World War II Veteran Recalls Importance Of Tacloban, Philippines Where Typhoon Hit
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Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
World War II veteran Joe Harris was listening to the news on television recently when breaking news caught his attention. Newscasters were talking about Typhoon Haiyan hitting the Philippines at Tacloban early this month. The instant Harris heard the word “Tacloban” his thoughts went back to 1945, when he was serving in the Navy at Tacloban from July 4, 1945, to Feb. 17, 1946. He was working at a chart depot correcting and adding navigation items on charts of the waters in the Philippines. Harris noticed the newsman pronounced Tacloban as “Tac-lo-band.” The correct way is “Tacloban.” He also thought that most people wouldn't know the important part that Tacloban played in World War II. The following are two examples. The start of America’s role in World War II was Dec. 7, 1941. It was tough going in the first year. The Japanese invaded the island of Luzon Dec. 10, 1941. In early March surrender was certain. President Roosevelt ordered General MacArthur to leave. On March 11, 1942, MacArthur left Corregidor with his family and staff aboard a PT boat, which evaded Japanese patrols and reached the distant Philippine island of Mindanao, where they boarded a B-17 for Australia. MacArthur promised the Filipinos that he would return. On the morning of Oct. 20, 1944, MacArthur's troops came ashore on Leyte, a few miles south of Tacloban. Later MacArthur waded the water onto the beach. U.S. Army Signal Corps set up a radio microphone on the beach to broadcast MacArthur's words to the Filippinos: “I have returned... rally to me as the lines of battle toll forward to bring you within the zone of operation rise and strike,” according to the book “Eyewitnesses To World War II.” The U.S.S. Indianapolis is the second example of the importance of World War II. Captain Charles McVay, skipper of the cruiser Indianapolis, was given special assignment from President Harry Truman. The Indianapolis was to carry to Tinian the vital parts of a secret weapon that could swiftly end the war. The weapon was contained in a large wooden crate about 15 feet long and 4 feet in width and height, and two small canisters about three feet high and two feet in diameter. On July 16, 1945, at 8 a.m. the Indianapolis cast off and glided through the Golden Gate toward a new dawn. The vessel would sail full speed until it reached Tinian on July 26, 1945. The ship was greeted by a swarm of small boats carrying generals, admirals and other high-ranking officers. The next day they cast off to go to Tacloban, Leyte. They were in no hurry, traveling at a lower speed, and would arrive at Tacloban at 11 a.m. July 31, 1945. That was the plan, but a Japanese submarine, I-58, had other plans. On July 29, near midnight, the sub fired three torpedoes. The explosions were so intense that the Indianapolis was over on its side in 15 minutes and sank before the “abandon ship” orders were issued. Some rafts were dropped and most sailors had their life jackets on. No distress signal was sent and the crew – 800 people who got off the ship, including Captain McVay – was 400 miles from Tacloban. Lieutenant Stuart Gibson, the port director's operations officer in Tacloban, came into his office in late afternoon July 31, 1945, and noticed the Indianapolis was not in his log. Gibson was not concerned. Many ships were 8 to 12 hours late. He never reported it and thought their orders regarding the Indianapolis were changed. The time of arrival for the U.S.S. Indianapolis to be at the port of Tacloban was: 11 a.m. July 29, 1945. At that exact time the crew from the Indianapolis was 400 miles from Tacloban and had been in the water for 35 hours. It would be another 75 hours (Aug. 3, 1945) before they were rescued. Only 316 of the 800 who abandoned the ship survived. This was the worst sea disaster in American Naval history, according to the book “Fatal Voyage The Sinking Of the U.S.S. Indanapolis.” On Aug. 6, 1945, the atom bomb that U.S.S. Indianapolis delivered hit Hiroshima. On Aug. 9, 1945, the second atom bomb dropped on Nagasaki. On Aug. 15, 1945, World War II ended and there was peace.
