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Post by johnbryan on Feb 24, 2009 18:32:57 GMT -5
I read in Morton's account of the siege of Corregidor that some officers were urging Wainwright to increase the amount of the food ration issued to the troops in late April, early May, 1942, in order to build up their strength and resistance abilities. Wainwright resisted adopting this course of action, saying that the current level food rationing would continue until alternate sources of foodstuffs could be found.
Does anyone know if he ever relented and increased the size of the ration issue just before the Japanese invaded Corregidor?
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Post by VeeVee on Feb 25, 2009 15:39:06 GMT -5
I seem to remember reading that more rations did indeed get shipped to Bataan in April, near the end. But these didn't reach the intended frontline troops. It was too late. So there were dumps of them near the beach and in Mariveles. Some troops stumbled on to them and helped themselves.
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Post by johnbryan on Feb 25, 2009 23:06:40 GMT -5
I seem to remember reading that more rations did indeed get shipped to Bataan in April, near the end. But these didn't reach the intended frontline troops. It was too late. So there were dumps of them near the beach and in Mariveles. Some troops stumbled on to them and helped themselves. Yes, then as now, the troops fighting at the front traditionally get the tail end of the logistics food chain and never enough of that. I recall the story of one Regimental Commander at the end of the siege on Bataan whose command was down to less than a 25% combat effectiveness level. He was ordered to to counterattack the Japanese spearhead then slicing south on Bataan. The Commander took quick stock of everything around him before roaring back into the telephone. "FINE! You want an attack? Then you deliver to me 3,000 C-Rations before Noon! Needless to say, neither the attack nor the food was ever delivered. |
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