; past commander of theAmerican Ex- POW LuzvimindaChapter in San Francisco; and cur-rently post commander of AmericanLegion Manuel L. Quezon Post 603 inVallejo, California.

From 1958-60, Pangan was a member of the SixthU.S. Army Shooting Team

Pangan was presented with the ArmyCommendation Medal at his retirementfrom the U.S. Army March 31, 1961.

In August 1952, while serving in Korea, Panganreceived the Bronze Star Medal for service as S-1Engr. Sec. Hq. X Corps.

Philippine Scouts Heritage Society Summer 2002

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Meet Our New Second Vice PresidentCaptain Menandro B. Parazo, our

new Second Vice President, joined theU.S. Army in February 1941 and wasassigned to the 26th Cavalry Regiment(PS) stationed at Fort Stotsenburg,Philippines, the only mounted U.S.horse cavalry in WWII.

He was taken prisoner by theJapanese Imperial Army two days afterBataan surrendered on 9 April 1942and was forced to join the DeathMarch. Parazo escaped from theJapanese and joined the guerrillaresistance movement.

In March 1943 he was recapturedand was brutally tortured at theJapanese Military Intelligence Unit inManila. He later escaped from theJapanese again and rejoined hisguerrilla unit. During the liberation ofthe Philippines, he rejoined the U.S.Army and participated at the Battle ofManila in 1945. After the liberation,he was sent to Japan with the U.S.occupation forces. He retired fromthe U.S. Army in 1971 with the rankof Captain.

His decorations include the Prisonerof War Medal, two Bronze Stars, theAmerican Defense Service Medal, theAsiatic- Pacific Service Medal, thePhilippine Defense Service Medal, thePhilippine Guerilla Resistance Medal,the Combat Infantry Badge, threePresidential Unit Citations, the JapanOccupation Medal, the Korean ServiceMedal, and the United Nations ServiceMedal.

He is an active member of the U.S.Cavalry Association, American Ex-POW Association, Disabled AmericanVeterans Association, the retiredOfficers Association, Veterans ofForeign Wars, American Legion,Military Order of the World Wars,Philippine Scouts, the Bataan Veterans

Organization, and the AmericanDefenders of Bataan and Corregidor.

He is also a member of the Philip-pine-American National HistoricalSociety and the Philippine-AmericanNational Leaders Advisory Council.

Menandro Parazo has been marriedto Teofila Santos for 55 years. Theyhave four children, 10 grandchildrenand 6 great grandchildren. Sinceretirement, he and his wife haveresided in El Paso, Texas.

A Message From Our Second Vice PresidentThe Philippine Scouts Heritage

Society annual reunions, conventionsand recent centennial historic celebra-tion are reminders of the variousunforgettable acts of heroism in thedefense of the Philippines. Of particu-lar importance are the defense ofBataan and Corregidor, the DeathMarch, the concentration camps, theatrocities, and the resistance move-ment during the brutal Japaneseoccupation. They are occasions tocherish the freedom that a great

generation of those who served haspassed on. Such deeds and sacrificescannot be repaid or forgotten.

Many historians and writers haveloaded history with stories of courage,valor, leadership and bravery. Yet acomparative few have written aboutthe role of the Philippine Scouts inWWII. And their service didn’t endwith the Japanese surrender. At theconclusion of the war, the Scouts weresent to many Pacific bases as occupa-tion forces to relieve the soldiers due

to go home. We who are still alive cando more to preserve the memoirs,history, dignity and legacy of thePhilippine Scouts. Their historyserves as inspiration to the young whohave the desire to be a part of some-thing meaningful that endures forever.They stand as shining examples,serving our country as Soldiers ofValor.

Menandro ParazoCaptain, U.S. Army (Ret.)

Menandro and Teofila ParazoPhoto: David Rosen

Philippine Scouts Heritage Society Summer 2002

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Philippine Scouts’ Annual Reunion Attracts 116Posting of the colors by the

Diosdado Franco Post 714 color guardled by Commander Al Caballes and aprayer by Chaplain Carroll Maylaunched the business meeting portionof the 18th annual reunion of thePhilippine Scouts at the Villa Hotel inSan Mateo.

Speeches by retiring NationalPresident Joe Aquino and Golden GateChapter President David Tejadawelcomed the members.

The nomination and election ofnational officers followed, with thefollowing results:

Larry L. Pangan, National PresidentMenandro Parazo, Second Vice

President (for the remainder of Larry’sterm)

Colonel John Olson, HistorianJoe Aquino, SecretaryNora G. Warren, TreasurerNita Guiang, Assistant TreasurerFollowing committee reports, it was

decided to authorize expenditures to

establish a Philip-pine Scouts HeritageSociety website[http://www.philippine-scouts.org] and todonate reproductionsof two PhilippineScout drawings byFilipino artist DanielDizon to the FortSam HoustonMuseum, the officialrepository forPhilippine Scoutmemorabilia. Alsothe constitution was amended to placepast presidents of the Society on theBoard of Directors. Finally, the VillaHotel was selected as the site of nextyear’s reunion.

At the end of the business meeting acandlelight memorial service wasconducted by Chaplain May; Col.John Olson delivered a eulogy forGeneral Trapnell; and a roll call ofdeceased Scouts was read.

The reunion dinner dance thatevening attracted 116 members,relatives and friends. Perhaps thehighlight of the reunion was a short,impassioned statement by Col. MelRosen on the military significance ofthe Philippine Scout’s heroic defenseof Bataan and Corregidor (see page 3).Other speakersincluded FirstLt. Joe Aquino,NationalPresident;MSgt. LarryPangan,NationalPresident-elect; Col.John Olson,Historian;Senator JohnPatterson, First

Vice President; and Major GeneralWalter Titus, U.S. Army Reserves(Ret.), the evening’s keynote speaker.Delfin Pahed, General Chairman forthe reunion, was Master of Ceremo-nies.

In his keynote address, GeneralTitus delivered a brief, broad strokesummary of World War II, followed bya critical commentary on militaryreadiness, stressing how poorly fundedhe feels U.S. military reserves havetraditionally been and how dangerousthis is to our national interests.

The evening also included anentertaining performance by theskilled Filipino-American dance group“Yaman ng Cultura,” as well as dancemusic by Joe Simoni and his orchestra.

Outgoing President Joe Aquino (right)presents a plaque to General Titus.

Gen. Titus performs the induction ceremony for the national officers.

Joe Aquino digs deep to pull a winning ticket during theever-popular raffle. Photos: David Rosen

Philippine Scouts Heritage Society Summer 2002

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Golden Gate Bay Area Chapter ReportFirst and foremost, we are delighted

to be hosting the 19th Annual Reunionon May 9-10, 2003. Under theleadership of Past National President(PNP) Joe S. Aquino, there will acomplete rejuvenation of our schedule.The planning committee will stage araffle fund raiser—six tickets for$5.00 or $1.00 a ticket. This isintended to generate revenue to coverexpenditures. Another possibility is topublish a souvenir program. Ourexperience shows this is a good sourceof income. Letters will be mailedbefore the reunion to all members andfriends announcing advertising rates.

All this is under the leadership ofNational President Larry Pangan, whowas elected as the general chairman ofReunion 2003. We know that hisleadership will be productive andsuccessful. He will get completesupport from the officers and membersof Golden Gate Bay Area Chapter.PNP Joe S. Aquino will support him asadvisor and coordinator. As the otherchapters do not seem to be interestedin hosting our reunions, the GGBAC

has hosted the event for six of the lastseven years. The exception was 1999,when the Monterey County chapter inSalinas hosted it with great success.

The GGBAC meets once a monthwith several activities planned. Theannual picnic is September 21. Chiefchef David Tejada and his assistantsare ready to barbecue chicken, beefand hot dogs. Coffee and soft drinkswill be provided. Just for a $2.00donation, you will enjoy the hospital-ity and camaraderie. November 16 isa consolidated Thanksgiving potluckand bingo. Ten huge turkeys will begiven away. We invite the attention ofbingo enthusiasts to attend. Win aturkey for your family Thanksgiving!

December 21 is a joint ventureChristmas Party (GGBAC, SF Post #1& Auxiliary, 8th District and Auxil-iary). Children under 10 will be givengifts. Adults will exchange giftsvalued at no more than $5.00 and apotluck meal will be served. Allattendees are requested to donate foodof their choice. Caroling and livemusic are additional attractions.

Post Everlasting: Lt. OscarHernandez, a great Filipino-Americanhero of World War II and the KoreanWar, died in his sleep recently. The80-year old veteran was a survivor ofthe infamous Bataan Death March. Ajoint memorial service honoring himwas held by the Philippine ScoutsHeritage Society and the AmericanEx-Prisoners of War on June 10. Heis survived by his lovely wife,Cristina, four daughters, many rela-tives and friends. Please rememberhim in your prayers. May his soul restin peace. Send cards to 517 LindenAvenue, San Bruno, CA 94066.

Open Heart Surgery: A letter wasrecently received from Mrs.Luningning Guevara, informing usthat her husband, Dominador A.Guevara, had been hospitalized withquadruple coronary by-pass surgery atLutheran General Hospital justoutside Chicago. He is home nowrecovering. Send cards to 7533Wilson Terrace, Morton Grove, IL60053-1174. Mr. Guevara is a life

Gen. John J. Pershing Chapter ActivitiesMay 2001 - May 2002

May 2001: Chapter membersattended the Memorial Day celebra-tion at the Ft. Bliss National Cem-etery. Chapter President MenandoParazo was invited as the guestspeaker at the Ft. Bliss annual celebra-tion of Asian Pacific Americans’contributions to the nation. Theme ofthe event was “Emerging Together.”Maj. Gen. Green, Commandant of Ft.Bliss, presented Capt. Parazo a plaqueand Certificate of Appreciation.

June: Capt. and Mrs. Parazoattended the Bataan Veterans Organi-zation Convention in New Mexico.

July: Members attended an Inde-

pendence Day celebration at Ft. Bliss.September: Members attended the

National POW/MIA Recognition Dayceremony at Ft. Bliss.

November: Chapter PresidentParazo was one of the eight honoredguests representing American Veteransof four wars at the Air DefenseArtillery Association Veterans DayGala 2001 held at Fort Bliss in anevening celebrating heroes andhistory. Major General Green, CO ofFort Bliss, presented a plaque and aCertificate of Recognition to Capt.Parazo. Members joined the VeteransDay Parade in downtown El Paso.

April 2002: Members participatedon the anniversary of the fall of Bataanat the National Cemetery in conjunc-tion with the national Ex-POWRecognition Day ceremony.

On April 9, Chapter PresidentParazo and members attended theunveiling and dedication ceremoniesof the Bataan Memorial Monument atLas Cruces, New Mexico. Followingthe ceremonies, a ribbon cutting tookplace dedicating the Bataan MemorialHighway. Philippine AmbassadorAlbert Del Rosario was guest speakerat both ceremonies.

See Pershing: page 10

Philippine Scouts Heritage Society Summer 2002

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Pershing: from Page 9Members also participated on the

annual Bataan Memorial Death Marchactivities at White Sands ArmyMissile Range, New Mexico on 14April 02, commemorating the 60thAnniversary of the fall of Bataan.There were about 4,200 from sixcountries registered for the march of26.2 miles. A roll call listing names of

deceased Philippine Scouts was read.May: Members attended the

Memorial Day ceremony in Ft. Bliss.Menando Parazo attended the

American Defenders of Bataan andCorregidor Convention in San Anto-nio, Texas. The Commander, duringhis speech at the banquet, asked thePhilippine Scouts to stand and said, “If

it were not for the brave PhilippineScouts we will not be here tonight.”There was a big standing ovation.

During the past year, ChapterPresident Parazo spoke about thePhilippine Scouts and guerrilla resis-tance to the Japanese during WWIIbefore students at Del Valle, Zavala,Bel Air and Socorro High Schools.

Lt. General Thomas “Trap” Trapnell Dies at 99It is with deep regret that we

received word of the passing of Lt.General Thomas John Hall Trapnell,one of our oldest Philippine Scoutveterans. “Trap” survived the BataanDeath March, served as an Americanadviser to the French in the finalstages of their war in Vietnam andretired in 1962 as commander of the3rd U.S. Army. He died of heartfailure on February 13 in his home atFort Belvoir, Virginia.

General Trapnell’s decorationsincluded the Army’s DistinguishedService Cross, the second highestaward for valor. Then a Major, he wasawarded the DSR in January, 1942, foractions taken in defending a bridgewhile commanding a 26th Cavalry unitas it fought a valiant rear-guard actionallowing Fil-Am forces to withdraw tothe Bataan peninsula.

After enduring three years ofhorrific conditions in a Japanese POWcamp, in December 1944, he wasamong 1,600 American prisonersbeing transported on the Japanese HellShip Oryoko Maru when Americandive-bombers sank the vessel, notknowing it was transporting POWs.His next ship, the Enoura Maru, alsowas sunk by U.S. planes. The ap-proximately 300 survivors of the twosinkings, finally were transported toJapan aboard the Brasil Maru. InAugust, 1945, Trap was liberated inManchuria by Russian troops.

The athletic six-footer, an All-American back on the West Pointfootball team, weighed less than 100pounds when rescued.

Promoted to general in 1951, hebecame commander of the 187thAirborne Regimental Combat Team.The next year, he helped subdue arebellion of more than 80,000 NorthKorean and Chinese POWs on Korea’sKoje-do Island. Communist leadershad fomented the insurrection, threat-ening truce negotiations and leading tothe death of more than 40 prisoners.

From 1952 to 1954, GeneralTrapnell was chief of the U.S. Militarymission to Vietnam, where he pre-dicted that the French would notovercome the Communists. He leftDien Bien Phu just before the Viet-namese victory over the French. Sentagain to Vietnam, this time by Presi-dent Kennedy in 1961, Trap advisedagainst U.S. military involvement.

Trap’s commands included the 82ndAirborne Division, the I Corps inKorea and the Strategic Army Corps, ahighly mobile force commonly calledSTRAC, and the 3rd U.S. Army. Hesettled in the Washington area follow-ing retirement. Besides the Distin-guished Service Cross, Trapnell was arecipient of the Distinguished ServiceMedal, two awards of the Silver Star,three awards of the Legion of Merit,the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.

Trap was a native of Yonkers, N.Y.,

and a 1927 graduate of the U.S.Military Academy at West Point,where he was an All-American infootball and lacrosse. Upon gradua-tion, he was commissioned in thecavalry and was assigned to thePhilippines in 1939. On the Bataanpeninsula, mounted one of the lasthorse cavalry charges in Army history.

Trap was an advisory board memberof the Florida-based Center forInternee Rights. He was married tohis first wife, Alys Snow Trapnell,from 1929 until her death in 1953. Hemarried his second wife, ElizabethJones Trapnell, in 1956 and she died in2001. General Trapnell is survived bya sister, Eleanor Trapnell Dosh ofCatonsville, Maryland.

Philippine Scouts Heritage Society Summer 2002

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Philippine Scout Heroes of World War II:Willibald C. Bianchi

by John A. Patterson, First Vice-President

In an earlier Society newsletter(Fall, 2000 issue), I wrote a shortarticle about the outstanding exploitsof the Philippine Scouts during theearly days of World War II. Thearticle noted specifically the threeScouts who were awarded the Medalof Honor —Jose Calugas, Sr.; myuncle, Alexander R. Nininger, Jr.; andWillibald C. Bianchi.At the time I wrote about these threeheroes, the society did not know verymuch about Willibald Bianchi otherthan that which was contained in hisofficial Medal of Honor citation.Fortunately, as a result of the article, Iwas given a lead by Major ThomasWhite of the U. S. Air Force, withrespect to Bianchi’s relatives in hishometown of New Ulm, Minnesota.After numerous phone calls, I was ableto reach Bianchi’s sister, Mag Marti.She talked at length about her brotherand was kind enough to send alongvarious materials that give a fullerpicture of this extraordinary indi-vidual. We are now in close contactwith all three families of these men.Thanks to Ms. Marti, I also contactedher daughter, Sue Marti, who is veryinterested in preserving the history ofthe Scouts and is, of course, veryproud of her late uncle. Sue, hersisters and husband, are members ofour society. She spoke movinglyabout her uncle at the PhilippineScouts centennial event on October 6,2001, at the Presidio in San Francisco.Willibald (Bill) Bianchi was born onMarch 12, 1915, in New Ulm. He wasraised on a farm near the town. Whenhis father died during Bianchi’ssophomore year in high school, Billtook over the farm. At the age of 21,he enrolled at South Dakota State

Universitywhere hemajored inanimal science,played footballand was activein the ArmyROTC. Upongraduation in1940, Bianchiwas commis-sioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He requested duty overseasand was assigned to the Philippines in1941.Bianchi’s exploits on February 3,1942, while serving with the 45thInfantry Regiment (Philippine Scouts),led to the award of the Medal ofHonor. In what became known as theBattle of the Pockets, Bianchi distin-guished himself above and beyond thecall of duty by voluntarily leading partof a rifle platoon against two fortifiedJapanese machine gun nests. He waswounded early on when two bulletspassed through his left hand. Hewouldn’t stop for first aid, but, instead,discarded his rifle and began firing apistol with his good hand. He locatedone machine gun and silenced it withgrenades. After being wounded asecond time by two bullets through thechest, Bianchi climbed on an Ameri-can tank, manned its antiaircraft gun,and fired into the strongly held Japa-nese positions until he was knockedoff the tank by a grenade blast thatwounded him yet a third time. As aresult of Bianchi’s action, the Japanesepositions were then eliminated by theScouts with minimal effort.

Bianchi was captured by the Japa-nese with some 75,000 other Filipino-American soldiers when Bataan fell onApri1 9, 1942. He and thousands ofothers then endured the infamous 65-

mile Death March. Somehow, despitebrutal treatment by the Japanese,hunger, thirst and the tropical heat, hesurvived to be imprisoned at CampO’Donnell. Bianchi was moved in theensuing months from O’Donnellwhere conditions were horrendous tothe prison camp at Cabanatuan wherethe situation was hardly better.Bianchi was well known for hishonesty and integrity and for helpinghis comrades, who, like himself weresuffering from the effects of Japanesesavagery, poor diet, and slave-likeworking conditions. There was littlefood, clothing, medical supplies orsanitary facilities. Thousands died,but there would have been even more,were it not for the likes of caringindividuals like Willibald Bianchi.

On October 16, 1944, Bianchi wastransferred to the notorious Bilibidprison in Manila where the livingconditions continued to deteriorate.On December 12, 1944, Bianchi wasplaced on one of what became knownas the Japanese Hell Ships. Theseunmarked vessels, against all interna-tional conventions, transported alliedprisoners of war under inhumaneconditions to several Japanese slavelabor camps in Japan, Formosa,Manchuria and Korea. Tragically, inone of the saddest ironies of the war, itwas on one of these unmarked shipsthat Bianchi lost his life at the handsof an American dive bomber. He was29. To preserve Willibald Bianchi’smemory, South Dakota State Univer-sity in 1998 and again in 2000 com-missioned memorials in his name.

After the war, Carrie Bianchi(Willibald’s mother} wrote, “As amother, I am proud to be able to giveto this generation and to our belovedAmerica the most precious gift thatlife makes possible, my only son.”

Philippine Scouts Heritage Society Summer 2002

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Bataan: Victory in Defeatby Larry L. Pangan, MSgt. USA (Ret.)

Sixty years ago on April 9, 1942,elements of the U.S. Armed Forces inthe Far East fighting on the BataanPeninsula, surrendered to the enemy.It was the largest known mass surren-der of any contingent in U.S. ArmedForces history.

But on the comforting side, let uslook back in history prior to that darkday of Apri1 9. What the defenders ofBataan accomplished between Decem-ber 8, 1941 and April 8, 1942 willremain as a major victory even in theface of humiliating defeat. During themany battles of this period, the recordsshow that we inflicted heavy causali-ties on the enemy. We disrupted theJapanese Imperial High Commandtimetable for taking control of theentire Pacific Rim, including thePhilippines, by the end of January1942. To save face, the Japaneseordered their advancing troops back tothe Philippines to reinforce theiralready large numbers. Not only didthey have superior arms; they also hadcomplete control of air and sea. Wewere dug in and were getting weakerevery day, being on short food rationsand a limited supply of ammunitionand medical supplies.

After General Douglas MacArthurslipped out of his headquarters in theMalinta Tunnel on Corregidor with thePhilippine Commonwealth PresidentManuel L. Quezon and his family ontheir way to Australia, we were givenorders to hold our positions at all cost.From that moment in late February1942, we became expendable. Wewere the sacrificial lambs left behindat the mercy of the enemy. But beforethe enemy succeeded, we had killedthousands upon thousands of them.That earned us the name “The BattlingBastards of Bataan.” In retaliation fortheir losses, during the “death march”and in the concentration camps, theytortured us. When reminded, they said

they did not believe in the provisionsof the Geneva Convention. Ourbeleaguered forces were comprised ofthe Philippine Commonwealth Army(with little training and experience),U.S. Air Force and Navy personnel(who were given rifles and pistols tofight as infantry), and U.S. Army 31stInfantry Regiment, the 4th MarineBattalion, and a National Guard TankBattalion from New Mexico. Themain driving force in containing theenemy during the four plus months offighting was the elite U.S. RegularArmy Philippine Scout units. Asrecorded in military history, theseScout units fighting on Bataan,distinguished themselves in battle afterbattle, inflicting heavy casualties onthe enemy. As a result of theseengagements, three Philippine Scoutswon the Medal of Honor, America’shighest award for valor in combat.They are:

Sgt. Jose Calugas, Sr. of the 88thField Artillery (PS), who was awardedhis for actions taken on Jan. 6, 1942.Sgt. Calugas ran 1,000 yards to directa battery gun, which a volunteer squadfired effectively against the enemy,although his position remained underconstant and heavy Japanese artilleryfire. Calugas survived the deathmarch and concentration camp. Hecontinued his military service andretired with the rank of Captain in theU.S. Army. He settled in Tacoma,Washington with his family, andpassed away in 1999.

On January 12, 1942, 2nd Lt.Alexander R. Nininger, Jr. of the 57thInfantry Regiment (PS), inflictedheavy casualties on the enemy. Al-though wounded three times, hecontinued his single attack deep inenemy terrain until he was killed.When his body was found afterrecapture of the position, one enemyofficer and two enemy soldiers laydead around him. He was awarded the

Medal of Honor posthumously.The third recipient of the Medal of

Honor is 1st Lt. Willibald C. Bianchiof the 45th Infantry Regiment, (PS)during the action on February 3, 1942,and “for conspicuous gallantry andintrepidity above and beyond the callof duty” in action with the enemy.

The records also show that each ofthe Philippine Scout Units earnedthree Presidential Unit Citations.Typical of the valor of the Scouts isthe record of the 57th Infantry (PS),whose members were awarded 21Distinguished Service Crosses, and 68Silver Stars during their combatservice in Bataan.

Just who are these PhilippineScouts? They are professional Fili-pino soldiers organized by authority ofthe U.S. Congress in 1901 to replacethe American soldiers who were goinghome after the U.S. defeated Spain in1898. The initial strength was 6,000who were commanded by AmericanOfficers who were mostly West Pointgraduates. Well-known officers whohave served with the Philippine Scoutsare General John J. Pershing, GeneralDwight D. Eisenhower, GeneralDouglas MacArthur, and GeneralJonathan Wainwright. By early 1941,their strength was increased to 12,000due to the growing tension betweenJapan and the United States. Littleknown outside the Philippines andlargely forgotten by the U.S. Army ofwhich they were a proud part, theScouts were soldiers par excellence,according to the statements of theGenerals who have served with them.We celebrated the Philippine ScoutsCentennial on October 6, 2001, at thePresidio of San Francisco. Today,there are just a few hundred of theoriginal Scouts left who fought onBataan and Corregidor. To preservethe history and legacy of the Scouts,we formed the “Philippine ScoutsHeritage Society” in 1989.

Philippine Scouts Heritage Society Summer 2002

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APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIPDate:

Name: Nickname:

Address: City/State/Zip Code:

Telephone No.: Date of Birth:

Spouse or Next of Kin: Check One: Spouse ( ) Son ( ) Daughter ( )

Date Enlisted: Date Disch: Branch of Service:

Unit Assigned: Social Security No:

VA Claim No: Guerrilla Recognized: Yes ( ) No ( )

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Why Would You Like to Join the Philippine Scouts Heritage Society?Check One: Friend of PS ( ) Will help support and preserve PS History ( )

Type of Dues Chapter National Life Membership Total Dues Enclosed

Annual 5.00 3.00 See Rates Below Per Member $8.00 for Annual

Donation to Special Project: Sponsored By:

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Rates for Life Membership

Under 50 50 to 59 60 to 69 70 to 79 80 and Over $75.00 $60.00 $50.00 $40.00 $30.00

Save yourself the trouble of sending in annual dues!Rates for life membership are minimal. Become a life member today!

Please return completed application to: Philippine Scouts Heritage SocietyGolden Gate Bay Area Chapter • Veterans War Memorial Building401 Van Ness, Room 126 • San Francisco, CA • 94102-4587

Meet Our National Officers and Chapter PresidentsBG (Ret.) Royal Reynolds, Jr.President Emeritus1421-23rd Road SouthArlington, VA 22202(703) 521-7325

Larry L. PanganPresident2233 Fox Glen Dr.Fairfield, CA 94533(707) 426-0134

Sen. John A. Patterson1st Vice President721 N. Quidnessett Rd.North Kingstown, RI 02852(401) 885-7776

Menandro Parazo2nd Vice President6705 Morningside Cir.El Paso, TX 79904(915) 565-7607

Jose (Joe) S. AquinoSecretary14 Clara AvenueSo. San Francisco, CA 94080(650) 873-5272

Nora G. WarrenTreasurer92 Russell DriveAntioch, CA 94509(925) 757-3267

Nita GuiangAsst. Treasurer614 Brunswick StreetSan Francisco, CA 94112(415) 239-2342

Col. (Ret.) John E. OlsonHistorian1 Towers Park Lane #510San Antonio, TX 78209(210) 821-6017

Martin CallahanAsst. HistorianFort Sam Houston MuseumFort Sam Houston, TX 78209(210) 221-0019

Col. (Ret.) Melvin H. RosenLegal Advisor3415 Arnold LaneFalls Church, VA 22042(703) 560-5557

J. Michael HoulahanPublic Relations Officer6774 Lakeside Circle WestWorthington, OH 43085(614) 847-1016

Delfin V. PahedGolden Gate-Bay Area Chapter848 Cayuga AvenueSan Francisco, CA 94112(415) 239-4248

Manuel MabungaLt. Alexander R. Nininger Ch.1466 Federal AvenueLos Angeles, CA 90025(310) 479-2578

Ricardo de VillaCapt. Jose Calugas Sr. Chapter10858-111th Ave. SWTacoma, WA 98498(208) 582-0799

Alex C. AndresLTC Loyd E. Mills Chapter1205 Bloomwood Rd.Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90732(310) 833-0779

Menandro ParazoGen. John J. Pershing Chapter6705 Morningside Cir.El Paso, TX 79904(915) 565-7607

Greg RamosMonterey County Chapter708 John StreetSalinas, CA 93905(831) 424-9084

Give us a call any-time if you havequestions or wouldlike to becomeinvolved with thePhilippine ScoutsHeritage Society!

Philippine Scouts Heritage SocietyJ. Michael Houlahan

Public Relations Officer6774 Lakeside Circle West

Worthington, OH 43085

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