Helpful Score: 1
Ensign Richardson went out to the Philippines a year before the war began. Assigned to the PT boats, he served with them until they were sunk or ordered out. He then began working with the Filipino guerrillas. I have read numerous books on the exploits of the men and women, American and Filipino, who fought the Japanese throughout the Philippines, forming one of the greatest guerrilla forces in history. Richardson's is just one of these amazing stories. When American forces returned to the Philippines, many of the islands were already all or mostly under guerrilla control.
It is almost a crime that their struggle has not received the attention it is due. Why? Well, from my readings in other books, this was because Douglas MacArthur and his staff wanted all the credit for 'liberating' the Philippines. MacArthur even 'invaded' and 'liberated' Philippine islands where the guerrillas had already defeated the Japanese.
It is almost a crime that their struggle has not received the attention it is due. Why? Well, from my readings in other books, this was because Douglas MacArthur and his staff wanted all the credit for 'liberating' the Philippines. MacArthur even 'invaded' and 'liberated' Philippine islands where the guerrillas had already defeated the Japanese.
