Manila (63)

Post card with bullet holes and an old registration card
picked up by Gene in the Manila Hotel

     Capt. Eugene Pfile barely squeaked in a trip to Manila before the 92nd Evacuation Hospital was moved from Guimba to Agoo, which was closer to the fighting.  During the move he didn't have much time to write letters.

March 6, 1945
     To Manila.  Stayed overnight at the 5th Field [Hospital] (Fawcett, in my class at N.W.[Northwestern University Medical School]),in the Ed. Bldg. at Santo Thomas University [a private, Roman Catholic university used as an internment camp by the Japanese until the Americans liberated the prisoners in February, 1945].  The oldest U. on U.S. soil [the Philippines was considered a U.S. protectorate until 1946], established about 1611.
     Saw the burned out city and other sights.  Went thru the Manila Hotel [considered the most luxurious hotel in the Philippines from its opening in 1912 until the Japanese occupation].
     I bought 3 sleeping mats (Buri palm fiber). P 5.00 [$2.50], 3 straw purses P 3.50 [$1.75], 3 Chinese embroidered handkerchiefs P 2.50 [$1.25], wooden shoes p 3.00 [$1.50].
     At the church of Quiapo, I bought 2 votary candles for 60 centavos [$0.30].  The Quiapo Church district was established in 1586 and the church built of bamboo and nipa palm.
     Saw the Malacaňan - the president's official house.  I took 3 rolls of Kodachrome, in all.

Street scene in unbombed section of Manila

Bombed out section of Manila

March 8, 1945  To move.  Stopped receiving.  Admitted [released?] about 1000 patients.

March 9, 1945 Closed hospital at Guimba [in his records, Gene states the 92nd Evac admitted 2,520 patients while in Guimba].

March 10, 1945  Packing up. 

March 11, 1945  Moved into bldg.  Tents down.

March 12, 1945 
     Moved 70 miles N along the coast to Agoo.  North of where we landed at San Fabian.  In a small school house at the east edge of town.  Rice paddies behind us for a half mile, then the hills, Mt. Santo Thomas [sic Tomas], on the other side [of the mountain] is Baguio.  There are barbed wire entanglements around town, and the street corner strong points that the Japs had to put up to defend themselves from the guerrillas.  The 33rd Div. captured this without trouble, a week ago.  The 33rd is moving up the coast, and from Rosario towards Baguio where the main Jap force is entrenched.

Modified Rand McNally map showing location of Guimba, San Fabian and Agoo