The Battle for Manila with John McManus-Episode 402

Рет қаралды 30,053

Unauthorized History of the Pacific War Podcast

Күн бұрын

This week, Seth, Bill and good friend John McManus take a look at the the battle for the Filipino capital of Manila. The team dissects the incredibly violent and horrific fight for General Douglas MacArthur's beloved Pearl of the Orient. The fighting in Manila was one fo the most violent combat areas of the entire war and the team breaks the fighting down to the nuts and bolts. The guys discuss the stories of Medal of Honor recipients Cleto Rodriguez and John Reese, as well as the liberation of Bilibid Prison, and much more.
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Пікірлер: 264

@blockmasterscott 3 ай бұрын

My Filipina grandmother told me of how she was so happy to see the Americans come back. She loved Americans until she died, and her brother flew an American flag in front of his house until he passed away. I’ll never forget her telling me of seeing Japanese soldiers bayoneting babies when she was a teenager, or an American corpsman giving her chocolate and her father medical supplies and food.

@seanbigay1042 3 ай бұрын

That chocolate! AFAIK it was a block of Hershey's formulated to be so bitter you could only gnaw it a little bit at a time, so it'd feed the troops basically forever. Of course, a lot of them decided to give the damn things away, like this G.I. who gave his to my mom when his unit passed through Baliuag on their way to Manila. But shavings from that block, mixed with lots of sugar, gave my mom and her family hours of enjoyment. To the end of her days she never forgot that G.I.'s generosity.

@richardbennett1856 3 ай бұрын

Philippines and US are so closely tied and co-dependent, especially after 1946. I appreciate the good men and women who were brave, enduring, and kind. It is my favorite Air Force base and Asian City.

@richardbennett1856 3 ай бұрын

@@seanbigay1042I'm sure the GI wished that he had more to give than that for all you went through. God Bless Them.

@seanbigay1042 3 ай бұрын

@@richardbennett1856 Really, there's a reason Tom Brokaw called this generation of Americans the Greatest Generation. (And you know what? It just struck me that this is SUPERMAN's generation.)

@carveraugustus3840 2 ай бұрын

That’s incredible

@seanbigay1042 3 ай бұрын

My mom, who was a teenager during the war, befriended the commander of the Japanese garrison in her hometown of Baliuag. She described the poor guy as a stranger in a strange land, hated by the Filipinos, held in barely insubordinate contempt by his own soldiers. It must have been a relief for him to be able to confide in my mom's family, especially one day in 1942 when he told them what had happened to his country's navy at Midway. The commander returned the favor with interest in late 1944 or early 1945. His men were going crazy, on the ragged edge of going into a berserk rage and tearing into the townsfolk of Baliuag, when the commander on his own initiative rounded them all up and bundled them all off to Manila. That was the last my mom ever saw or heard of him. It's likely he died with his men fighting MacArthur.

@glennricafrente58 3 ай бұрын

My mother's family was in the southern portion of Manila, south of the Pasig River. They had to hunker down in the burnt out ruin of their family house while fires and explosions erupted in the neighborhood. They hid my mother's teenaged sisters under sheets of corrugated roofing to prevent them from being raped by the Japanese. When they saw soldiers coming down the street, they thought they were done for, but they were actually GIs who had crossed the river. They finally made their way north, crossing the Pasig River, to find sanctuary among relatives in the liberated part of the city. My mother was around seven at the time. She was too small to cross the river herself, so her uncle carried her on his shoulders in the crossing.

@scottcasey4359 3 ай бұрын

I teach a kid in a year 12 Modern History class whose family is from Manila. She had never heard of this battle and massacre.. interesting how the Filipino people treat it in terms of their historiography

@seanbigay1042 3 ай бұрын

Your comment worries me. I've heard tell that some schools here in the Philippines don't even teach their students about the Bataan Death March anymore. It's like they're pretending the war never happened. I hope I'm wrong about this.

@Pilot-hr1rp 3 ай бұрын

They do teach it but in my opinion, world war 2 here is overshadowed by the Spanish colonial history and battle for independence in which Filipinos had more control over their destiny. As an example, independence day in the Philippines is June 12 which had its traces during the end of spanish colonialism and not July 4 When the Philippines achieved independence. As far as the destruction of Manila, there are some historians who see it with bitter anger towards the Americans and Japanese alike. Most see it as an unfortunate event in war.

@jonhenson5450 3 ай бұрын

@@seanbigay1042yes sir, I've had many Pinoy at Pinay comment that I know more about their history and geography, even in Zambales at Pampanga. Palarin Ka Sana. Super country, hope your young people change that trend. I was shocked once, rolling down Roxas Blvd(MNL) their were Jap flags everywhere to suck up to visiting politicians, as if nothing ever happened. Of course I understand the people there are concerned with earning a living today.

@Matt-416 3 ай бұрын

That's not unusual. Most Americans don't realize that the British fought a massive war to protect American colonies from being eradicated or enslaved by the French and their Native American allies. It was substantially bloodier than the American Revolution. As an unconnected example; Just look at New Amsterdam. It was a thriving colony until the British took possession. All the Dutch settlers were displaced into Native American territory or sent to the Caribbean. The vast majority subsequently died horribly. New Amsterdam was renamed New York... And the colony would become the most recognized city in the US.

@christianlim772 3 ай бұрын

There is a bit of a cultural blind spot here - one that does a disservice to the Filipino men and women that fought as part of the USAFFE and as guerrillas. Same goes to the Filipino contribution in the Korean War. As far as some of my relatives know - there was a war, then there was Marcos, then Aquino in 1986, and we arrive at the present. They did forget our own relatives fought as guerrillas too. I showed them WW2TV’s Philippines Week programs and they had no idea, but they were drawn in. So there is hope. (Bill and Seth - sorry for referencing another KZbin channel, but it couldn’t be helped)

@fettfan91 3 ай бұрын

Respect to Seth, Bill and John once again for covering an often overlooked aspect of the Pacific War. Manila and the Philippines Campaign have been waiting in the wings, time to give them their due!

@douglaskillock3537 3 ай бұрын

No doubt this will be great episode again. Greetings from the UK

@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar 3 ай бұрын

Cheers, mate.

@christianlim772 3 ай бұрын

I can’t lie - I’ve watching and waiting since Season 1 for you to get to Manila. I hate watching the destruction of the Pearl of the Orient in all documentaries but it needs to be told and shown so it is not lost to time. Thank you for giving the Stalingrad of the Pacific its just due. Well done gentlemen.

@Pilot-hr1rp 3 ай бұрын

My grand father who is currently 95 remembers watching 3rd fleet aircraft dive bombing japanese ships from the top of the Old Manila City Hall. He survived the battle of Manila from inside the city proper.

@PalleRasmussen 3 ай бұрын

And Seth will be on Woody's WW2TV soon. I am glad that came about.

@douglaskillock3537 3 ай бұрын

Look forward to that. Another great KZbin channel for those interested in WWII history

@PalleRasmussen 3 ай бұрын

@@douglaskillock3537 it is. I was poking Woody to try and set something up some months ago, and it seems he succeeded. Crossovers between good history channels enrich both participants. I am also glad to have set up Drachinifel and Jon Parshall a few years ago. That one was my idea and start effort, and lots of good came out of it.

@robertdendooven7258 3 ай бұрын

@@PalleRasmussen It is scheduled for tomorrow morning at 11 AM EDT. The subject is The Great Marianas Turkey Shoot. It should be great to see Seth on with Paul "Woody" Woodadge. Also, John McManus and Dave Holland have appeared on both channels.

@douglaskillock3537 3 ай бұрын

@@PalleRasmussen Nice work. I have recently been listening to the We Have Ways podcast which deals more with the ETO. A good listen, particularly for a British audience though they cover the whole thing. John McManus has appeared on the show a number of times. Very knowledgeable but a good sense of humour too so fits in well

@carveraugustus3840 2 ай бұрын

Yes, part one was great. P2 soon

@davidwatson8118 3 ай бұрын

In anticipation, another great episode. Thanks from Aus 😁

@bigstevesnostalgiadragraci4240 3 ай бұрын

One more comment, guys, if I may. If there were Emmys for Podcasts, these on Luzon would be shoo-ins. The cover photo of the podcast the GI carrying the young girl - is hard do get out of one's mind. The steely look of disgust, and compassion on the young man's face is hard to forget. Thanks again for all the work you guys put into this, its a story that needs to be told.

@frankbodenschatz173 3 ай бұрын

Thanks as always guys! John your insightful comments at the end are another aspect we fail to realize in all cities and hamlets throughout that horrible war on all fronts.😢

@maestrolms1 3 ай бұрын

About a dozen years ago, I visited Manila for three days. I wanted to visit the stronghold of Correigidor, and was amazed at the complexity of its many interior tunnels. One of the most moving sights, however, was the little war cemetery which had been established there after the war, by the Filipinos. In a worthy display of forgiveness to those who had tortured and murdered them, they set up a Japanese are of the cemetery, complete with a little Japanese shine set in the midst of the Japanese dead. A wonderful, forgiving gesture, indeed.

@flparkermdpc 3 ай бұрын

One that you would hope would be reciprocated by an official apology, admitting guilt. In

@joebombero1 3 ай бұрын

It is a good tour. Spend the night at the little hotel next time. Corregidor is an amazing place for people that love history.

@seanbigay1042 3 ай бұрын

"Two baseball-playing nations fighting it out in a ballpark." At Imphal-Kohima the British and Japanese were fighting it out across a tennis court. And at Stalingrad the Nazis and Soviets were fighting it out over a house -- the Nazis downstairs trying to get at the Soviets upstairs.

@richardbennett1856 3 ай бұрын

@@seanbigay1042 The irony of war. Good point, sir.

@chriscollins1525 Ай бұрын

😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

@robertzimmerman6772 3 ай бұрын

Well done gentleman. A truly somber episode.

@stephenmerrin9442 3 ай бұрын

The information you guys passed at the beginning of this broadcast about the USS Harder was absolutely fantastic. ❤

@joebombero1 3 ай бұрын

Great job guys. Memories of this horror are everywhere here in the Philippines.

@RobertPaskulovich-fz1th 3 ай бұрын

My Father fought in the liberation of Manila in January 1945 and was awarded a Gold Star.

@farmrrick 3 ай бұрын

Silver star ?

@jwhiskey242 Ай бұрын

@@farmrrick I have feeling it was Bronze Star - a common upgrade for WW2 CIB holders. Might also be a campaign star on the Pacific Theatre ribbon.

@scottgiles7546 3 ай бұрын

Your description of MacArthur returning to his home is his having his own Bag End moment, for those who have read all of The Lord of the Ring series.

@blockmasterscott 3 ай бұрын

That’s actually a pretty good description.

@gregcollins7602 3 ай бұрын

I really appreciate the hard work y'all do in putting these podcasts together. Great Torpedo Tuesday guys.

@richardmardis2492 3 ай бұрын

Lived on Clark AFB in my early childhood- later I was in the First Cavalry. So I kinda have skin in the game on this one.

@joebombero1 3 ай бұрын

Lots of old Clark airmen are still here, now retired. Many old Subic sailors also.

@richardmardis2492 3 ай бұрын

@@joebombero1 I was only 3 and 4 years old back in 1968-69. But I remember a lot (Philippines was so much different than the states- it stood out)

@TerryNelson-k6t 3 ай бұрын

I never severed in the military, never been around any artillery but I know how big 155mm is and I know how far 250 yards is. I can't imagine what the impact on a concrete building must have been like. This was a tough episode to watch but thank you for your efforts in telling it like it was.

@JohnnySmithWhite-wd4ey 3 ай бұрын

Another great episode. Thank you gentlemen.

@henriyoung3895 3 ай бұрын

Thank you guys for another great video. God bless America, God Bless you guys.

@SamAlley-l9j 3 ай бұрын

Thank you Bill Seth and John.

@KennanKlein 3 ай бұрын

Thank you for a great episode. I appreciate the details of battle and The bravery of our troops

@tferedo 2 ай бұрын

Very good episode. Thanks gents

@derrickcochran4180 3 ай бұрын

Good morning from Fayetteville Arkansas thankyou

@JohnnySmithWhite-wd4ey 3 ай бұрын

The home of Arkansas State.

@derrickcochran4180 3 ай бұрын

@@JohnnySmithWhite-wd4ey I live miles from university Arkansas woo pig

@blockmasterscott 3 ай бұрын

I grew up in Shreveport. I was always amazed at how the terrain seemed to instantly change from flatland to hills and mountains right when we crossed the Louisiana/Arkansas border lol.

@williampage622 3 ай бұрын

Tremendous podcast, thanks.

@chriscollins1525 2 ай бұрын

Superb analysis. My father was stationed on the USS Arkansas. I enjoyed hearing these trenchant descriptions. Makes me remember my father. MacArthur sure was a complicated man. Thanks

@ph89787 3 ай бұрын

With regards to Iwabuchi. He would probably have a better chance to regain his honour if he challenged VADM Willis "Ching" Lee to a pistol duel than what happened in Manilla.

@briantrewella6230 3 ай бұрын

Which would have had an obvious outcome.

@ph89787 3 ай бұрын

@@briantrewella6230oh I know. Is it realistic for such a thing to happen? Not in the slightest. But it would save a lot of suffering.

@ronauvil5118 3 ай бұрын

These episodes are always superb!

@RidgewoodMachine 3 ай бұрын

You spoke of Cdr Sam Dealey. Did you know he was the nephew of George Bannerman Dealey, a newspaper man in Dallas, TX. He was the namesake of Dealey Plaza where JFK was assassinated.

@patrickshanley4466 2 ай бұрын

You guys are AWESOME, thank you all for the great insights about the Philippine campaign (especially the command aspects). Keep up the great work 👍

@billisaacs702 3 ай бұрын

An enraging and debilitating account. Thank you for putting this together. I've nieces and nephews half filipino who grew up here and have little idea of the history. They now thanks to you gentlemen have a new perspective.

@seanbigay1042 3 ай бұрын

You know, this video was essentially three oldish guys talking history -- very little of the archival footage we've come to expect in accounts of World War II. But then you listen to what they're describing ... and after a while you're very, very glad you don't actually see what's happening. I live in Quezon City. But my dad used to work in Manila, and my family used to eat out there on Sundays. So it hurts to listen to what happened to the city. THIS IS MY HOME, DAMMIT. We didn't deserve to have this happen to us. What the hell was that guy Iwabuchi thinking?

@sethparidon8654 3 ай бұрын

Thanks for the (I guess) compliment. Regarding footage: I often see people complain about me not putting more footage in the videos. My response usually is-if I don't have footage of the actual event, I'm not including it. If I ain't got it, you can't see it. Also, I'm not just going to throw footage for the sake of entertainment into a serious historical discussion. Footage of the fighting for Manila is there, and I have included it where appropriate. In the end, I am an historian, and it bothers me to no end to see inaccurate footage simply thrown into something to satisfy people's desire for visual entertainment. Stuff like that is how history can get twisted. (I saw a video on Manila and it showed British carriers at sea, I ddidn't know the Brits were there! Wow!). See what I mean?

@benjaminfrazier5419 3 ай бұрын

@@sethparidon8654- HEAR, HEAR!!!!

@observationsfromthebunker9639 3 ай бұрын

I saw a photo of Manila after it had been fought through. It was as trashed as Stalingrad. It's probably for the best that there is no film or photos of the fighting.

@brentbrouwer6135 3 ай бұрын

No doubt. The same Marine getting wounded on Hawaii, then Guadelcanal and all points east. Can't say I spend much time looking at ya'lls mugs, or John Parshall's wallpaper, but I must say, you guys paint a picture. Bravo!

@stevenrogge964 3 ай бұрын

A friend of mine, David Wilkenson, fought in New Guinea. And he told me that he hated the Japanese. For him being a Christian and hating was an anathema. Watching this episode I understand why he did and i understand as a Christian why he struggled to release that hate. Manila was the epitome of evil, hell on earth. How do you come out of a battle like this without a profound hate. The cruelty in this battle is beyond belief.

@flparkermdpc 3 ай бұрын

Insightful comment. And theologically spot on.

@getoffenit7827 3 ай бұрын

I will be in Manila next month and be wandering around looking for places associated with the war

@RAYMONDCANILAO-sv3wc 3 ай бұрын

Manila American Cemetery in BGC

@Pilot-hr1rp 3 ай бұрын

Corregidor is open already accesible by boat from MOA. Go to Clark as well, some of the less travelled spots there are the Kamikaze monument on the west airfield where the first Kamikaze took off, the Collin P Kelly memorial. Bataan Mt Samat memorial is about 1 hr from Clark, same with the Cabanatuan POW camp that inspired the movie “The Great Raid” Im an airline pilot and recreational pilot here in the Philippines. You could also go to the Lingayen Beachhead where the old Lingayen airfield still looks pretty much the same despite being an active operational airfield, the beach is only 500 meters walk away and is pretty much the same as well. As an airline pilot some of the more fascinating things ibe flown over are Sibuyan Sea where Musashi was sunk, San Bernardino Strait and Surigao Strait. The approach into Surigao airport takes the airplane over leyte then strait south through the straight and you will have a quick appretiation of how narrow that water passage is. Flying from where Kinkaid’s battle line was down to where Nishimura and Shima tracked north, you would wonder how the US destroyers fit in on both flanks. I fly the ATR 72 so i operate at the same altitudes as the US Dive Bomber back then (13000 to 17000 feet)

@getoffenit7827 3 ай бұрын

@@RAYMONDCANILAO-sv3wc #1 on my list,

@Pilot-hr1rp 3 ай бұрын

Corregidor, Clark, Mt Samat memorial in Bataan, Cabanatuan prison camp

@getoffenit7827 3 ай бұрын

@@Pilot-hr1rp i will be visiting those places,And im also going to walk sections of the death march

@robertmoffitt1336 3 ай бұрын

Steeling myself for today's episode, having listened to James M. Scott's audiobook Rampage. It took me 6 months to get through that audiobook, where as normally I finish one that length in 3 weeks. My father-in-law, Purple Heart with 1st Cav Div at Manila. 40:46, that's going to take a steeling myself for.

@therealuncleowen2588 3 ай бұрын

I'm so happy to hear about the 37th ID getting to enjoy cold beer in the midst of the campaign.👍

@Pilot-hr1rp 3 ай бұрын

I do feel that in terms of Filipino American relations that the liberation of the Philippines was necessary politically and it has shaped how the relations of the two nations since. While from an 80 year hindsight, it can be argued that much bloodshed would have been avoided on the Filipino side had the Americans simply bypassed the islands, I dont think it is how Filipinos at the time would feel and they would certainly feel betrayed if they were bypassed given the level of suffering the people endured during Japanese rule. This is one of those actions that must be seen and must be done to build friendship and trust and in the end, it is the Japanese who is ultimately responsible for this war and the majority of the Filipinos see it this way .

@blockmasterscott 3 ай бұрын

Agreed. My Filipina grandmother was there, and she ended up loving Americans until she died. I remember her telling stories of how the returning Americans gave chocolate, food, and medical supplies to her and her father.

@joebombero1 3 ай бұрын

The Philippines would never have been bypassed. Imagine if the Japanese had seized Hawaii. Do you expect it could have been bypassed? Believe it or not, there was more US corporate investment in the Philippines than Hawaii. More dollars, more infrastructure, perhaps not more US population but the citizen count would be close. It was the corporate investmentbthat drove the recapture, however. Money talks. There were a lot of US bankers pushing Roosevelt.

@Pilot-hr1rp 3 ай бұрын

@@joebombero1 there was a time when Admiral King and the Navy was pushing for bypassing the Philippines for Formosa.

@joebombero1 3 ай бұрын

@@Pilot-hr1rp agreed. You can see a strategic rationale for it. There were generals who wanted to bypass Paris, until they realized the Germans were not going to defend it. But politically, you just can't do it.

@Pilot-hr1rp 3 ай бұрын

The team discussed this on a prior episode. It was a compelling argument. One that almost happened.

@jwhiskey242 Ай бұрын

Its ironic you mentioned Aachen, my cousin was killed there in October 1944. I thought I mentioned this - my father was attached to the 1st Cavalry Division and was in the battle of Manila. I never knew how bad it was until a few years ago. When his unit was disbanded he wrote by hand on his units typed history - how devastated Manila was. It was awful.

@SaundersE5 2 ай бұрын

Always excellent content. Thanks guys!

@theironherder 2 ай бұрын

Good reporting gentlemen. I don't think that I have the fortitude to watch an episode on the atrocities, but that's on me.

@timothycarroll5846 2 ай бұрын

i watched it with tears stinging my eyes the entire time, but these things must be looked at often so that we will never forget............

@butchmeily1808 2 ай бұрын

Thanks for telling this story guys. My father was drafted as an ROTC cadet in Manila before the war, fought in Bataan, went on the Death March and then spent part of the war as a POW at Camp O' Donnell in Capas. My mother used to tell us stories about how the Japanese lined up her women friends for what they thought was a morning roll call and then started bayoneting them. One of them who was pregnant tried to run but they shot her. Many were killed too in the church of San Agustin and in schools where they'd gathered. After the battle, she said that their house was one of the few left standing and that they could see all the way across the city from there because everything in between was gone.

@davidlavigne207 3 ай бұрын

Reece and Rodriguez: Kind of very much like SGT York of WWI fame. Initiative is the hallmark of the United States Army Infantry. So sad about Reese though.

@cheesenoodles8316 3 ай бұрын

My favorite beer from the Philippines....Red Horse, malt liquor brewed by San Miguel.

@blockmasterscott 3 ай бұрын

I LOVE Red Horse! I always drink it with my inlaws when we go to the Philippines every year!

@LeeScott-k2y 3 ай бұрын

Well done guys please more on the prison camp raids.

@sethparidon8654 3 ай бұрын

They're coming.

@markpaul-ym5wg 3 ай бұрын

Listening to the guys talk about urban warfare, it just occurred to me that the japanese didn't have any kind of rocket launchers to attack tanks.I know they had 37 mm anti tank guns,but as far as having a shoulder fired rocket launcher,their manufacturing division came up short.I wonder why?

@observationsfromthebunker9639 3 ай бұрын

Japanese army made a 20mm anti-tank rifle, but it was underpowered. Personal anti-tank weapons weren't developed because in 1941 the Allies and USA had few armored vehicles, much less actual tanks, deployed. the wretched Chinese Republican Army had no tanks. So the R&D was concentrated on other things. So later on they resorted to anti-tank grenades.

@kidpagronprimsank05 3 ай бұрын

they didn't had any type of rocket launcher other than captured US Bazooka and few, if any Panzerfaust or shrek arrived from submarine.

@jeffreymartin8448 2 ай бұрын

Was worried at first that I couldn't take these episodes. But, comments from those that were there or have family that were gave me the guts I was lacking. My biggest inspiration is that Filipinos are still capable of such tremendous love to this day despite this.

@flparkermdpc 3 ай бұрын

The opening video has got all new images, but the most riveting for me is the toddler shaking head to toe. 😢 The opening frames also show a GI carrying a child out of the battle zone, giving some hope.

@ReverendScaleModeler 3 ай бұрын

Informative and powerful as always; armed combat is horrific by any standard but the battle for Manila took it up a notch (or 10). The sheer violence of the fighting combined with the atrocities committed by the Japanese almost defies description. While a different theater of war there are some parallels between this and some of the battles in Europe and on the Eastern Front, such as Stalingrad and later Berlin. A sobering reminder of just how brutal and destructive World War II was.

@davidlavigne207 3 ай бұрын

Anyone who can't imagine why 25 Japanese cities were fire bombed, or why Hiroshima and Nagasaki needed to be atomic bombed should remember what occurred here at Manila and many other cities that the Japanese conquered or occupied during the creation of their so called "Co-prosperity Zone" as they attempted the eastern version of "Lebensraum." I have no hatred of Japan, but have little sympathy for what it was responsible for during WWII. Perhaps they should have negotiated, as responsible nations do as opposed to conquest.

@flparkermdpc 3 ай бұрын

Negotiations were for losers if you read Yamamoto's ideas for beating the USA. They had no fundamental understanding of the kind of war they started. When they weren't successful in negotiating what they wanted in the decade of the 20's they prepared for war. And once started, FDR had no problem laying his cards down. Unconditional surrender. The Japanese didn't think we'd stick to it.

@oceanhome2023 2 ай бұрын

We are all to ready to jump on Mac . He was an historic and complex person ! I read the huge book “American Caesar “ he was pan oriental , he believed in defeat Japan first . His management of Japan post war was well done !

@williampockets 3 ай бұрын

Morning gents

@blockmasterscott 3 ай бұрын

Good morning! 👍

@notsomeanmark 3 ай бұрын

Such an informative podcast. Thank you gentlemen for the important work that you do!

@COACHWARBLE 3 ай бұрын

Bill Toti for President!!!!

@BrentHottle-gi2pe 3 ай бұрын

Great episode! I wasn’t familiar with the war in Manila .

@riftraft2015 3 ай бұрын

Another Great show guys. 😁👍

@lindabrashear57 3 ай бұрын

Thank you for another excellent episode! I have no words to speak about the horrors of the battle for Manila, so I will refrain from commenting on that subject. I will, however, note that if I have a choice, I will never fly Delta airlines. If I need to, I will pay more (within reason) to fly with a different carrier if it's possible. One major negative (completely avoidable if Delta had done the right, common sense thing) experience in the 1990s was bad enough to make me swear off Delta for life.

@seanbigay1042 3 ай бұрын

"7,896 rounds of artillery are used at Intramuros." (Bear in mind that Intramuros isn't a very big place -- I'd say it wasn't much bigger than a cavalry fort from an old Western.) And bringing 155mm howitzers u to "stupid close" ranges for use as DIRECT FIRE weapons? Pouring 145 of these shells into the old City Hall from a range of 250 YARDS? Yea, verily it is said, "There is no such thing as overkill. There is only 'Open fire!' and 'Reload!'"

@therealuncleowen2588 3 ай бұрын

Iwabuchi, MF Iwabuchi! I can't even hear that name without my hackles rising. Bill, I really liked the way you described his actions. He will attempt erase his shame at not going down with Kirishima by bringing about even more shame. I couldn't talk about him without sputtering rage and name calling. I've got no connection to Manila, I simply read about his actions in this battle at age 11. I could barely believe, at that age, that someone could be such a bastard. His story just hit me at the right moment in my life, I suppose. If there is a shrine to that man anywhere in the world, I hope it is routinely pissed on.

@mmkkggggoodd2315 3 ай бұрын

Mac Arthur was critical to the success of post war Japan. He understood the Japanese culture.

@seanbigay1042 3 ай бұрын

Dude, the last shogun of Japan wasn't a Tokugawa -- it was Douglas MacArthur.

@blockmasterscott 3 ай бұрын

@@seanbigay1042 Exactly this a thousand times over.

@fearlessfosdyke13 3 ай бұрын

Captain Toti. What is that picture of over your right shoulder.? Is it the nicknamed machine gun cruiser?

@psibraden7093 2 ай бұрын

Difficult subject. Well done.

@stevensparks3126 3 ай бұрын

A story to be remember. Thank you all, so much. Take care and God bless.

@RK-pe8fc 3 ай бұрын

They made a major movie about Stalingrad, but I’m not aware of any comparable quality movie about the battle for Manila. Seems a shame.

@SM68Pete 3 ай бұрын

401 was exceptional. I look forward to the Phillipines series

@jfess1911 3 ай бұрын

I know this is a bit late in the game (I just found you guys a week or so ago), but it would be helpful if you provide the actual numbers of men, tanks, guns, etc when you mention a "division", "battalion", etc. Many of us can only look up definitions that say something like "Battalion: 400 to 1000 men", which is a big range. I don't know if the Army and Marines use the same size groups, if there were changes during the war or if the numbers used then are the same as now. It does not help that Google has started using an AI engine to provide answers which are very often wrong. Even specialist sites like WW2 Facts sometimes provides numbers without mentioning whether they are just for the British. Thank you for a excellent podcast. It seems that much of what I had seen before was wrong (like MacArthur's numbers for the Battle of the Bismarck Sea).

@TheFirstIcon 3 ай бұрын

I think the amount of information you're asking for would bog down the podcast quite a bit. The sizes of all of those units varied quite a bit depending on attachments, casualties, disease, etc. It's also often tough to separate out combat strength (# of infantrymen whose primary duty is combat) vs paper strength (including logisitical and headquarters personnel). Regardless, for the US in the Pacific War, a company is approx. 150-200, a battalion around 800, a regiment 2500, and a division 15,000. None of these units fights alone, and often have additional supply detachments and artillery assigned from higher headquarters. I highly recommend the channel Battle Order if you really want to get a feeling for organization quantities like this.

@jfess1911 3 ай бұрын

@@TheFirstIcon I think it would not be that difficult to say about 1000 men with 100 pieces of artillery and 30 tanks. Each of those items are discussed individually, so simply stating a rough number should not bog things down very much. Thank you for the information, though.

@threecedarshomestead1330 3 ай бұрын

At approximately 58 min, the assault boats sound like those in the "Hail Mary" scene in "A Bridge Too Far"

@TheMagus54 2 ай бұрын

I like to think of Ma'carthur as the scurge of the pacific he was also influential into the veitnam war and a negative influence all around!

@flparkermdpc 3 ай бұрын

Congrats on your nephew's commission, Captain Bill. I have 2 uncles who are USCG grads class of 1936, career men. Sons of Italian immigrants!

@flparkermdpc 3 ай бұрын

If you are getting saturated with battle and suffering, however well presented, I humbly recommend E. B. Sledge's postwar memoir "China Marine". It gives hope in the context of this terrible rape of Manila, which is as bad as the more infamous Rape of Nanking. But the salvation of the people in Manila is occurring at the same time as the suffering. "CHINA MARINE" E.B.Sledge. It's a unique account from an exceptional person who saw the worst of close combat on Pelilieu and Okinawa and although physically untouched, is pretty scrambled with post trauma psychosis. This makes me even more aggrieved at the loss of Andrew Haldane at Pelilieu, and the loss of his potential.

@Thumpalumpacus 3 ай бұрын

Regarding direct-support arty, the Soviets also came onto the same solution -- bring up an couple or four SP 152s as battering rams to drop a strong-point. Convergent evolution, the solution suggests itself.

@RAYMONDCANILAO-sv3wc 3 ай бұрын

San Miguel beer, arguably the best beer in the world👍 37:00

@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar 3 ай бұрын

Only if you're drinking it in the Philippines

@briancooper2112 3 ай бұрын

My grandfather fought in the 11th airborne and he said the stadium fighting was very tough.

@COACHWARBLE 3 ай бұрын

Love the content always. Ive watched every single episode. Come to DC for a live episode at the Tune Inn in wash dc. I have so many episode questions. I can prove ive watched them all. McAurthur sucks, Guadalcanal was the turning point of the Pacific War, and Jon Parshall is the bomb, and submarines won the Pacific. When is Damien Lewis going to play Red Ramage. Let me convince you why Jimmy Doolittle was the most important American during WW2.

@hdfoster5507 3 ай бұрын

Westmoreland never understood what we were up against

@flparkermdpc 3 ай бұрын

He had a lot of bad company, LBJ being primary. He threw out of the oval office the only General, Victor Krulak, who was a USMC three star at the time,with the guts to tell him the truth. It cost Krulak the Commandant's appointment. Krulak, who was a MAJOR in 1939, is also the guy responsible for getting Higgins on track to design and deliver to The MARINES the landing craft Krulak knew they would need. The Army had no amphibious doctrine in 1941. Or 1942 for that matter. Krulak got his design ideas from the Japanese. Prewar, of course, when he was allowed to observe Japanese maneuvers. Fascinating man, Victor Krulak. No warm and fuzzies there, but a son did become Commandant of Marines.

@carrabellefl 3 ай бұрын

Thanks! have no idea what the Pasig River looked like in 945 (56:00). In the 1980s the river was an open sewer. You could walk acrss on the trash that floated on the surface.

@edmundcowan9131 3 ай бұрын

Next time you will vote to remain part of the United States ( before Biden)

@timandellenmoran1213 3 ай бұрын

DELTA means Doesn't even leave the airport.

@flparkermdpc 3 ай бұрын

LOLOL!!❤

@flparkermdpc 3 ай бұрын

The description of the Manila battle presages what the invasion of the home islands of Japan would have been like. Ì have no doubt that the fanatical elements in Japan would have been as cruel to their own civilians, who, in the ethos of the war culture that had overtaken Japan didn't deserve to live...

@richardmardis2492 3 ай бұрын

First like- ready for a new season 🫡❤️

@davidwatson8118 3 ай бұрын

"fist" ?

@GrahamCStrouse 3 ай бұрын

@@davidwatson8118with or without lube?

@richardmardis2492 3 ай бұрын

@@davidwatson8118 Too early four correct spelling 🤣

@MarkKBorders 2 ай бұрын

250 yards is pretty much the safety minimum for Artillery projectile fuzes.

@joebombero1 3 ай бұрын

The Manila Hotel is still in business and MacArthur's penthouse is preserved.

@shoominati23 3 ай бұрын

Is the Intramuros still extant in Manila? or was it too heavily damaged during the fighting?

@johnclarencemercado4218 Ай бұрын

Intramuros still stands today and now a tourist spot. You can visit and enter the dungeons they're talking about here. Lots of bullet holes around .

@johnclarencemercado4218 Ай бұрын

Intramuros still stands today and now a tourist spot. You can visit and enter the dungeons they're talking about here. Lots of bullet holes around .

@frederickking1660 3 ай бұрын

Whew, thought he was kicking sand in the face of delta force.

@joeyartk 3 ай бұрын

Wow, in just one battle here almost half as many Filipino civilians died as died in the whole Phillipines vs Americans war 45 years earlier. Pretty brutal.

@richardbennett1856 3 ай бұрын

It's easy to second guess 80 years later. If the paratroopers were used, how about the two dams and cut off the eastward movement. The enemy was desperate, disjointed, and unpredictable. Other than surrendering, which we knew was improbable, Manila was already doomed.

@carveraugustus3840 2 ай бұрын

Yes! Admiral Lee wrecked those ships

@genenoud9048 3 ай бұрын

Sounds like the battle of Ramon close. 250 yards

@therectorkid9708 3 ай бұрын

Iwabuchi's orders came from the Imperial Palace.....

@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar 3 ай бұрын

No they didn’t.

@therectorkid9708 3 ай бұрын

@@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar not a Bergamini believer, then, I take it?

@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar 3 ай бұрын

Not in the slightest...for many reasons not the least of which is that he had no basis in his supposed facts. Iwabuchi did not have contact with IGHQ at any time. Yamashita did, and only then, briefly. Iwabuchi acted on his own volition. Went rogue so to speak and did his own thing. He had no orders to carry out the butchery that he instigated. That was all him.

@therectorkid9708 3 ай бұрын

@@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar tbh, it's been many years since I read JIC, and I will defer to your expertise....love your show, thanks.