 Insertion of MSgt. Isidoro D. Dacquel and party on Panay Island on June 10, 1944 |
Thank you so much to Dorothy-Jean D. Infantado, Dacquel's granddaughter, for providing the report.
Regimental History: An Untold Triumph America's Filipino Soldiers
M/Sgt Dacquel
Our Mission to the Philippines
By M-Sgt. Isidoro D. Dacquel
7 June 1945
Pursuant to instructions, S-2 & S-3, 1st Ron Sn SP Trs, the following REPORT OF OPERATIONS, Weather Team under M/Sgt. Isidoro D. Dacquel.
R-52744389, is hereby submitted:
We, (M/Sgt Dacquel, S/Sgt Francisca, Sgt Mintanar and Cpl Savacion), left TABRAGALBA, QUEENSLAND AUSTRALIA, on 7 June 1944 and boarded the submarine "NORWHALL" (USS Narwhal, SS-167) at DARWIN 8 June for the PHILIPPINES. We went out of our way to shell the oil refineries at CERAM arriving off Panay waters 20 June 1944. Promptly at 1800 that memorable day, we surfaced off LIPATA, a small town on the west central coast of PANAY and stared unloading our precious cargoes under cover of darkness. The Cuerrilleros showed neither planning nor organization in their efforts to unload the cargoes of the submarine, so fifty tons of her cargoes were thrown overboard. They were concerned more of looting the cargoes than of unloading. The officer in charge of the unloading was one, LT Col Cerilo Garcia Chief of PANAY.
 USS Narwhal, SS-167 |
We landed at 0400 21 June 1944. At 1000 the Japs machine gunned and straffed us and later dropped a bomb at our supply dump but missed by a hundred feet. We took to the hills immediately and stayed there under cover for three days until one Sgt Ramos, a SWPA man, sent us work that we are moving to BITADTUM, a small barrio further up the coast where one Lt Mendosa, PHILIPPINE ARMY, was maintaining "a sort of a radio station". We stayed there for a week awaiting instructions from GHQ and at the same time trying to locate our instruments which were separated from us in the mad scramble for safety. The instructions from GHQ came but was withheld from us for a week before it was revealed to us. Then they told us we were moving to SOLIDO, still further north and mid-central northern PANAY. So, from BITADTUN to SOLIDO we moved; set the station and began operations after too much bickering about how our reports should be handled. Garcia and one 1st Lt Irineo Ames insisted on running our mission to suit themselves while I remained adamant and insisted on running it according to my "Operational Instructions"; GHQ backed us up and we won.
Everything went on smoothly for a spell but soon the Japs began fishing us off the air. Then one night the Guerrilla Intelligence told us the Japs were coming of us. We escaped under cover of darkness and took the northwesterly direction on the provincial road towards BIGON, a small barrio located at the northern shore of the northwestern tip of PANAY. Here we set our Station only for a few days in danger of being captured. I split my party in two; S/Sgt Francisca and Sgt Kintanar took the overland route through winding trails across the high mountains towards PUCIO POINT; while Cpl Salvacion and I redoubled back on the provincial read to PANDAN on the west coast of PANAY thence along the shore northward to LIBERTAD. This was in mid September. We set up our Station at LIBERTAD, moving twice in the vicinity until Christmas Day, 1944 when we moved to PUCIO POINT.
In the meantime, under instructions form GHQ, S/Sgt Francisca and Sgt Kintanar were ordered to TAPAZ center of PANAY to establish Station "BAHALANA 005".
That left Cpl Salvacion and myself running "Bahala na 004" with three-in-one mission; Weather, Air & Coast Watch; while S/Sgt Francisca and Sgt Kintanar, weather observations only.
Cpl Salvacion and I operated at PUCIO POINT until 22 April, 1945, when under orders from Garcia, our Guerrilla Station Complement left us to shift for ourselves. Col Peralta, the Guerrilla Chief of PANAY, sent us a message to report to ILOILO but provided no means of getting there. So I hired a sailboat for for MINDORO and reported there for instructions. left MINDORO at 1900 24 May, 1945 and arrived at HOLLANDIA, NEW GUINEA at 1700 25 May, stopping at TACLOBAN, LEYTE overnight. At TACLOBAN, my shirt, with all my priced possession was stolen frm me between 2330 and 0100. We stayed at SIX CAMP, TROOP MOVEMENT , CASUAL DET, TENT 56.
The above is my "OPERATIONAL REPORT" in brief. Lots of details have been omitted. There are three matters I would like to take up and tell the world. First, the cooperation we got from the Guerrilla Chiefs of PANAY with regards to our mission; second, what became of the supplies sent to PANAY by sub; the third and last but not least, the people of PANAY - the civilians - their suffering and privations resulting in the maltreatment they received from the Guerrillas as well as from the enemy.
Lt Col Garcia and 1st Lt Ames gave practically no or little cooperation to our mission. Lt Irineo Ames was openly working against us in all of our endeavors. The Lt Colonel was indifferent to all our efforts. As a Commander of Troops, he displayed lack of planning and organization and delighted only in skinning his officers n their poker game parties daily. Like Lt Ames, he is untrustworthy, undependable and shifty. He systematically stripped my station of its equipment and supplies making it almost impossible to continue with operations until I got to MINDORO by sailboat to obtain medicine, food and equipment. According to MEMO I received from Col Peralta from the beginning, he is supposed to protect us, feed us and quarter us. But this man took our "K" rations and left us nothing to eat the very day we landed. He even sent a man with instructions that we give him twenty-five Pesos for which to buy food. We gave him the money ate one meal out of it, then he disappeared with the money and all. He left us shift for ourselves for everything and we practically starved from the day we landed until that very day I got supplies from MINDORO the last week of January, 1945.
All of the supplies brought by our submarines were misappropriated by the Guerrilla Chief. Clothing, food, equipment, medicine and even arms and ammunition found themselves in the hands of the people not entitled to have them. Kost of the clothing and medicines found their ways in "caches" and "Hideouts" of the principal Guerrilla Chiefs to be sold at fancy prices by agents especially favored by them. A pack of cigarettes was selling at 20 pesos; one gallon can of GI coffee, three hundred pesos; a bar of Palm Olive soap, forty-five pesos; toothbrush, twenty-five pesos each; a suit of khaki, one hundred and fifty pesos; half a "frasco" of lard, six pesos; a box of matches, five pesos; sulfanilamide; twenty-five pesos a tablet; and sausage, a Peso a link.
Of all the supplies sent to use in PANAY, we receive only a small jar of ovaltine, a packet of razor blades and a cartoon of matches. GHQ shipped our supplies and our equipment but went he sub got there, Garcia informed us that our supplies were thrown overboard at CEBU harbor when the sub went aground; and yet his house was stacked up to the ceiling with can goods. in that particular submarine that brought our supplies but did not get them, every box was opened in front Garcia. He first handed-picked what he wanted out of the box and then divided what was left in the same box between Col Peralta and himself. He hand-picked again his share of that division and then gave one-sixth of it to the troops - his troops. The submarine that picked up the Americans who were shot down form the different parts of the VISAYAS and gathered at LIBERTAD, was boarded exclusively by himself, his wife, his servants and his henchmen. Fromt he sub they got plenty of food, medicines and odd and ends and yet there was absolutely nothing for anybody else.
The civilians of PANAY suffered as much from the Guerrillas as they did from the Japs. The people had nobody to turn to for protection. The Guerrillas did more damage to private and public properties than the Japs. They burned homes, school houses, and churches promiscuously; every town in PANAY was ravaged by fire. Wanton destruction of property was the order of the day. Arms intended to be used against the enemy were used against them for commandeering food and supplies. Often time a man's only carabao used for tilling his farm was shot to feed the hungry Guerrillas. The only explanation given was that the Japs would have done the same. so he was not losing anything. Even his fish catch is partially taken from him by "percentage". School teachers are used as procurement agents for food and clothing, serving without pay despite the fact that these poor school teachers have never been paid ever since the Japs took over. The school teachers gather the clothes, Gacia distributes them to his troops and then collects from the Finance the cost of the clothes and pockets.it. Mrs Garcia used government transportation for her commercial enterprises profitably. As the wife of the Colonel, she thinks she has with her the authority of the Colonel too. She uses this assumed authority to a great advantage in all her dealings with the civilians.
The people of PANAY are suffering terribly from lack of food, medicines and clothing as the result of the exploitations by the Japs and the Guerrillas. The Japs gathered the crops and burned what they could not carry; they took their clothes and everything of value. The Gerrilleros on the other hand, come after and gleaned what was left.
In my sector, the people, in order to relieve their miserable conditions, go the MINDORO to trade their chickens, pigs, fruits, egges and souvenirs for the necessities of life; but when they get back, the Guerrilleros, waiting for them at the beaches, confiscate or cammandeer whatever they bring, back. Here again the carvine is very handy. The people of PANAY are absolutely helpless against these abuses so long as these Guerrilleros have arms in their possession. The people say, "You can't win or argue with a fellow who has his gun stuch on your ribs". The Guerrilla Chiefs' idea of service to their country is "War Lording". They have at their bidding their own army and bodyguards always at their sides and disposal.
Garcia is directly responsible for the murder of two Americans at MALAY, PANAY, 9 April, 1943. Their only crime was that these two men knew too much of his shady activities. I have talked to people who knew these men- people who fed them, clothed them people who even tried their best to hide them from both the Japs and the LT Colonel. The People praised and admired them for their galantry - for their sympathy and pity for their unjust fate. These people loved them like their own.
Like these two soldiers, McKie and Oakley, I have committed the same offense towards the Lt Colonel. I, too, know too much of his shady activities. He was gunning for me and only good luck kept me from suffering the same fate. He laid many traps for me. He was sorely disappointed when I got out of PANAY without so much trouble despite the fact that he had many agents guarding the beaches.
Outstanding among his accusers of wrong-doings, abuses and shady deals are the local officials in all the towns in my sector, including the school teachers and private individuals. In KALIBO, CAPIZ where he established his headquarters, the Alba and Albar families are very indignant. Among the school teachers int eh same town, MIss Amiola Lim is just as indignant. In SOLIDO, the Magallanes family; Padre Illio of MALAY and three others in the same town were the eye-witnesses to this infamous crime). In BURUANGA, CAPIZ you will find charming miss Bun Oastan, a good typical Samaritan to the Americans, tell you how these men lost their lives. She mothered all the refugee Americans; helped them, nursed them; clothed them; fed them; and even tried her best to hid them from all harm. In the same town also you will find the Mayor and on Lt Cortez very bitter toward him. At PUCIO POINT, you will find one Lt Louis, the caretaker and custodian of PUCIO POINT MILITARY RESERVATION aching to get even with him after this war. For the witnesses to the disposition of all the medicines by Mrs. Garcia, two of her former maids or servants could be contacted very easily. As to the locations of Garcia's "Caches", we can contact one 1st Lt Irineo Donoza and Mr ST Louis, then said custodian and caretaker of PUCIO POINT MILITARY RESERVATION.
Much has been said of Al Capone and his gang in their days but this fellow Garcia can alcopone Al Capone any day of the week on account of his position and connection with the PHILIPPINE ARMY and the Guerrilla establishment. He is an opportunist, shrewed and calculating.
http://gigglefight.blogspot.com/2013/06/regimetal-history-untold-triumph.html
 Allied Intelligence Bureau (AIB) and Philippine Regional Section (PRS) Penetrations of the Philippines, 1943-1944, showing the insertion of Dacquel and party on Panay Island on June 10, 1944 |
 FLASHBACKS: Came across this old picture. The guy on the left is my Dad, MSG Isidoro Dagdag Dacquel (as he would add,”US Army, Regular!”). His handwritten note on the back says “Hollandia”. Is anyone related to the guy on his left? - Cary Dacquel (October 19, 2022) |
 Flashbacks My Dad, MSG Isidoro D. Dacquel on the left, on his way back to the US to retire at Fort Lewis,WA. Picture taken at Pearl Harbor. The note on the back says “with MSG Reyes”. I’m almost sure he’s a fellow Ilocano and hope some of his descendants could identify him. - Cary Dacquel (November 7, 2022) |
The Master Sergeant on the left is my father. MSG Isidoro Dacquel, US Army, Regular, as he would say. He volunteered from the Corps of Engineers, Omaha, Nebraska. Thanks for this picture! By the way, I never ever saw him with his hands in his pockets. This is the first time I saw this picture. He was in the US Army in 1922. - Cary Dacquel Photo by Pelagio Valdez (August 2, 2022) “NCO’S HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THE BACKBONE OF THE ARMY!” By the look of the building structures in the background, this photo was taken at Camp San Luis Obispo, California in the early days of the U.S. Army’s 1st Filipino Battalion. - Pelagio Valdez |
FLASHBACKS TO AN OLD POST: Cary Dacquel (October 6, 2025) Originally posted May 30, 2015 THE FIRST "BALIKBAYAN" OF BURUANGA (Part 1) Before "Angke" (Mansueto) Obrique became mayor, about the time he was sowing his wild oats, and in a "tipsy" condition asked my Dad, "Mr Dacquel, have you ever graduated high school?". My Dad laughed and said, "Son, it's been so long ago, I have forgotten!" Indeed. People think because he spoke "slang" he was uneducated. Not so, in 1922, during the time of the "Great Depression" in the US he joined the US Army because in those hard times it was hard to find a job, even for a freshly graduated college student. He attended Nebraska Wesleyan University at Omaha, Nebraska, he was the vice president of his graduating class of 1922, an engineer by profession, even in his military occupational specialty in the Army, where he started as a topographer (mapmaker) and later, as a member of the US Army Corps of Engineers, District of Omaha they were into building levies, dams, bridges all the way to the South as far as the Louisiana bayous. His knowledge of astronomy, surveying and field fortifications leave me in awe. His footlocker was a sort of treasure box for me. His last assignment would have been as one of those who would observe the effects of the Bikini Nuclear Test before he retired...and he did. before I was born. THE FIRST "BALIKBAYAN"...(Part 2) He lived in the most exciting times. From the time people traveled in horses, to the time they flew, through the "atomic age" on to a decade past the American moon landing. Written on his VA issued headstone is just "MSG Isidoro D. Dacquel, 1903-1979 WWI WWII". a simple tribute from the nation he served faithfully and proudly. He bragged about attending Vigan High School with Elpidio Quirino and after that was the tragedy of losing his mother after childbirth that he blamed was his fault. The family raised funds for him to go to to America. When he did, he strayed away from "the beaten path" where most Filipinos went (Hawaii and California) and boldly struck out on his own. He must have caught the train from Seattle to Omaha, and did his share of hard work in the farms of the Midwest, to be able to work his way through college. During his time he survived the Depression and being sent to Europe during WWI. He lived the "Roaring 20's". He "tweaked" his age by making himself 5 years younger than his real birth year 1898, (the year Rizal was shot) because he wanted to take the exams for West Point. One of my siblings is in possession of his birth certificate written in Spanish. The part he always said was "hijo legitimo" the eldest son of the first wife. He had 21 siblings. His father Vicente survived two wives! His first glimpse of the Antique coastline through the periscope of the submarine, USS Narwhal made him exclaim, "This is the most beautiful coastline I ever saw!" And so it is. THE FIRST "BALIKBAYAN"...(Part 3) USS Narwhal was the first and as of that time the largest of it's class of "cargo" submarines, but not really, as all submarines are classified as offensive. The pace and tempo of the war was speeding up towards the "liberation" of the Philippines,as promised by MacArthur as he defended his priority (and promise) of "returning" to the Philippines. The Joint Chiefs were more into the US Navy's strategy of bypassing the archipelago and hitting Formosa (now Taiwan). As the Navy's casualties are raising proportional to the Japanese fanatical defense, Roosevelt relented and allowed the General to have his way, and directed the Navy to give him full support. Thus the Narwhal was converted to ferry covert personnel of the Allied Intelligence Bureau based in MacArthur's Headquarters at Brisbane, Australia. Under the auspices of Gen Courtney Whitney, the Philippine Regional Section of handpicked American commando operatives who trained in secret at Camp Tabragalba were being infiltrated behind enemy lines to establish communications, sabotage operation, clandestine supply deliveries to Filipino guerrilas to include training and coordination of attacks. Master Sergeant Isidoro Dacquel was one of them and finally landed 10 Jun 1944. (he had participated in other missions before, but he was just "escorting" cargoes of "VICTORY" money, weapons and medical supplies) his secret mission was to coordinate with the Panay guerillas of the 6th Military District commanded by the self-apointed Col Macario Peralta. (later the Secretary of Defense during the Macapagal administration) "Little Mac", as my dad calls him, and Peralta calls my Dad "The Old Man of the Mountains" (being based from the mountain of Pucio Point) with relayed orders straight from MacArthur's HQ. Disembarking from the Narwhal was hairy. they were subjected to Japanese aerial attack and precious tons of cargoes were dumped into the sea because the guerillas under LTC Cirilo Garcia were disorganized and too slow to offload the sub. Dad dragged his "bag and baggage" to Bitadtun to spend the night. The bag and baggage was the makings of a radio station powerful enough to reach Australia and more advanced than any radio station on Panay. His codename was "Bahala Na 007", later "Bahala Na 003" to confuse the Japanese trackers. As of 1972, his exploits were still classified "TOP SECRET" and when the archives at Indianapolis burned, so was part of the history. In the early 90's some Filipino American veteran died and his survivors accidentally discovered some after action reports by the First Filipino Regiment and one of them happened to be my Dad's. It seemed like the confidential version survived. It was on Google for a while. I am sure my niece has copies if it in the Roldan family page. Seven out of the eight Dacquel children of Buruanga served their country, in the Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force. (No Coast Guard) my eldest daughter, Zenaida "Blue" is a Marine who joined after graduating from college in Florida and served 4 years. (there is no such thing as a "former" Marine!) Fall In! 
THOUGHTS ON FATHER'S DAY Six years ago, I wrote a trilogy (a la "Star Wars") about my Father, which I titled "The First "Balikbayan" of Buruanga”, Part 1 was out 30 May 2015, Part 3 was published 31 May and Part 2 was published 8 June. For those who were not members of this page and missed the articles, just fill in the block on the upper top left hand corner of the page with the magnifying glass symbol and "Search Facebook" to catch up, or for a quick review. All of what I am today, I owe mostly to my Dad. Even at an early age, I know that just to be born as his son gave me an edge and an advantage in life. There was no doubt in my mind that I will end up in America. He cast a long shadow in my life and he was the model for how I deal and cope with everyday situations. Recently. I watched a special feature on PBS (Public Broadcast System) featuring Asian Americans, and all the challenges they had to go through as migrants in early America. This featured a Filipino that was famous for their struggles in uniting and unionizing labor in California in the 70's. That generation of Filipino Immigrants came in before WWII, and because they were mostly of Ilocano descent, they were called the "Manongs". Most of them went to sugar cane and pineapple plantations in Hawaii and in farms in California. I found out that my father was in a different category they called "The Pensionados" that came earlier, almost after the Philippines became an American colony. They were a hand picked group that was selected because of their potentials and sent as "scholars" to study in the USA. Dad graduated in 1922 from Nebraska Wesleyan University. He was Vice President of his graduating class and because it was hard times (Depression) he enlisted in the US Army and was almost sent to Europe in WWI. His service records reflected him as a veteran of WWI and WWII as was shown on his headstone. My Top Secret Clearance was made easy and possible because he had a high security clearance working as an intelligence operative directly under MacArthur's Headquarters in Australia and a member of the Allied Intelligence Bureau that came in behind the Japanese lines in the Philippines by submarine on the island of Panay and coordinating combat and resistance operations with guerrilla units under Col Macario Peralta (later the Secretary of Defense during President Diosdado Macapagal's administration) Without my knowledge, the FBI actually went to Buruanga to do a background check on me when I was privy to national security secrets that involved nuclear weapons handling, war planning and updates in Europe at the Operational level (Corps and above). What I am particularly proud of, is the fact that he had a big "footprint" from where he started in Gusing, Santa Maria Ilocos Sur, to Nebraska, crossing the equator to Australia and ended up in Buruanga. Now, I have taken that challenge and break his record and issuing that same challenge to my children and grandchildren, to go out there into the world and blaze your own trail! I am proud that all my children are independent and on their own to face the world! Photo below is a picture of my Dad in Pearl Harbor on his way back to file for his retirement at Fort Lewis, Washington, 10 miles north of where I now reside. I was born a month before his retirement papers was approved. He served almost 27 years in the US Army. Cary Dacquel (June 18, 2021) |
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IN THE PERIPHERY OF HISTORY
The Regiment's Legacy It took a lot of soul searching on my part to make up my mind about writing a feature on this page (First Filipino Regiment) since I came across it on Facebook a couple of years back when the volcano shoulder patch caught my attention. I retired from the US Army in 1988 as a Master Sergeant, and just like my father have decided decelerate into the slow lane and retire in the Philippines after 20 years of service that took me to many places on God's green earth in the service of my country. There are several more reasons for that decision that I will mention in the course of this endeavor, which to me is to impart to the next generation a sense of pride and appreciation for what the previous generation had to go through to provide a better and brighter future to the succeeding generation. I am posting this as an adjunct to my Facebook page, Buruanga Chronicles. My Dad came to America before 1915, (I had to guess) as he was tight lipped about what he did, more so about his experiences during the war. He had to "tweak" his birth certificate to make it officially look like he was born in 1903 for his own personal reasons, and sure enough his birth certificate was in Spanish written much like Mr.John Hancock himself wrote it, that says he was born in Santa Maria, Ylocos Sur in 1903! My Mom would joke that when he was born, Jose Rizal was not yet executed. Too bad, when it came to collecting Social Security later, he had to "age" himself another 5 years! But anyway, on Oct 14, 1918, his service record shows he was a Corporal, in Sep 1922, he was assigned to Co D, 17th Infantry in Fort Crook, Nebraska, and a Master Sergeant Aug 15, 1942 assigned to the First Filipino Regiment and later, to the Allied Intelligence Bureau, July 7, 1943. In my later articles, I will try and fill you in with the rest of his career in the US Army that totaled 25 years, 7 months and 7 days! When my Father passed away in May of 79, his lifespan covered people riding horses to the time men landed on the moon and me rushing home to his hospital bedside at the VA Hospital in Quezon City, from Babenhausen, Germany flying home the eastern route by way of Cairo as a promotable Sergeant First Class. I am the "Manong" in my family with 7 other siblings, seven of us joined the service. My family came from a quaint little isolated and backward little town of Buruanga, Capiz (now Aklan). Our father was Master Sergeant Isidoro Dacquel, US Army Regular, who landed at Lipata, Antique with the submarine USS Narwhal in June 1944 from Brisbane, Australia. One of the "submarine men" of the AIB that operated behind the Japanese lines prior to the "The Liberation". (Note the landing on Panay Island. Map is from the book, “ MacArthur Reports”) (to be continued) Cary Dacquel (July 14, 2024) |
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IN THE PERIPHERY OF HISTORY From The Dustbin From a "Kabayan" from Tagbilaran, Bohol that became a friend while I was stationed in Hanau, Germany and met again when I relocated to Lacey, Washington in 2000, I was surprised by a question, "Are you related to MSG Isidoro Dacquel? " "He's my Father", I replied. He told me that he came across something from the internet about somebody picking up a bunch of papers about WWII that was rescued from a dumpster somewhere in Seattle. It was assumed that it belonged to a veteran that passed away and some soul rescued it and uploaded it into a computer. Among the documents was an After Action Report by my Father. I'm not computer savvy, and at that time I have a WebTV, basically a dial up system that uses a normal TV as a monitor. He sent it to me online and gave me a copy of the printout. Alas, due to my failing memory and moving residences, I had misplaced it. Once in a while somebody in the family would come across it and informed me, but I was always sure in my mind that I already have a copy of it. 
As I remember, it was a report from the time Dad disembarked from the submarine, USS Narwhal at Lipata, Antique to the time he had orders to report back to Leyte after the landing in Oct 44. Something about his report bothered me. Most of it was a critique of how the guerrillas in the 6th Military District were led and the disconnect in the chain of command, responsibilities and so too with the anomalies. I am content of letting sleeping dogs lie, but it brings to mind the same systemic issue from the time of the Katipunan to the present with the NPA. Dad knew a lot of prominent people, those who had distinguished themselves during the Japanese Occupation, most of them educators, politicians and professionals, who by the way were also connected with the Resistance or a guerrilla movement on the island of Panay, Romblon and the southern part of Mindoro. I guess, to them he was MacArthur's illusive representative "from the mountains". COL Macario Peralta, the 6th Military District Commander, calls him "The Old Man of the Mountains". I think there was a love-hate relationship between them, because my Dad would flash a wicked smile recalling MacArthur's directive, "You outrank any Filipino Officer when you relay my orders!" He had his own radio capable of reaching MacArthur's headquarters in Australia. The only thing is, it has to be moved around from different locations to avoid detection by triangulation. Dad knows how to send Morse Code, and talks with an American accent, along with other skills that surprised me as a kid. (to be continued) Cary Dacquel (July 15, 2024) |
IN THE PERIPHERY OF HISTORY: (an old post from Buruanga Chronicles) CHRONICLER'S CHRONICLES#19 A GATHERING OF EAGLES It was in the afternoon of the 3rd of May 1979 when I was told to see the Sergeant Major. He told me that the American Red Cross from Clark Air Force Base had sent a message that Mom notified them that Dad is in a coma at the Veteran's Hospital in Quezon City with an urgent request for my presence. After the initial shock of the gloomy news, I have assessed my situation and my courses of action. My wife and 2 daughters were already in the Philippines and in fact vacationing in Buruanga. I had orders for a permanent change of station to Fort Ord, California and scheduled to have my household goods packed by the movers for mid May. I still had to drive and ship my car at Bremerhaven. That night my mind was racing with so many thoughts and loose ends. I wished I could pull down the shrouds of darkness and hasten the break of dawn! I had to hit the ground running. I have no time to ask for an emergency loan or grant from the Red Cross. I had to go with what I have in my pocket and tie up loose ends with timely decisiveness. I have two major oceans to cross and the whole continental US if I would wait for Military Airlift, as all military flights generally flow east to west. I decided to fly commercial at my own expense. Going east, after all, the earth is round and I would gain time rather than lose a day crossing the International Dateline. I drove directly to Frankfurt Flughafen to the office of EgyptAir to get my ticket via Rome, Cairo, Thailand and to Manila. From there I headed for Darmstadt to the legal office to see a lawyer to get a power of attorney in favor of a Sergeant under me to authorize him to ship my car and supervise the packing and shipment of my household goods. Last minute instructions to those working for me and to the guy replacing me in my duties and responsibilities. I have to turn in or sign over equipment to my replacement, a couple of million dollars worth of equipment more of less. It seems that I have gotten myself surrounded by alligators all eating up my time, all of it driven by duty and responsibility competing with the anxiety of what is about to happen in my personal life. To this day I hate to re live the emotions I had to go through. The flight to Manila had been a flurry of prayers and flashbacks in my life and his. My Dad meant a lot to me and there is nothing I will ever do to displease or dishonor him. I am my father's son! I wished to tell him of my impending promotion to Sergeant First Class, one rank lower than when he retired in 1948, two months after I was born. I got to the Veterans Hospital about noon of the 5th and was at his bedside talking to him wondering if he could hear me. Mom told me my siblings were at Kadena Air Base on Okinawa waiting for their flight home. That afternoon Dad opened his eyes and I know he had recognized me, but too weak to show any emotion. When my siblings finally arrived, it was like a gathering of eagles, all from different branches of the US military. I thank God that they all made it home! Proud of them all, we are the Warriors of Ingus-Ingus. Dad passed away the morning of the 7th and I was too numb to feel. It is like the last shot was fired in a bloody firefight that I have experienced in Vietnam 8 years back I felt physically drained and spent. It was time for mourning and more assessments for those who would carry on. We miss you, Tatay and May the Lord keep you in His care. Rest in Peace. My family continues to assure your memory as a blessing for the legacy you had bequeathed. We have expanded your footprint on this earth! - Cary Dacquel (August 11, 2024) My brother, Aurelio, with the mustache and "barong" was Airborne and stationed at Fort Lewis, WA. The youngest one, Isidoro "Jude" Jr. was a Navy Corpsman that saw action at Mosul, Iraq. Sally was a civilian then, but she was also in the Army. - Cary Dacquel |
Related readings:
https://www.timesheraldonline.com/2019/04/22/filipino-wwii-vets-family-gets-heros-medals/
Operation Bahala Na
Operation I Shall Return MacArthur (Operation ISRM)
