Some photos from Owi to the Philippines (83)

    Here are a few photographs from Gene's collection.

On Owi:

Lt. Joseph Davis getting his mail from Sgt. Ahern on Owi,
Dutch New Guinea

A hut on Owi, Dutch New Guinea, at sunset

Officers' tents on Owi, Dutch New Guinea

In the Philippines:

Ruined bakery in San Fabian, the Philippines (note Gene accidentally
reversed the negative)

Turnips for sale at the market in Guimba, the Philippines

Gene's washstand (a device to hold his helmet) in Baguio, the Philippines

Cub ambulance service airplane in Baguio, the Philippines: "Goldberg's Angel of Mercy sponsored by the students of Goldberg Elementary School, Detroit, Michigan"

Bilibid Prison in Manila, the Philippines

A line of Igorot girls looking for lice in Caba, the Philippines

Granary in Caba, the Philippines

A view of Mount St. Tomas from Caba in the Philippines

What Can't Be Changed ... (72)

     Life settles into a routine in Caba.  Incoming patients are sporadic.  The census is 150.  Gene has time to play volleyball and develop black and white photographs.  Perhaps the following, one of my favorites, was one he developed.

Filipinos drawing in their fishing nets on the beach at Caba with U.S. transports overhead (I originally wrote "bombers", but my sister, a pilot, corrected me!)

July 19, 1945  There is a possibility I may get to take a 6 weeks refresher course in gen. surgery starting Aug. 1 at some Gen. Hosp.  ...

July 21, 1945  I tried trolling [for fish] from the homemade sail boat.  No luck.  Rice planting is in full swing.  When a carabao gets too hot, he just lies down in the mud and water!

The chapel at Caba was located in a temporary building instead of a tent

July 22, 1945  Sunday services.  Played volleyball and wrote some letters.  Things are quiet.  [Maj.] Sparky [Adams] has amoebiosis.  ...  We have 300 patients.  Weather hot and sultry, with occasional storms.

July 27, 1945  The more we hear of the point system [one point was awarded for each month in the service away from the 48 states, five points for each combat award, and 12 points for each dependent child under the age of 18 (for a maximum of three children)] and T.D. [temporary duty] the madder we get!  Snafu [situation normal, all fouled (or f***ed) up], completely.  Japan says they refuse our Potsdam ultimatum for unconditional surrender [the ultimatum on July 26, 1945, stated that if Japan didn't surrender immediately, it would face prompt and utter destruction].

July 28, 1945 ... They say the Jap landing is moved up but no rumors when.

 Sailboat probably made by army personnel from which Gene trolled for fish several times without catching any

July 29, 1945  Continued hot and dry.  I tried trolling from the sail boat for an hour - no luck.  I signed up ($2.00) for a Self-Study course in "Outline of Hist. Geology".

July 31, 1945  High surf along the beach, without much wind.  Full scale amphibious training starting for the 33rd Div.  Lots of LST's [landing ship, transport], APA's [assault personnel attack ship?], LCVP [landing craft, vehicle personnel], LCM [landing craft, mechanized], etc. etc.

Amphibious tanks (alligators) at Caba

August 1, 1945  Donovan finally left today on T.D.  ...  Beth finally heard my sad story and she is so grand about it.  She is the most wonderful there is!

August 2, 1945 Still another time away from Beth on her birthday [her third birthday for which Gene has been overseas].  How long does it have to last, this separation?

August 4, 1945  Orders came in last night for me to go on TD to the 120th Gen. Hosp. APO #1011.  I hear that it is in Santo Thomas, Manila.

Gene Offered Pay of Lt. Colonel (71)

Maj. Eugene Pfile was a modest, capable, quiet man, but with his own opinions!


June 27, 1945  Starting the 3rd year [in the army]!  No word about leave.  We may move to the lowlands.

June 28, 1945  We are to turn over our patients to the 41st Field Hosp. on Sunday, July 1st, and trade cots and blankets.  Then we move to Caba, near Buang and Aringay.

Japanese shrine near Baguio

June 29, 1945  In the process of closing down.  Again, after being here almost 2 months.  We hate to leave this cool climate.  I took pictures of Jap shrine.

June 30, 1945  Our last day here in Baguio.  Lt. Col. Coulter of the 32nd Div. [according to Wikipedia, the 32nd Division logged more days of combat than any other division in WWII] offered me the job of Division Surgeon, or C.O. of the Med. Bn. [medical battalion], either on a Lt. Col. pay.  I refused, feeling myself not capable of that.

Modified Rand McNally map showing Caba and
San Fernando

July 1, 1945  Moved to Caba, right on the beach, a nice area.  I drove the jeep.  [Maj.] Hi [Armstrong],   [Maj.] Sparky [Adams] and Gentry [an enlisted man?] being with me.

July 3, 1945  3 years and here I am near Caba, La Union Province, Luzon - only 67 points and hoping for a leave in the States!  But healthy, thank goodness.

July 4, 1945  Some jellyfish in the water are causing painful reactions to some of the swimmers.  Still setting up.  The natives like to sight see in our area.

July 5, 1945  Damn the menagerie of dogs that we have - bark all night!  The old sow and 6 pigs were moved from our area last evening.

Pig sty where pigs were kept in the middle of the 92nd Evac Hospital

July 7, 1945  Still no word of leaves.  We have fresh potatoes to eat.  Also ice cream.  Not receiving patients yet.


July 13, 1945  [Col.] Huey went to San Fernando 6th Army Hq to see if he could get the natives out of here and to see about more leaves.  The suspense is terrific!  Apparently it lies between Max and I [sic].

July 14, 1945  This is a bad day!  Donovan won the draw.  Darn the luck!