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Post by VeeVee on Nov 21, 2006 23:37:07 GMT -5
Another good book I just acquired. Just a few pages and I'm already hooked.
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Post by VeeVee on Mar 15, 2007 6:11:09 GMT -5
I finally finished this book. Wainwright's courage and character are very inspiring.
Some interesting highlights that stuck with me:
During the early days of the war, he had one of his close calls with death. He insisted on visiting the 71st Division and the 26th Cavalry fighting a delaying action at Binalonan. There were two roads to get to Binalonan, a main road and a secondary road. Travelling in just a staff car with no escort, they chose to take the secondary road parallel to the main. While on that road they saw a column of Japanese tanks travelling down the main road going the opposite direction. They would have ran into them and would have been annihilated if they had chosen the main road to go to Binalonan.
Upon reaching Binalonan, he was surprised to see it empty. The whole 71st division was supposed to be occupying it. Wainwright and his aides went to the sound of fighting further north and discovered the 26th Cavalry holding the Japanese by itself. Wainwright was dangerously close to the fighting. Even the regimental CP was under fire. But he stayed with his beloved cavalrymen for hours during the fight. The news spread fast among the tired troopers that Wainwright was on the line with them. It greatly boosted their morale and held out for many more hours, even counter-attacking.
One time in Bataan, he visited Gen. Clinton Pierce's command post, again near the frontlines. Pierce was the commander of the 26th Cavalry and was promoted to Brigadier General for his actions and was given a new command and the task of eliminating the Japanese at the Battle of the Points. While in his CP, Wainwright and Pierce were informed that there was a Japanese sniper/straggler that came close nearby. This was too much temptation for the two old cavalrymen, they both grabbed their Garands and went up the trail looking for the straggler. Soon they were fired upon. Wainwright shot and emptied his Garand at the tree that seemed to have been the source of the firing. A Japanese fell from the tree. Gen. Pierce jokingly said he would recommend Wainwright for a Distinguished Service Cross. Apparently he actually did but it was denied by higher headquarters in Corregidor.
Interesting stuff...
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