ASL - Historical Modules
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ASL - Historical Modules
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- ASL - Historical Modules
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Destruction of the Pearl
Having raced to get to Manila in early Februruy, the 37th Infantry Division and 1st Cavalry Division spent the next four weeks trying to take it. Despite General MacArthur's pronouncement on 6 February that "Manila had fallen'' it soon became very…
1945-02-15
The Walled City
The Intramuros is an ancient Spanish fortress-town built in the late 16th century. The outer walls were designed to withstand the greatest sieges possible, being 40 feet thick at the base and 15 feet thick at the top. Only 155mm, 8-inch, and 240mm…
1945-02-23
1st Cavalry Moves North
After the troopers of 1st Cavalry Division reached the shore of Manila Bay on 12 February, they turned their attention north. In their advance toward the dock facilities and the Walled City, the cavalrymen would encounter a number of Japanese…
1945-02-15
Fighting for the Fortresses
Once across the Pasig River, the 37th Infantry Division pushed south into the Paco District and west along the river toward Intramuros. The Gls quickly discovered that they were in the thick of the Japanese defenses. Every store and house had a…
1945-02-21
Clearing the North Shore
The 37th Infantry Division's advance through Manila north of the Pasig River was greatly delayed. In their fighting withdrawal toward the river, the Japanese were systematically blowing up every large building in their path and setting hundreds more…
1945-02-03
A Change in the Government
The final battle in Manila would involve the capture or destruction of the three large government buildings east of lntramuros. The Legislative and Finance Buildings would be the responsibility of 2nd Battalion, 148th Infantry Regiment, 37th Infantry…
1945-02-28
Dash for the Stairs
Private First Class Cleto Rodriguez's actions fighting at the Paco Railroad Station just fifteen days earlier would earn him a nomination for the Medal of Honor. Now, once again, he would be called upon to display valor far beyond what was expected.…
1945-02-26
Iwabuchi's Sarcophagus
For the weary troopers of the 1st Cavalry Division, their final fight in Manila would be to secure the Agriculture Building where Admiral Iwabuchi had located his headquarters. Surrounded and with no hope for eventual victory, the well-stocked…
1945-02-26
Bamboo Spear Banzai
After the 2nd Squadron, 12th Cavalry Regiment had cleared the Customs building, it was a matter of mopping up the remainder of the South Port facilities near the shore of Manila Bay. In performing their mission, the 1st Squadron generally encountered…
1945-02-24
A Mass for Humanity
Situated near the center and southeast of the walled city of Intramuros were the San Augustin churches. Heavy fighting erupted all around.
1945-02-23
Through the Breach, Into the Fire
The entire area within the walls of Intramuros had been subjected to a massive artillery barrage the previous day and another artillery attack that lasted for ninety minutes on the morning of the main attack. When the last shells bad roared overhead~…
1945-02-23
Fortress Within A Fortress
FORT SANTIAGO, MANILA, LUZON, PHILIPPINES, 23 February 1945: Shells from 240mm and 155mm American guns finally managed to breach a portion of the outer walls of this ancient Spanish fort along the south shore of the Pasig River. To escape the…
1945-02-23
And the Walls Come A-Tumblin' Down
Their virtually unopposed river crossing came as a welcome relief to the men of 3rd Battalion, 129th Regiment. Taking full advantage of the limited Japanese response, the Americans advanced deeper into the ruins of the ancient walled city, placing…
1945-02-23
Assault Across the Pasig
The battle to take the ancient Spanish city of Intramuros was ready to begin. The 1st Cavalry Division was in position west and south of the walled city. The 37th Infantry Division held key buildings east of Intramuros. Now, an amphibious assault…
1945-02-23
Struggle Without End
Even with most off the major buildings in the Hospital/University complex now under their control, the troopers of 5th Cavalry were having an extremely difficult time in eliminating the remaining isolated pockets of Japanese from the area. It seemed…
1945-02-23
No Greater Love
Advancing through a light rain shower down a narrow street in the South Port Area, the men of E Troop suddenly came under machine gun and small arms fire from the Customs building. Most of the troopers dove under cover or ran behind the supporting…
1945-02-23
The Price of Postage
While the 3rd Battalion was trying to secure the City Hall, the 1st Battalion of the 145th Infantry Regiment was preparing to attack the General Post Office. Situated along the south shore of the Pasig River, the five-story tall Post Office building…
1945-02-22
You Can Fight City Hall
The first attempt on 20 February to reach City Hall had failed. A second attempt the next day met with similar results. Beginning just before dawn on 22 February, a heavy barrage of 155mm and 105mm artillery and 81mm and 4.2-inch mortars-accompanied…
1945-02-22
Checkout Time
The five-story tall Manila Hotel stood watch over Dewey Boulevard, the South Port area, and the open park areas surrounding lntramuros. To gain entrance, the troopers of 12th Cavalry Regiment would have to dash across the open areas of Wallace Field,…
1945-02-21
Venture Into Carnage
As the Americans edged deeper into the Ermita District of downtown Manila, the Japanese response became increasingly violent. Dominating this area was the City Hall with its tall tower. Should the Americans gain control of this building it would…
1945-02-20
High Rent Hooligans
In downtown Manila just east of the High Commissioner's Office were several high-rise hotels and apartment buildings. These were the University Apartments, Peralta Apartments, Alhambra Apartments, Bayview Hotel, Miramar Apartments, Luneta Hotel and…
1945-02-20
First, Do No Harm
From 16-18 February the 148th Infantry Regiment repeatedly assaulted the Japanese positions in the Medical School and Science Buildings and had penetrated the eastern portion of the University Hospital as well. On the morning of 19 February, the 5th…
1945-02-19
Meeting at the Elks Club
Situated near the shores of Manila Bay were the Elks Club, the Army/Navy Club, and the High Commissioner's Office. These large structures blocked access towards Burnham Green, the Manila Hotel, and the South Port area. The Japanese positioned their…
1945-02-19
Breakin' Into the Slammer
The new Police Station was built near the intersection of Isaac Peral and San Marcelino Streets, a few blocks northeast of the Philippine Hospital. Two stories tall and made of reinforced concrete and steel, it was fortified inside and out with…
1945-02-18
Deliver Us from Evil
The task set before the 3rd Battalion was daunting. After two days of desperate struggle, the Japanese were still firmly in control of all major buildings within the University-Hospital complex. Barricaded within the stone and brick buildings and…
1945-02-16
No Safe Refuge
The 2nd Battalion, 148th Infantry Regiment finally reached Taft Avenue and proceeded to attack the Japanese holed up in the Philippine University and Hospital Complex. The Japanese had fortified themselves inside the hospital and, against Geneva…
1945-02-15
Light 'em Up
The Tabacalera Cigar Factory and warehouses were situated along the western shore of the Estero de Tanque. From here the Japanese could interdict any movement across the estero or the nearby bridge. Initial attacks on 10 February were repulsed by…
1945-02-12
The Grim Reaper's Lair
Situated a few blocks southeast of the new Manila Police Station was the Paco Cemetery. It was built in 1820 of two concentric adobe walls ten feet high and ten feet thick. Entry to the central courtyard was through four gates in the walls.…
1945-02-11
Power Struggle on Provisor
Situated along the south shore of the Pasig River, Isla Provisor was 400 by 125 meters in size, but with no sandy beaches, no seawall, no tropical jungle; just factory buildings, tin-roofed workshops, a power plant, a boiler room, and a large coal…
1945-02-10
Race to the River
Flames from a huge fire in the Tondo District forced the Americans to alter their path of advance towards the Pasig River east into the Binondo District in Manila. To slow the American advance, the Japanese set up roadblocks at key intersections…
1945-02-05
The Commissar's House
The Sixth Army was being bled white amidst the ruins. The rifle strength of whole companies was often reduced to little more than a squad in an attempt to take a single house. The battle lines were now drawn through the hallways of individual…
1942-11-09
A Few Rounds
By the beginning of March it was clear that it was just a matter of time before all of Germany west of the Rhine would be cleared of active German troops. Still the Germans launched a series of limited counterattacks intending to disrupt the Allies’…
1945-03-02
Protesting the Speculative
General Simonds, commander of the 2nd Canadian Corps, had insisted that he have a supply road with which to maintain the momentum of his attack and planned to use the Goch-Xanten railroad bed for this purpose. The raised track was flanked on both…
1945-02-27
The Good Shepherd
The North Shore Regiment had been ordered to advance toward the Rhine. Its Commander, Lt. Col. John Rowley, was known as the Good Shepherd for the long walking staff he usually carried. The regiment closed on Kepplen with the two lead companies…
1945-02-26
Obstinate Canadians
Company D, Royal Hamilton Light Infantry had recently made an unsupported night attack to capture a patch of woods that had been the staging area for many counterattacks by the 116th “Greyhound” Panzer Division. Given the importance of the woods line…
1945-02-26
Battered Remnants
As the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry battled for the Goch-Kalkar road, they were worried about their right flank, with good reason. Elements of the Essex Scottish Regiment were hanging on their by the skin of their teeth. Although they had…
1945-02-21
Lawless Ways
The RHLI had been in position on their objective for over 24 hours. They had taken a beating but held, although the Schwanenhof farmstead changed hands multiple times. Frustration on the German side was noticeable, as ad-hoc assault after ad-hoc…
1945-02-20
Got Milk?
During Operation Veritable, the Canadian 4th Infantry Brigade and attached formations were to capture a vital stretch of roadway that connected Goch and Kalkar. The Goch-Kalkar road was a fairly ordinary paved two-lane market road surrounded by…
1945-02-19
Lambs Led to Slaughter
As A and D Companies attacked the middle of the Goch-Kalkar road, the inexperienced C Company attacked on the RHLI left flank. Most of C Company, comprised mainly of non-riflemen soldiers such as artillerymen and service corps men, had never fired a…
1945-02-19
Tickling the Ivories
The Canadians dug in immediately upon capturing the Schwanenhof farm. German fallschirmjager counterattacked soon after but were repulsed. Major Kennedy, the wounded commander of B Company, barked out orders from his cellar command post, directing…
1945-02-19
Goch Ya
With the civilians evacuated and the town fortified by two anti-tank ditches, the defenders of the town of Goch waited patiently for the inevitable Allied assault. For the Allies, the plan was for a dual assault by two Scottish Divisions via a set…
1945-02-18
Hervorst Hell
At Hervorst, a village slightly north of Goch that was also part of the Siegfried line, a company of Camerons bumped up against several enormous pillboxes. They had concrete walls 3-feet thick and were cleverly camouflaged under dirt and grass, with…
1945-02-15
Married Up
At the start of Operation Veritable, the battle lines tan throughout the meticulously maintained Reichswald National Forest. Montgomery required that the forest be cleared of the Germans of the 86th Infantry Corp who had plenty of time to prepare a…
1945-02-11
Bewildered and Belligerent
The veteran 43rd Wessex Division was being held in reserve for a breakthrough opportunity. As D+1 drew to a close, the news of the imminent capture of Cleve came to General Horrocks. Reports of the capture of Cleve were premature, however. As the…
1945-02-10
To the Matter Born
By D+1 of the Operation Veritable campaign, the King’s Own Scottish Borderers had been ordered to cross the Westwall defenses in force near the Reichswald Forest as part of the 15th Scottish Division’s assault. They found a location to cross the…
1945-02-09
Water Foul
Operation Veritable kicked off in the early morning of the 8th, and progress throughout the day was better than expected. Plans called for several units to wait to attack after darkness had fallen, and some of these had the unenviable task of…
1945-02-09
Sims Ridge
The 27th Infantry Regiment had been attacking the 900-foot-high hill called Galloping Horse for three days. Only Hill 523, the head of the horse-shaped mass, was left. F Company would advance through the jungle on the right flank. E Company would…
1943-01-13
Hill 27
Hill 27 was a separate rocky elevation, 920 feet high, just east of the Gifu. The leading assault troops of the 2nd Battalion gained the summit of the hill at 0907 without firing a shot. By 1130 hours the entire assault force had reached the summit,…
1943-01-02
The Christmas Gifu
Army troops, having taken over for most of the Marine formations, were eager to prove their mettle on the assault. Their first task on the long list of objectives required to clear the island was a strongpoint called the Gifu. This particularly nasty…
1942-12-25
The Ravine
The Japanese began to fortify their positions, particularly in the hills west of the Matanikau. The westward U.S. advance threatened supply routes leading to inland positions. Using reverse slope positions that could not be hit by artillery, the…
1942-11-24