Malaybalay City During World War II Chapter 3 Liberation
Posted by Delbert on July 22nd, 2007
Liberation
Malaybalay City During World War II
The Japs in their retreat up the Sayre Highway blew up about 75 bridges. We could not move trucks or Artillery until bridges or by-passes were built. Many times we were lagging far behind our advancing troops This photo is of a Bailey Bridge which our Army Engineers could erect in a relatively short period of time. I believe they came in sections and were then put together.
Because of blown up bridges, after I went back with a truck convoy, I could not get back up to the troops on the Sayre Highway. I was routed with other convoys further west and passed by Lake Lanao where I made this picture.
Our convoys arrive in Iligan and I believe that we were among the first American soldiers to arrive here. The Japs had moved all of their troops to the Sayre Highway in a futile attempt to stall our drive.
Another Army Regiment had landed in the North and moved south toward Malaybalay. Our Regiment, the 124th, had been relieved from the lead by the 155th, another 31st Division Regiment a few days before meeting up with the troops coming down from the North. Now for the first time since our initial combat in New Guinea we had friendly troops between us and the enemy. However it’s not time to relax as the Japs attacked behind the lines that night and against our 2nd Battalion perimeter. The result they had 73 killed and we lost 2 men. This photo pictures some of the dead Japs.
To this guy from the flat land in Florida, this mountain was an impressive sight. (Mount Kitanglad)
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