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USS SUMTER APA-52
The following information was issued to the crew prior to the invasion of the Phillippines. The material was send in by Don Beausoleil. Don sent in additional information but due to time constraints, I was not able to include all of it.. tt) Don also has all of the U.S.S. Sumters Ship’s characteristics cards., paperwork concering Raymond H. Keays, Jerome Brodsky, J.J. Savino, B.K. Perl, Amos B. Glann-238695, W.C. Holderby?, N.J. Winkel, USMC Percy T. Brown,, J.T. O’Pry, R. CY. Meyers, Joseph Henry Valentine-627-61-83, John M. Carroll, Jr., Chaplain H.F. McGee, Ernest Rothaupt-811-98-64, B.B. Cannon, E.K. VanSwearingen, Albert J. Vampola-328-69-49, Francis E. Larrabee-868-60-67(S 2/C, B.S. Montle. I am sure Don would be glad to share this information with anyone.
THE ROAD HOME
A Streamline Guide to the Philippines
This preview of the Philippines might popularly be entitled “The Road to San Francisco”.
The campaign to free the islands may be our last big hurdle on the long stretch home to the Golden Gate. It’s going to be one of the greatest campaigns in American history. And because we’re going to make that history, we want it to be a clean chapter in the book.
This brief guide has been prepared to help us make the job a clean one. We’re going to clean out the Japs. Clean up the mess they’ve brought down upon our ears. And since we’re fighting Japs, not Filipinos, we’re going to keep our hands clean in dealing with the island inhabitants.
To this end, we’re going into the well known WHY’S, WHEREFORE’S, DO’S and DON’TS. Let’s start with the WHY’S--the reasons behind the campaign.
THE WHY’S The great mass of Filipino people have placed their trust in the United States. The flags of both countries flew side by side over the Islands.
Filipinos fought shoulder to shoulder with American troops to the bitter end on Bataan. They proved their friendship for us in blood; we realize that when we know that for every American in the Bataan Army there were four Filipinos and that the Filipinos fought on in guerrilla bands after Corregidor.
Ever since the turn of the century, the Filipinos and Americans have been working together toward the day of complete Independence for the Philippines. That day is now at hand -- by an Act of Congress the Islands will be granted complete Independence in 1946. Carrying the war to the Philippine Islands is not only a long step on the road back--it is a battle to free a free people, to free the stronghold of democracy in the East.
Once we are established in the islands, the enemy life line to the stolen Dutch East Indies will be cut completely. That’s important, because many vital supplies necessary to Japan’s war effort come from the Indies.
All the gains the Japs piled up in the early days of the war will be lost with our return to the Philippines. Which puts us just that much closer to the road home.
THE WHEREFORE’S Over 7000 separate islands make up the Philippines. To name them, even if we could, would take up a good sized pamphlet. The largest islands in the group are Luzon at the northern and Mindanao at the southern end of the chain. Between them are the other important ones; Samar, Negros, Palawan, Panay, Mindoro, Leyte, Cebu, Bohol and Masbate.
You know what it means to us to have Britain as a base when we launched our invasion attack. Well, the Philippines occupy off the coast of Asia a position similar to that of Britain off the coast of Europe.
The Philippines are predominantly agricultural. However, there are several sizable cities, largest of which is Manila. It’s normal population of 650,000 makes it just twice the size of Brisbane.
Maybe you never saw Brisbane. But the chances are pretty strong that you’ll see Manila. It ought to occupy for us the place that Paris did in the European theater. And mention of Paris for some reasons brings to mind Women. Which naturally brings us to our next subject:
THE DO’S AND THE DON’TS MEET THE PEOPLE, but--- Don’t use the “Hi, Babe”, approach with Filipino women. The Filipino girl of good family is pretty much like our own in dress and general appearance but she still retains much Oriental shyness and reserve. She enjoys dancing, loves the movies and is thoroughly posted on Hollywood. You may take her arm to help her across the street, but that’s all, Brother. Any further familiarities will more than likely be misinterpreted.
Don’t think you’re dealing with a primitive people. The Filipinos are not the naked savages you used to see in the Geographic while waiting for that session with the dentist. They’re a people with 400 years of Christian culture--and just 400 years ago wild Indians still owned Brooklyn.
Don’t talk down to the Filipino. Lawyers, doctors, public officials and so on, probably speak English a little more correctly than we do. The man with a grade school education may not be as polished as the professional man, but he also speaks English. The farmers and fisherman may not always understand English, but they’re civilized citizens. Even the Moros and the Jungle Peoples are proud tribes and they know us for their friends. (In the Bataan campaign one group of Jungle People alone slaughtered an entire Jap Battalion.) In any event never say anything in English you don’t want understood by those around you. There will probably be at least one Filipino in every group who will understand.
Don’t discuss personalities. Sometimes all inhabitants of a village may be related in one way or another--and, unlike the American press, no Filipino paper pays two bucks for “My Most Embarrassing Moment”.
Don’t offer alcohol or work to the Moros or show any interest in their women. Their religion prohibits their indulgence in the former and yours in the latter. Remember, too, that the Mosques are their holy places of worship. Stay clear of them.
DON’T TAKE ANY WOODEN NICKELS, BECAUSE--- Japanese currency, Philippine National Bank Notes, Notes of the Bank of the Philippine Islands and Philippine Republic Central Bank Notes are worthless.
THIS VERY BRIEF GUIDE HAS BEEN DRAWN UP TO HELP YOU OVER SOME OF THE ROUGH SPOTS IN THE PHILIPPINES.
YOU TAKE OVER FROM HERE. AND LET THE GOOD SENSE AND GOOD TASTE THAT CHARACTERIZE AMERICANS EVERYWHERE GO WITH YOU.
Sumter Administration Routine At Sea Plan Of The Day D-Day At Saipan Ship Characteristics Card Phillippines Newsletter
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