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Manila American Cemetery and Memorial


trenchbuff
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As my wife and I get ready for our next trip to the Philippines to escape the bone chilling Montana Winter I wanted to post a couple photos from our visit earlier this year to the Manila American Cemetery located at Fort Bonifacio in Metro Manila. It is the final resting place for over 17,000 US service members with a memorial to another 36,286 missing. I had the great honor of visiting the Cemetery with my Uncle Charles McCaffrey, my Dad's eldest brother, who served with the US Army in the Philippines during WW2 and was so effected by the terrible destruction of Manila that he stayed after the war ended and used his talent as an engineer to help rebuild the city. He's lived there ever since and even at 95 is still very active. He's had a remarkable life and spending time with him is awesome. In the Photos my uncle is pointing to a name on the memorial to the missing. The individual was Clement McHale who grew up with my uncle and went missing when his aircraft was lost on a photo mission over New Guinea. His body was never recovered. For anyone studying US military history the Philippine Islands should be a "must see" destination. This time I plan to visit Bataan and Corregidor with a retired Marine buddy of mine who's father was a Philippine Scout and was captured during the Battle of Bataan. Can't wait!

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I always thought it would be nice to see it! Dad was in the 268th C.A. they shelled Manila after Gen Mac Arthur finally said OK after so many losses trying to take the city. He wanted to save the city from destruction. Its nice your Uncle is still around, he has seen a lot and knows a lot. Amazing! Enjoy your vacation!

send us some pictures!

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  • 2 months later...

The cemetery is located in one of the most beautiful areas of the city (actually, I guess the cemetery and grounds themselves make the area attractive). But at any rate, very powerful, and moving. While in Manila, it's definitely worth a day trip over to Corregidor. Wonderful place to visit, with lots of good history.

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I have not seen the cemeteries on my 2 trips to Manila. I will have to check it whenever I go back. It's been years, but I agree that Corregidor is definitely worth seeing.

Mikie

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post-32632-0-30186800-1520363993_thumb.jpg Ross(Skip) Spears. Enlisted with his friend Bob Feenstra in Feb. 1941. Both were in the machine gun company of the 31st Inf.

Bob made it through imprisonment by the Japanese and returned home. Ross was killed in the fighting before the surrender

and is buried in the Manila American Cemetery. Both were friends of my mom in High School.

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The cemetery is located in one of the most beautiful areas of the city (actually, I guess the cemetery and grounds themselves make the area attractive). But at any rate, very powerful, and moving. While in Manila, it's definitely worth a day trip over to Corregidor. Wonderful place to visit, with lots of good history.

 

Yes, it was well worth the boat trip from Manila. Awesome feeling to the place.

 

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