World War 2 in Zambales, Philippines American Landing



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During the liberation, San Narciso was about to be shelled being suspected of the presence of Japanese soldiers in the area. Aurelio Tadena, a nephew of Francisco Ramos with Manuel Ramos, his brother and another native paddled a banca (outrigger canoe) to the American Battleship stationed near the shores of La Paz and pleaded with them not to bombard the town. He told them that the Japanese has already left and that the Guerrillas were in control of most of Zambales. He emerged as the hero of San Narciso sparing the townspeople of the unimaginable destruction. Manila that was shelled by the Americans during that war killed almost 300,000 Filipinos and most buildings were destroyed except Manila Hotel and San Agustin Church. Rumours say that the Americans intentionally spared those places because Gen. Douglas MacArthur was married in the Church and Manila Hotel was his headquarter and honeymoon suite.

It was the 11th Corps 38th Division, Indiana National Guard which landed in San Narciso, Zambales and the 34th Infantry in San Antonio in the 29th of January 1945.

At 1:30 p.m. of 29th of January, the XI Corps Headquarters landed on Blue Beach, M-7 Area. At 5:00 p.m. Col. Merrill and Col. Calyer, U.S. Army, in Assigned on TD status, charge of Guerrilla activities in Zambales and Bataan Provinces reported to Corps CP Affairs. At 6:00 p.m. Corps CP opened San Antonio. The next day, temporary cemetery site was established at San Narciso. Pvts Beck, Hagins, Sgt. Wolfe, reported in. On the 31st, the Forward Echelon, XI Corps, consisting of CG, C/S, G-1, G-2, G-3, Det. G-4, Det. AG, Arty, Engr, Guerrilla Officer, PM, Sig, Get Surg and CIC moved to new location in Castillejos. At 11:00a.m. Capts. Kadel, Crane, Pfc. McCarthy reported in.

Clandestine radio broadcasted to the Guerrillas days before that the Americans were about to land. Francisco and other soldiers went to rendezvous with them, partying the whole night. This was however the most horrible of days with his family. Francisco forgot to tell his family that the Americans were coming. The Ramos family was in a nipa hut in Alabang near Barrio Alusiis at the farm of Lazaro Cawagas. They sighted the presence of a lot of soldiers like ants from afar and the family went to hide in the dugouts thinking these were Japanese. When they were already in the vicinity, the soldiers started stabbing their bayonets into the walls and windows of the dugout to bring out enemies.

Jess Ramos, son of Francisco Ramos, only 7 years old boy but was trained to speak English by his mother understood the language the American soldiers were speaking and run out of the dugout in spite of the heavy protest of the family. He told the Americans that there were only Filipinos inside and no Japanese. The Americans came in with him laughing and joking. Everybody was relieved of their fears.

The Americans came with their amphibian trucks, weapons carrier, trucks, bulldozers, jeeps, planes and tanks. A joyful crowd shouting "Victory Joe" greeted them! "Chocolate Joe!". They gave away generously chocolate candies, cigarettes, canned goods, and so on.