Private Placido Conejos

[FriscoHare]

Today would have been my grand-uncle's 93rd Birthday. He was a Philippine Scout and I wrote up his biography a while ago.

 

Since then, I requested his records from NARA and found out so much more.

 

Story Highlights:

- He is my grand-uncle x2. His dad is my grandfather's uncle (my father's side) and his mom is related to my grandmother's family (my mother's side).

- Served with Cos. A & D, 14th Engineer Regt. (PS)

- KIA on Bataan on 02/13/1942... by accident

- Posthumously awarded the Purple Heart

- His father wrote to the War Dept. requesting his death certificate

- Is still listed as MIA

[FriscoHare]

Here is his journey map:

 

Please click to enlarge

[FriscoHare]

Here is his story:

 

Placido Conejos was born in Majayjay, Laguna, Philippines on October 5, 1914 to Canoto Conejos and Simeona Sobreviñas. [1] He an older sibling, Carmen, and two younger ones, Delfin and Illuminado. Placido attended seven years of grammar school. The family later moved to Tondo, Manila. At the age of 19, Placido began to work as a chauffer for $5.25 a week.

 

On February 16, 1941, Placido went to Fort William McKinley, where he enlisted for a period of one year in the Philippine Scouts. He was placed in A Company, 14th Engineer Regiment, Philippine Division. On April 19, he was reassigned to D Company. His military occupational specialty was an auto mechanic and was given the rank Private, 3rd Class Specialist on May 1.

 

In June 1941, the Army convinced him to serve an additional two years. On June 24th, he was honorably discharged. On June 25th, he reenlisted for a period of three years with D Company, 14th Engineers. (PS)

 

When Lieutenant General Douglas MacArthur changed the Philippine Division’s structure from a square division to a triangular one in September 1941, the 14th Engineers downgraded from regiment-sized to battalion-sized. Because of this, D Company was eliminated and Placido was again reassigned to A Company.

 

At the start of the war on December 8, the 14th Engineer Battalion was at Fort McKinley. When the invasion was imminent, the 14th Engineers worked to keep the main supply routes open to the troops at the front.

 

On December 24th, General MacArthur ordered the Allied withdrawal to the Bataan Peninsula. The 14th Engineers moved to the peninsula to “build engineer support” for the approximately 15 mile long defense line that ran from Moron in the western part of Bataan to Abucay in the east. [2] The 14th Engineers mission “was to prepare [main supply routes] to the Abucay Line up to it so supplies could move rear to front when the time came to fall back and man that line.” [3] 


Captain Charles Dempwolf was the commanding officer of Company A, 14th Engineers. Around January 1 and 2, although they were part of the 51st Combat Team, [4] Dempwolf and Company A helped out the 3rd Battalion, 57th Infantry Regiment led by Lt. Colonel Phil Fry. Col. Fry “called on the [Company A] Engineers for tools, wire for entanglements and the construction of a continuous mine field across my front. They came through in a big way and furnished everything we needed and started work on the minefield.” [5]

 

By January 9, Company A “not only built a number of splinter proof dugouts at [the 57th Infantry] regimental C.P. and constructed several bridges and roads of tactical importance, but also furnished and installed barbed wire, mines and other obstacles in front of our [main line of resistance].” [6]

 

As the Japanese hammered the Abucay Line, the USAFFE staff feared the need to fall back to another defense line and ordered the 14th Engineers to prepare the Bagac-Orion Line around January 15. [7] The Fil-American Forces occupied it on January 26.

 

However, three days before, the Japanese began amphibious landing attempts on the western shores of Bataan to capture the West Road. In response to this,

 

“Much of the [14th Engineers were] diverted to the west coast of Bataan to support and counter what became known as the Battle of the Points… We Engineers contributed by keeping the roads clear and maintained with bulldozers and hand tools, shovels, etc. so that the 45th Infantry could move up and counterattack the invading forces.” [8]

 

Elements of the 57th and 45th Infantry Regiments, Philippine Army and Constabulary Forces, and men from the Air Corps fought the invading Japanese at several smaller peninsulas, including Silaiim and Anyasan Points from January 26th to February 13th, with the 14th Engineers supporting them.

 

“By three o’clock in the afternoon of February 13, the Scouts had the beach secured [at Silaiim Point]. For the first time in over three weeks, the entire coast of Bataan, from Longoskawayan to Saysain Points, was free from enemy threat.” [9]


On that day, Company A was conducting road work. An hour-and-a-half after the Scouts secured the coast, at around 4:30 PM, Placido was “injured by blade of bulldozer while working on road” and was promptly given ¼ gram of morphine. At 4:45 PM, he was taken to the 14th Engineer Aid Station and was buried near the Hospital V Clearing Station at 4:50 PM. [10] [11]

 

Although there are official Army records detailing Placido’s passing, the U.S. Army declared Placido Conejos as Missing in Action. He is memorialized at the Manila American Cemetery, Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippines.

He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. [12] 

 In January and February of 1946, the Army sent this letter to his father:

 

Dear Mr. Conejos,

My deepest sympathy goes to you in the death of your son, Private Placido Conejos, who died in action against the enemy.

 

You may have consolation in the memory that he, along with his comrades-in-arms who died on Bataan and Corregidor and in prison camps, gave his life for his country. It was largely their magnificent courage and sacrifice, which stopped the enemy in the Philippines and gave us the time to arm ourselves for our return to the Philippines and the final defeat of Japan. Their names will be enshrined in our country’s glory forever.

 

In your son’s death, I have lost a gallant comrade and mourn with you.



 

_____________________________

 

In a letter dated December 29, 1948, Canuto Conejos, Placido’s father, wrote the War Department requesting a copy of Placido’s death certificate.

 

Sir,

In connection with the death of PLACIDO CONEJOS (PS) NO. 10301673, who died February 13, 1942, in line of duty in Bataan, I have the honor to request certification of his Death (Diploma) signed by the Honorable President of the United States.

 

I am very anxious to possess this certificate so as to have a souvenir of my late son who had dedicated his life for the defense and freedom of our country.

 

Hoping that this request meet your kind and favorable consideration, I beg to remain

 

Very respectfully,

Canuto Conejos

 

It is unknown if the War Department ever responded.

 

[1] Canoto Conejos is a relative on my dad’s side. Simeona Sobreviñas is a relative on my mom’s side.

[2] Kramer, Robert S. One out of Eleven. [Atlanta?]: Robert S. Kramer, 1992. 15. Print.

[3] Ibid. 16.

[4] The 51st Combat Team consisted of the remnants of the 51st Division and organized as a combat team. Source: Morton, Louis. "Chapter 23." The Fall of the Philippines. 1953. 406. U.S. Army Center Of Military History. Web. 07 Sept. 2011. <http://www.history.army.mil/books/wwii/5-2/5-2_23.htm>.

[5] Lilly, Edmund J. "The Lilly Papers: Notebook 19." Combined Arms Research Library: Lilly Papers. CGSC - Command and General Staff College. Web. 07 Sept. 2011. <http://www.cgsc.edu/carl/resources/archival/lilly/notebook19.asp>.

[6] Ibid.

[7] Kramer. 19.

[8] Ibid. 20-21.

[9] Young, Donald J. "4—The Battle for the Points Continues." The Battle of Bataan: a Complete History. Jefferson, NC: McFarland &, 2009. 126. Print.

[10] Official Medical Department slip (Form 52b)

[11] Before I acquired Placido’s records from NARA, I asked my grandfather what happened to Placido that day. He said, “According to the records, he was missing in action but there are witnesses that said that the Japanese beheaded him.”

[12] Dated February 18, 1952.

[FriscoHare]

And here's a small display I made in his memory:

 

Thanks for looking!

[m1ashooter]

No Sir, my thanks go out to you for keeping him alive in memory and sharing him with us.

[gunbarrel]

FriscoHare,

 

Well done! I'm sure he would be very pleased and humbled by the display you made. I'm marveled at the old Spanish names like Placido, Canuto, Simeona (Simona?), Delfin, Iluminado, etc. It reminds me of names I heard during my childhood. Thank you for sharing!

[FriscoHare]

Thank you, gentlemen. I hope he would be proud, too.

 

GB, now that I think about it, I, Sean, am probably the first in my dad's family to break the tradition of Spanish names. (My forefathers were Bernardino, Tranquilino, Andres, Jose, Pedro, and Benedicto)

 

Thanks again. I am very proud to share "Lolo" Placido's story with the forum.