Last Ditch Stand in Luzon

 

Last ditch stand in Luzon. On a rugged, mountainous peninsula and a heavily fortified island American and Filipino troops made their final stand against Japanese invaders of Luzon. Map shows the Bataan Peninsula-Borregidor-Manila area where the U.S. and Japanese forces clashed. Republic of the Philippines Luzon Island, 1943. Mar. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2017697157/

6th Infantry Division

  

Right (Blue) beaches

 6th Infantry ("Red Star") Division

Major General Edwin D. Patrick

1st Infantry Regiment

20th Infantry Regiment

63rd Infantry Regiment

1st, 51st, 53rd Field Artillery Bttns. (105mm)

80th Field Artillery Bttn. (155mm)

From Wikipedia:

World War II[edit]

6th Infantry Division (1942–1945)

The regiment was stationed at Camp Jackson, South Carolina, where it was relieved 16 October 1939 from assignment to the 2nd Division and assigned to the 6th Division. The 6th Division arrived at Fort Jackson on 1939-11-09, and the 1st IR traveled with the division from that point forward. The 1st IR moved to Fort Benning, Georgia on 1940-04-09 to prepare for a series of maneuvers. The 1st IR participated in the Sabine, Louisiana – Texas Maneuver on 1940-05-09. They then moved to Fort Francis E. Warren, Wyoming on 1940-06-03, and then to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas on 1941-04-02, followed by Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri on 1941-05-20. They then moved to Tennessee to participate in maneuvers there. This was followed by a training cycle at the Desert Training Center, while billeted at the Camp Young billeting area from 1942-12-10. The regiment then staged at Camp San Luis Obispo, California on 1943-03-23.

The regiment departed from the San Francisco, California Port of Embarkation on 1943-09-19, and arrived in Hawaii on 1943-09-26.

The 1st IR departed Hawaii on 1944-01-26, and arrived at Milne Bay, New Guinea on 1944-02-07 to participate in the New Guinea Campaign.

1st IR departed Milne Bay on 1944-06-01, and arrived at Toem on 1944-06-14.

1st IR assaulted Sansapor on 1944-07-30, and left New Guinea on 1944-12-26 with the end of the New Guinea Campaign taking place on 1944-12-31.

The 1st IR won a Presidential Unit Citation for its action at Milne Bay.

1st IR assaulted Lingayen Gulf on the Philippine Island of Luzon on 1945-01-09 to participate in the Luzon Campaign.

1st IR moved to Sixth Army Reserve status from 1945-02-10 to 1945-02-23, when they returned to the Luzon Campaign.

1st IR attached to 38th Infantry Division from 1945-04-28 to 1945-05-01, and then was attached to the XI Corps from 1945-06-10 to 1945-06-25, when they returned to 6th Infantry Division Control.

The Luzon Campaign concluded on 1945-07-04.

1st IR was located at Bagabag, Philippine Islands on 1945-08-14. They then moved to Korea on 1945-10-24, which they Occupied through 1949, with garrisons in Taegu and Pusan.

Date Unknown

Pvt. Alwin G. Frazier 37748558
Causal Co. #2   platoon 1
APO15635 ℅ postmaster
San Francisco, California


(4)

Dearest Doris & Johnnie,
Someplace in the Pacific. I haven’t written you very many since I left the States, but I have tried to write every time I could think of something to write about without writing the same thing twice.
I enjoyed myself quite well yesterday. I went to a island, had two bottles of Beer, ice cream and a bottle of pop. Also played soom ball. At dinner time we had sandwitches and apples.
I seen soom coca nut trees and of course I had to eat one, They are pretty good. It is a hell of a job crake them open. [llegible] a pretty nice place where a person can go swimming of course it is alone [along] the Beach.
So all in all it was sorta interesting to see for the first time.
The natives are quite a sight. I know where the red headed negroes came from now.
How is Johnnie getting alone [along] with the other kids now? If you get a chance to buy him something to play with, might as well buy it for him.
Say if you can find a pretty good cigarette lighter
I would sure like to have one. That is if you can send it.
Tell all the guys hell [hello?] for me and I will write to tell them all before long.
Will close for tonight
Lots & lots of Love
Shorty

1945 May 1

Pvt Alwin G. Frazier 37748558
51st General Hospital
Dpt. of pat’s APO 565
℅ P.N. San Francisco, Calif.

Mrs Alwin Frazier
Decatur, Nebraska

New Guiena
May 1, 1945

Dearest Doris & Johnnie
Well I finally got paid. (Yesterday). So this morning I went up and bought some air mail stamps. So maybe you will get my letters a little sooner. Say the news in Europe sounds pretty good this morning maybe the good news isn’t far off.
The Dr. hasn’t come in yet this morning so I’m just waiting for him then I’ll go and get in a card game. (Just for fun) Help to pass away the time.
Honey don’t write me any more at this address In face don’t write me until you hear from me again. I will write you as soon as I get another address.
It sure has been raining here the last two days, but the sun is coming out now and is hot as ever.
There was a stage show here last night, it was pretty good. After the stage show also had a movie that was really good a treat to have both in one night.
I suppose everyone is busy there now, Getting ready to strat [sic] farming. Well honey there isn’t much more to stay.[sic] So will sign off.

All my love
Shorty

1945 May 26

Pvt Alwin Frazier 37748558
Letterman Gen Hosp.
United States Army
San Francisco, Calif.


Mrs. Alwin Frazier
Decatur, Nebraska

[Letterhead: United States Army]

Letterman Gen. Hosp. May 26, 1945

Dearest Doris & Johnnie
I’m not leaving here today my orders were changed and I’m not leaving until Monday the 26th. The ward master told me last night he was going to do everything he could to get us a short pass. I sure hope so, then I could get my clothes pressed and maybe I could get a beer. I called Hap[?] Warren last night he wanted me to come out to his house, I may go if I have time.
I just got through making my bed, put on clean sheets etc. I guess there is a General coming through this morning and they want it to look good. It is still the same old G.I. Army. Irene said in her letter that a lot of the boys around Decatur are being drafted (4.F) as are they the 18 yr olds.
I went to a show this morning and just got back. There is a show every morning at 9 o’clock and it is free. It takes me about all day to write a letter, I write a while then quit and do something.
I’m getting a few cig. ahead now so I may not run out for a while.
How is Johnnie oy? I suppose he is on the run as must [sic] as ever. Sure will be glad to see you & Johnnie.
There was a few more guys just came in this morning. They were as glad to be here as I was.
Well honey there isn’t much more to write about so will sign off.
I’m waiting for you.

Lots & Lots of Love
Shorty.

1945 April 19

[Stationary has “American Red Cross” in red letters below the organization’s ensignia]

Somewhere in
New Guiena
April 19, 1945

Dearest wife & Son,
Will try and write my love ones a few lines this afternoon. Hope you both are O.K. I guess, they took an X ray of my shoulder yesterday I don’t know if they found anything wrong or not. All I know is that my shoulder is pretty sore.
Since I have been in the hospital I have been hearing the news most everyday, things in Europe sounds good. Manila don’t look so good since the Japs left. And the Japs are no push over.
I suppose Johnnie is having a big time now since Spring is here and the weather is warming up. I suppose you are going to strat [sic] Johnnie to school this fall .Sure don’t seem like he should be big enough to go to school.
If I don’t get some mail before long, I don’t know how I am going to manage to write every day or so. There sure isn’t anything here to write about.
I think there is a movie here tonight that will help pass the evening. I like the news reel as well as I do the show.
Well honey take care of yourself & Johnnie boy and I will do the same.
I am suppose to get paid before long and then I can buy some air mail stamps. I know these free letters don’t go very fast.
When I won that money playing dice, I just about sent it home, But I thought I would keep it a while, once night I went to bed the next morning all my money was gone, who ever took it was sure big hearted he left me 16 peso of Japanese money which isn’t worth a cent. Also took my leather shaving kit.
I have a few air mail stamps but they are somewhere Luzon. That won’t do me much good now.
Well honey it is almost chow time so had better get back to my ward.
before they come after me.

Lots & Lots of Love
Shorty

1945 April 11

Decatur Nebraska Wed. Morning April 11

My Dearest Husband:

Rec’d your V mail today saying you were wounded & in the hospital. That was the first word I had heard from you in over a month. I thought the gov. sent telegrams when you are wounded but guess they don’t.
I can not express my feeling for you honey as words wont come to me. It give me quite a set back to think you had to be hurt. Glad you got one Jap any way. At least you will feel that he got worse than you. I will just pray for your recovery & thank God that it wasn’t worse.
This is the first letter I have gotten with your new Address on it. You did not date this letter but imagine it was written the first of the month. So evidently you were wounded the first of April.
I can’t locate the 6th division in the paper but will keep looking & probably find it before long. Were you hunting Jap snipers when wounded, or can’t you say? Oh there are so many things I would like to ask but you probably couldn’t answer them.
Sure wish you could come home now but suppose they will fix you up as soon as possible & back to the front lines you’ll go.
Want to get this out on the mail. Keep your chin up honey & remember I love you dearly.

Your Loving Wife & Son
Doris & Johnnie

[Written along right-hand border of back of letter]: Don’t worry about writing Vmail, they are very welcome.