One of my WW2 souvenirs. 60cmx60cm Hand sewn map that I’m guessing is Pina cloth, entitled “Liberation of Marinduque”
Shows all six towns and notes that Balaring as where “Japs landed July 7, 1942. It also calls out Buena Vista “Americans landed Jan. 9, 1943”. Unless the maker of this map knew of some other event, this date is inaccurate as the Americans landed on January 3, 1945 as is noted at the top of the map.
This was from an estate sale in the U.S. and the owner was not identified. The maker of this map is also unknown, but I would guess was from Marinduque.
The condition of the map is poor with stains in the middle and fold lines with some tears along the folds.
On August 8, 1944, the submarine USS Gunnel was patrolling in the area South of Marinduque.
Just after noon at 12:21pm the Gunnel spotted a convoy of six vessels to the South of Marinduque. At 2:40pm the Gunnel surfaced and started firing on the convoy with it’s deck guns, two 20mm machine guns and a 4” deck gun. Both machine guns jammed and the 4” gun was overshooting. To avoid unexpected return fire from the convoy the Gunnel cleared it deck and dived.
It was discovered that Rudolph Velle Motor Machinist’s Mate first Class was missing. Velle had been acting as the gun captain and when the Gunnel had fired its last round from the four-inch gun, the recoil knocked him into the sea.
With an enemy patrol boat and aircraft arriving on the scene, the Gunnel was unable to surface and search for Velle until evening. At 6:52pm the Gunnel surfaced but were unable to locate Velle. Velle was known to be a strong swimmer and perhaps capable of making the fourteen miles to Marinduque.
In fact Velle did make it to the beach. It is here where Alfredo L. Siena took charge of Velle. Nothing was recorded on how long Velle was on Marinduque. He would later be transported on a schooner to Panay where on December 4, 1944 he was rescued by the submarine USS Hake.
Article from the Pacific Stars and Stripes September 1961
Roster of troops from the Marinduque Patriot Army WW2. Is your ancestor listed here?
In reply I have first shown all the responses received and then you will find the document following.
Regalia Ranbdy – My Grandpa is a former Mayor of Sta Cruz that time. Jay Mandz – Number 1. uncle of my mother. Romilyn Montejo Brual – Andiyan sir SI lolo Jose Montejo…Lolo ni tatay Leo Manguera Madrigal – Kasama pala jan c lolo jose madrigal Wheng Coll An Tes – Lolo Clodualdo Solmirano – Provincial Auditor, Marinduque Alfonso Magturo Jr. – madaming.kulang wala cla edmundo reyes sr.(officer) @ benjamin magturo, na kasama nung death march.sila un mga nkatakas nun base sa kwento ng lolo ben ko.pero ksama ang tatlo kung lolo cla lolo poldo ,lolo jose at lolo tonying.rip po sa lahat at saludo kmi sa inyùng lahat ng mga ngtanggol sa bayan ntin Emelinda Olavidez – We are so happy Apolonio Olavidez is also included in the list Lorimer Bugarin – # 29 Corporal: Toribio Leano of Boac Proud Grandson here Ronald Lozano – #79 Felix Lozano proud grandson here! Thank You so much po! Roushelle Olivar Lupig – C Lolo anong Fernando Sarcia,, Venus Jambalos enus Jambalos ,,,kasama SA ww2,, patriot army Ma Jennifer Leano Cornejo – #29 Corporal: Toribio Leano of Boac, proud grand daughter here. Genelyn Jandusay Minay – thanks po s pg Acknowledge s mga ninuno naming mga lumaban s WW2 Russel P. Pielago – Cayetano Siena Pielago of Buenavista, Marinduque – Proud Grandson here Chinggay Loto-lastica – Pedro and Celestino Mascareñas Merlita Magalang – Salamat kasama din pala x tatay Pedro Jandusay Chrezaidee Eaj Lambon Mazon – #33 Great grandfather Pedro Mazon of Balogo Jhay Morfe Ornedo – Staff Sgt. Teodorico Ornedo and Private. Paulino Ornedo… Salamat po.. Hoooorah Bing Lacap – Proud Apo Segundo Lamac of Mogpog/Boac Aleli Arceo – Kasama din dito sa list ng name si Tatay JOAQUIN LABAY No.198 Romulo Malvar – Yes, Kasama dyan tatay ko, lolo ko at mga tiyo ko. Tengs Rey Del Mundo-Villanueva – My lolo, First Lieutenant Sergio S. Rey Nikki P. Sevilla – Lolo Jessie Sevilla at si Lolo Arturo Sevilla. Mag tiyuhin sila. Salamat sa mga nagsakripisyo para sa kalayaan. Girlie Marquez – I am very proud to see the name of my father Luis dela Cruz among these veterans listed and the other listed too who were also my father’s friend May they all be recognized Neighbor’s Crust Pizzeria – Sergio S. Rey, Actg Provinvial Treasurer, Marinduque. -from Buenavista. Proud Grandson here Thita Loto – Bakit Wala si Celestino Mascareñas, Kasama sa death march at Tatay ni Romeo Mapacpac Mascareñas Sr. John Edzel Muhi – #26 Staff Sgt. Narciso Muhi (Special Agent) #45 Pvt. Antonino Muhi #446 Pvt. Perfecto Muhi Mimi Santos – TIO Dador and brothers, Lolo Inti, Lolo Pantaleon (Mendoza) Lolo Anton (Mabiog) Wala si Lolo Tagul Mabiog, kasama yun sa Death March pero USaFFe Maylanyo Rivera Loto – #430 Fidel Nabos Loto Genelyn Jandusay Minay – No.54 Private Nicanor S. Jandusay proud Grand Daughter. Romulo Malvar – Kasama dyan ang tatay ko Pedro Malvar at mga kapatid nya at pinsan. Kasama din Dyan ang tatay ng nanay ko Armnado Huerta. Proud of them to be a part of history. Gerry Jamilla – Maganda na mailagay ito sa walls sa loob ng isang well planned na WWII Memorial dito sa Marinduque including other USAFFE officers and men, those who died in Bataan and Death March plus artwork that would represent the sacrifices and triumph of our veterans and constituents. Also representation of all the engagements that happened here in Marinduque, this is to remind our present and future generations. Masbate Isla – No.86 Private Manuel Manuevo Pons Lago Nitoral – #476 Lolo Pedro Nitoral Kasama pala, nakakataba ng puso, salamat po!
The island of Marinduque in the move and tv series Operation Petticoat.
A brief synopsis of the film:
The Philippines, December 1941. Lt. Commander Matt Sherman is the captain of USS Sea Tiger, a submarine. While in harbor she is damaged by a Japanese air raid and is close to being written off as sunk. However, the crew manage to refloat her and repair her as best they can. The submarine sets out for Australia for repairs. On the way they stop at a US -held island only to find it deserted, but for a stranded group of Army nurses and must take them aboard.
Marinduque is the island in the movie. There is a brief shot of the captain writing in his logbook that he arrived at Marinduque. Another shot shows the nurses leaving the island in a rubber raft. The actual beach location used for this shot is not Marinduque but was in Key West Florida.
The move was released on December 24, 1959.
In September 1977, an American sitcom based on the movie was broadcast. It was broadcast on ABC for two seasons 1977 and 1978. The first season starred John Astin as the skipper of the submarine, as well as Jamie Lee Curtis, the daughter of Tony Curtis, who had starred in the 1959 film.
The picture from the sound stage is from the first episode of the sitcom and although labeled Marinduque, the set was used to simulate a different island. The original print comes from the portfolio, “Robert Cumming: Studio Still Lifes,” Universal studios, California, 1977,
In December 1941, an American submarine did visit Santa Cruz, Marinduque to gather intelligence and warn the locals that the war had started. I will share the submarine logs in another post.
