Corregidor The Saga of a Fortress Author:James H. Belote, William M. Belote Corregidor is a hallowed name in American history, a symbol of courage and sacrifice -- of victory in defeat. Yet this book, based on seven years of extensive research in official records and interviews with hundreds of individuals, is the first full story of the loss of Corregidor in 1942 and its recapture in February, 1945. — After the fall of ... more »Bataan in April, 1942, Japanese heavy artillery hidden on the peninsula began a massive bombardment of the island fortress only two miles away -- the last obstacle to Japan's timetable for conquest of the southwest Pacific. Corregidor's lonely defenders endured this pounding for almost a month and braced themselves for the inevitable amphibious assault. On the night of May 5 it came, and for over twelve hours The Rock's garrison fought the enemy to a standstill -- often hand-to-hand -- in an unsuccessful but heroic effort to hold out against hopeless odds.
The recapture of the island in 1945 was equally hard fought. Ignoring dangerously high winds, American paratroopers surprised the Japanese garrison with a daring drop on Corregidor's highest point, thus sealing the fate of the defenders on lower ground. Then for nearly two weeks the Americans proceeded to blast the stubborn enemy out of The Rock's caves and tunnels, stopping several desperate banzai charges and capturing only twenty-one Japanese out of five thousand defenders. The first battle was fought by Army and Navy Regulars, Marines, and Philippine Scouts; the second by a citizen army of GIs. This inspiring and poignant narrative pays full tribute to all of them.« less