Surrounded by skyscraping condominium towers on the former site of the Fort McKinley, grass fields festooned with thousands of white granite crosses mark the largest American military cemetery outside of the United States. The Manila American Battle Monuments Commission – ABMC – Cemetery holds the remains of 17.097 men who died mostly in the World War 2 fighting in New Guinea and the Philippines. The names of another 36,286 men whose remains never discovered inscribed on The Tablets of the Missing place on limestone piers within two hemicycles separated by a small chapel atop a small hill. The quiet is out of place in the frenetic world of Bonifacio Global City outside of the cemetery walls.
ABMC STORY IN MANILA
Veterans of World War 2 are fading from the scene quickly today. The graves belonging more and more to history now than to grieving families who once made pilgrimages here. Already, a visit to the cemetery is similar to the stillness and solitude found visiting ABMC cemeteries in France and Belgium from World War 1.
ABMC has made a major effort here to upgrade the stories told beyond the graves and the twenty-five mosaic maps showing various campaigns in the Pacific and Asia during the war. In 2019, a new visitor center opened with lots of exhibits detailing the history of America’s involvement in the Philippines and the wartime involvement of the country. There are exhibits telling stories about the many battles and campaigns found in the southwestern Pacific theater of the war, islands won and lost. Other stories tell of the fate of the prisoners of war, captured civilians and the Philippine efforts to resist the Japanese wartime occupation of their homeland.
The war is also related by the stories of individual men and women, some surviving and others not. The stories making those told by the graves and inscribed names more accessible.
MANILA ABMC CEMETERY
Manila ABMC Cemetery remembers more men awarded the Medal of Honor by far than any other ABMC cemetery – twenty-nine recipients. Eight of those men lie buried here. The other twenty-one names appear on the Walls of the Missing.
Other facts – the grounds cover 152 acres with the cemetery dedicated in 1960 after a long process of concentrating those remains from cemeteries scattered about the former battlefields and hospital grounds in the southwest Pacific. Among the many graves, 166 of the headstones cover the remains of Jewish soldiers and sailors, graves marked with Stars of David. Among the dead and the missing are twenty sets of brothers.
THE SULLIVANS
The most famous set of brothers, the five names listed among the Missing belonging to the Sullivan family from Waterloo, Iowa. All five men were serving aboard the USS Juneau, a light cruiser stationed near Guadalcanal. On 13 November 1942, the ship hit by a Japanese torpedo during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal was forced to retreat. A second torpedo later hit the Juneau exploding the ammunition magazines destroying the ship. About a hundred men of the crew survived, but only ten of those men saved.
Three of the brothers died in the magazine explosion. Another drowned the next day while the fifth brother threw himself over the edge of his raft after four or five days floating at sea delirious. The Navy had a policy of separating brothers on ships, but the policy unwritten. The brother had enlisted in the Navy with the stipulation they could serve together, a stipulation honored.
RESULTS
With all five dying from the same incident, the Sole Survivor Policy became policy. The policy stated any family with one or more sons or daughters dying in service, the sole remaining son became exempt from the draft. That policy expanded in practice to excuse others from active service. The policy expanded in 1971 so any son of a family which suffered a death of a family member in service gained exemption from the draft – they could still voluntarily join up.
Example of the result of the Sullivan’s tragedy are illustrated vividly in the movie Saving Private Ryan. Similar cases of a sole surviving brother being sent home from battlefields have occurred in Iraq and Afghanistan more recently.
A unique honor remembered the brothers, the Navy named two different ships in memorial – the World War 2 era Fletcher-class destroyer, USS The Sullivans DD-537 and the more recent Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, USS The Sullivans DDG-68.
THE FORT
The cemetery is located on the grounds of the former US Army Fort McKinley. Fort McKinley, established in 1901, became a major post for the US Army in the Philippines. The fort turned over to the Philippines in 1949 becoming Fort Bonifacio. The Philippine Army and Marine Corps have retained land for their headquarters just to the southwest of the cemetery while lands to the north became Bonifacio Global City. The fort maintained a post cemetery since its inception. The dead from that cemetery transferred to the cemetery at Clark Air Force Base fifty miles to the north. The cemetery recently transferred to the care of the ABMC.
GRAVES OF THE MEDAL OF HONOR SOLDIERS
The Meuse-Argonne ABMC Cemetery maintains graves of nine Medal of Honor awardees, one more than Manila. The aspect of the fighting in the southwest Pacific lent to many more missing graves than in World War 1, thus many more Medal awardees whose remains yet discovered.
Robert Allen Owens
Following the events of Pearl Harbor, Robert Allen Owens, a native of Spartanburg, South Carolina, enlisted in the Marine Corps in early February 1942. After initial training, Owens’ division went to the South Pacific in September. On 1 November 1943, Owens, now a sergeant, was involved in an amphibious landing at Cape Torokina on the island of Bougainville in the northern Solomon Islands. The landing, known as Operation Cherryblossom, had a goal of establishing an Allied base on the island.
A member of the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, Owens’ force was resisted by a 75 mm Japanese artillery piece well concealed in a position only attackable from the front. Owens led a group of four men in a direct attack on the gun emplacement. He entered through the fire port chasing the Japanese defenders from their gun. Further pursuit led to his death.
Owens’ action saved many men with over 150 rounds stacked beside the gun had been counted on to help stop the American landing. The Japanese were forced into the interior of the island and ground for a base was secured.
recommendations
Initially given the Navy Cross, Owens was recommended for the Medal of Honor by both the commanding General of his division – Major General Allen Turnage – and the Commandant of the Marine Corps – General Alexander Vandegrift. After a review of the case, the medal was awarded to Owens family 12 August 1945. His body was initially buried on the island and later reinterred here at Manila.
George William Gerow Boyce Jr.
Cornwall, New York, only a few miles north of West Point, was where George Boyce Jr. hailed from before joining the Army during World War 2. He served as a second lieutenant with the 112th Cavalry Regimental Combat Team. The 112th was formerly the 1st Texas Cavalry Regiment part of the Texas National Guard. The regiment patrolled the Mexican border until July 1942 when they shipped off to New Caledonia.
Originally, the plan was to use horses in the jungle, but the mud and torrential rains made shambles of that plan. The sabers of the regiment were cut down in size and the men were sent to help the Marines of the 1st Marine Division in operations near New Guinea, first seeing action 30 June 1943.
new guinea
Assigned later to the 32nd Division, the 112th was involved in the Battle of Driniumor River. Over 51 days, the team took 62% casualties. Johnson joined the regiment during their time in the New Guinea theater, having made the jump to officer from soldier earlier.
Leading his squad in action near Afua, Dutch New Guinea, a hand grenade fell between him and his men. Boyce smothered the blast with his body saving his men in the process. Nine months later, he was awarded a posthumous Medal of Honor.
A Boulder Victory Class cargo ship, the Waterville Victory, launched 13 July 1945, was renamed the USS Lt. George W. G. Boyce in 1946. The ship enjoyed a long career earning four battle stars for service during the Korean conflict. She followed that with service all around the world until being retired in 1973 and scrapped a year later.
Dale E. Christensen
Enlisting from the tiny rural town of Gray, Iowa, Dale Eldon Christensen joined the Army in October 1940. The youngest of seven brothers – one brother served in Europe – he enlisted in the Army Medical Corps, but like Boyce, Christensen was accepted and graduated from Officer Candidate School in Australia January 1944 becoming a second lieutenant. Sent across the Pacific, he joined the 112th Cavalry Regiment with Boyce.
His platoon was also heavily involved in the actions at Driniumor River, New Guinea during July 1944. 16 July saw Dale silencing a machine gun nest by himself. 19 July saw him scout out an enemy strong point by himself and then leading his platoon in destroying the position. His luck ran out a few days later on 4 August when he was leading the platoon against an enemy machine gun nest. Two yards from the objective, Christensen was killed. Posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor 10 May 1945, he was the first to be so from Iowa during World War 2.
Leroy Johnson
Leroy Johnson, from Oakdale, Louisiana, joined the Army just before Pearl Harbor, 26 November 1941. He became a member of the 126th infantry Regiment.
The regiment before World War 1 was comprised of men from Michigan. Teamed with other regiments from Wisconsin, the 126th was part of the 32nd Division – Red Arrow Division. In the Great War, the division saw heavy action through the American experiences on the Western Front. They became the first American unit to penetrate the Hindenburg Line near Romagne-sous-Montfaucon 14 October 1918. Ground that today including the Meuse-Argonne ABMC Cemetery, the largest American military cemetery in Europe.
The 32nd Division had moved to Louisiana at the end of 1940. While the Regiment was in Louisiana, Johnson became one of the men helping to bring the 126th to battle strength. The division was originally slated to go to Europe. Rapid Japanese advances in the southwest Pacific had Australia calling for help. The 41st Division was the first sent across the Pacific followed by the 32nd in April 1942.
first division in
One battalion of the 126th Regiment took part in crossing the mountains of New Guinea east of Port Moresby. The crossing resulted in an epic 42-day march carrying only six days’ worth of rations. The battalion gained the nickname of “The Ghost Battalion” due to their appearance reunited with the rest of the regiment.
Johnson was awarded the Silver Star for his efforts against entrenched Japanese infantry at Sanananda 6 April 1943. This battle followed heavy fighting at Buna-Gora where the regiment, hard hit, played a key role in the fighting dropping from 131 officers and 3,040 men to 32 officers and 579 men between mid-November 1942 and the end of January 1943. Disease took as big a bite if not bigger than the hard-fought battles.
The regiment had a long refit after the initial New Guinea battles. After replacing lost men and undergoing further training, the regiment went on to take part in battles during the latter part of the Western New Guinea campaign towards the end of 1943.
leyte
After New Guinea, the division became part of the invasion force sent to Leyte in the Philippines. Beginning in a reserve role, the division did not deploy to Leyte until 14 November 1944. Going into action against heavy Japanese resistance brings us back to Sergeant Johnson. 5 December, near Limon on the northern end of Leyte, Johnson threw himself over two enemy grenades in an action echoing that of Lieutenant Boyce. The blasts killed him saving the men around him.
Charles E. Mower
Coming out of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, Charles Mower enlisted in the Army out of high school. Described as a quiet child, his high school picture shows a handsome young man. By November 1944 he was a sergeant in Company A, 1st Battalion, 34th Regiment, 24th Division. The regiment assigned to the 24th since 12 June 1943, previously served in Hawaii as a reserve unit. The 24th went to Australia for jungle training in September.
The 24th participated in some of the final American operations in New Guinea before transferring to the 6th army for the invasion of Leyte in the Philippines at the end of October 1944. 20 October 1944, the 24th went in with the 1st Cavalry Division invading Leyte at Tacloban.
leyte
The situation was getting grim for the Japanese at this point in the war. On sea and on the ground, they gambled to destroy the American invaders. The Battle of Leyte Gulf went a long way in destroying the remainder of the Imperial fleet while the Japanese army was not much more successful on Leyte, though they did delay the American timetable.
As a part of a pincer scheme, the 34th regiment cleared the northern part of Leyte starting 3 November. The next day, Charles – now a sergeant – was with his platoon out in front. His commander put out of action forcing him to command the men. In a forested gully, the men crossed the stream. Mower suffered severe wounds attempting to cross. Half-submerged in the waters, he continued to direct his men in the destruction of two enemy machine gun nests before dying as the remaining Japanese concentrated their fire on him.
In 1947, the USS Tryon, originally an evacuation transport ship but now a Army transport, gained a new name – USAT Sgt. Charles E. Mower. The ship served until 1950 and before stricken from the Navy list in 1960. As the Tryon, the ship earned six battle stars during World War 2.
George Benjamin Jr.
Mosaic map shows American operations on Leyte in late 1944.
Note the location of the three MoH awardees.
Benjamin was a little older when he enlisted in the Army in 1943. He already had one child with another on the way. From New Jersey, Mower became a part of the 306th Regiment, 77th Infantry Division. Serving as a private first class, Benjamin was a radio operator. The regiment had already served in recapturing Guam. Here, the men marched to envelop the Japanese on the northern areas of Leyte near where Charles Mower lost his life.
Benjamin as a radio operator normally worked in the rear. On 21 December, his company encountered a Japanese strongpoint. A light tank caused his rifle platoon to hesitate. Benjamin raced ahead to the tank encouraging the rest of the platoon to follow. With a pistol and his heavy radio, he continued to lead eliminating a machine gun nest. Finally, still leading, Benjamin fell mortally wounded. Evacuated to an aid station, Benjamin was able to relay valuable information as to enemy weapons and location before dying.
Louis Joseph Van Schaick
A member of the West Point class of 1900 after growing up in nearby Cobleskill, New York, Louis Van Schaick was in a hurry, although deficiencies in mathematics had a major role, as well. He left the Point one year before his graduation, still gaining a commission as a second lieutenant in April 1899.
Serving as a first lieutenant with the 4th Cavalry Regiment, first lieutenant Van Schaick, on 23 November 1901, noticed a column of Filipino insurgents waiting to ambush his patrol. Galloping forward alone, Van Schaick, knocked off of his horse, engaged the insurrectos in hand-to-hand combat. He almost had his left hand nearly severed from an enemy bolo. His attack threw the would-be ambushers into confusion before the arrival of his men. The medal awarded eventually in 1913.
post Filipino-American war
From 1904 to 1907, he served with the Philippine Scouts. From 1905 to 1907 he was military governor of Cavite and from 1908 to 1912 military governor of Mindanao. In addition to the Medal of Honor, Van Schaick gained the Gold Life Saving Medal in saving the lives of two men trying to cross a Mindanao stream. He also won the American Cross of Honor given only to those who earlier winning a Gold Life Saving Medal.
As a captain, he returned to the US in 1913, the most experienced Army officer in the Philippines at the time. Stationed with the 26th Infantry Regiment, the men patrolled the Mexican border in 1916. Next, he served as a military attaché in Mexico City before heading to France as a lieutenant. From 1919 to 1921, he served as inspector general for the American forces in Germany.
During his time at Cavite, Van Schaick met Nellie Mae Kellogg whose father was a medical doctor in the Philippines. Her uncle was Will Kellogg who was the founder of Kellogg Cereal Company. Nellie graduated from the University of Michigan in 1905 coming out to the Philippines as a teacher. The two met and joined their lives together in 1906.
beyond the army
From 1930 to 1935, Van Schaick served as advisor to the Governor General of the Philippines. He retired as a colonel in 1934 living in Baguio as an executive with a mining company. Both he and his wife were imprisoned following the Japanese occupation of the islands in 1942. The colonel sequestered at the infamous Bilibid prison in Manila. Nellie had the option of staying in Baguio but decided to accompany her husband. Louis suffered from ill health in the prison with Nellie there to try and help. With the collapse of Japanese rule in Manila, the two gained release in early February1945, though Louis was in bad shape. Shortly after release, Van Shaick died.
Nellie returned to the US after the end of the war. She briefly returned to the Philippines but complications from tuberculosis acquired during her imprisonment sent her back to the US for good. Just before her 1974 death, she set up the Nellie Kellogg Van Schaick Foundation scholarship which since 1984 has sent thousands of Filipinos through medical school with a one-year rural service stipulation.
William H. Thomas
If at first, you don’t succeed. That is what happened to William H. Thomas from Wynne, Arkansas. He tried enlisting in 1943 with the Army but failed because of a heart condition. Keeping at it, he succeeded in 1944 becoming a Browning Automatic Rifleman in the 149th Regiment – formerly a Kentucky National Guard unit – with the 38th Division, the “Cyclone Division” made up of National Guard units.
Operating in the Zambales Mountains, the range northwest of Manila including Mount Pinutaubo, PFC Thomas leading his platoon when ambushed by camouflaged Japanese soldiers, 22 April 1945. Firing his BAR, a satchel charge went off under his legs blowing both off at the knee. Refusing aid and continuing to fire until his Japanese bullets disabled his gun, Thomas threw his last two grenades before accepting aid. His fire helped save the platoon and capture the enemy position. Thomas, however, died.
beyond death
The casualty evacuation ship USS Rixey transferred to the Army Transportation Service in 1946 being renamed the USAT Pvt. William H. Thomas. Re-transferring to the Navy in 1950, the ship retained its Army name. It was one of the first to respond to distress calls from the cruise ship Andrea Doria in 1956 helping to rescue 159 passengers. Removed from service, the ship scrapped in 1970.
A national guard armory in Wynne stands named in his honor. A plaque at the Arkansas Medal of Honor Memorial on the capitol grounds in Little Rock also remembers Wynne’s sacrifice.