On January 9, 1945, the U.S. military arrived at Lingayin Bay, the scheduled landing site.
Three years ago, the Japanese army landed on Luzon Island from here. MacArthur chose to land here in order to complete his "perfect revenge plan."
At 7 a.m. on January 9, naval fire support ships bombarded the beach in accordance with the combat plan, and carrier-based aircraft also conducted fierce bombings on the landing site.
At 9:30, four divisions of the 6th Army began to attack the beach on more than 2,500 landing ships.
Since Yamashita Fengfumi had no intention of conducting anti-landing operations at all, the U.S. military's operation this time was even smoother than when they landed on Laite Island. On the first day alone, 68,000 people successfully landed and established a 27-kilometer-wide and 6-meter-deep kilometers of landing ground.
MacArthur also landed on the coast in the afternoon just like he landed on Lite Island.
"Thank God I'm back."
Facing reporters accompanying the army, MacArthur said proudly: "I have fulfilled my promise, I am back!"
Yes, he's back.
However, this is only the beginning of the Battle of Luzon Island. A more brutal war is still waiting for these Americans!
The first goal of the US military after landing on Luzon Island was naturally to liberate Manila.
MacArthur knew that after the US military successfully landed, the Japanese army would definitely vent their anger by massacring prisoners of war. If the US military did not arrive in Manila early, I am afraid that the men who had defended the Bataan Peninsula with MacArthur would have perished.
And Nimitz was urging him to return the ship to him quickly, because he was preparing to land on Iwo Jima.
"Sir, Corporal Frank Antoine has arrived."
MacArthur, who was looking at the map, immediately put down his work: "Let him come in."
As soon as Frank came in, he saluted MacArthur: "Mr. Commander."
"Take it easy, Corporal."
MacArthur looked at the American corporal who had narrowly escaped death.
He has recovered a lot of energy, but the wounds on his face and hands are still visible.
Then, MacArthur said, "Tell me what you know."
"Including me, there are forty-six people in total, forty-six prisoners of war."
Although he was full of fear about the memories, Frank still tried his best to speak in a calm tone:
“Early in the morning, we were kicked out of the prisoner of war camp. We got on the truck and were taken to a cave. The Japanese let us enter the cave. Although we had discovered abnormalities, they threatened us with bayonets.
When we entered, the Japanese began to seal the entrance to the cave, and then the most terrifying scene happened. Before the entrance of the cave was almost completely blocked, they began pouring gasoline into the cave and lighting it on fire.
We screamed and begged crazily, but the only response we received was the wild laughter of the beasts outside the cave. I saw with my own eyes the people around me falling down one after another, wailing in agony..."
At this point, he burst into tears.
"Please calm down, Corporal." Although MacArthur was also filled with anger, he managed to remain calm: "How did you escape death?"
Frank adjusted his mood: "I tore off my clothes, then peed myself, covering my nose to keep me from suffocating for a while.
I found that in the corner of the cave, there were traces of digging, and then I discovered that there was a grenade hidden underneath. I know someone put it here deliberately.
I immediately took out the grenade. When I heard the Japanese leaving, I immediately stuffed the grenade into the cave that blocked the entrance, then detonated the grenade, blowing a hole out of the cave entrance. "
It was through this hole that Frank tried his best to dig out a hole that was barely big enough for him to get out and escape from this place of death.
“All I could think about at the time was to get out of here as soon as possible.” Frank gasped, “But I didn’t know where to run. At this moment, a car suddenly stopped in front of me.
A Japanese officer got out of the car. I recognized him. He was also there when he drove us into the cave. At that time I was completely desperate. However, the development of things was not at all what I imagined..."
Frank still clearly remembers every detail of what happened that day.
Li Zhifeng stepped out of the car and said only one sentence in less than proficient English: "I know someone will find that grenade!"
With just these words, Frank knew that the man in front of him had saved him.
"Who are you?" Frank asked in surprise.
"Don't worry about who I am. It's an emergency. Get in the car with me."
Just like that, Frank got into the Japanese officer's car.
After driving for a while, Li Zhifeng stopped the car: "Get out of the car."
Immediately, he took out a bag and handed it to Frank: "Inside are weapons and food. Keep walking towards here. You will be able to see the guerrillas soon. I can only send you here."
Frank didn't know how grateful he should be to his savior: "Sir, can I know your name?"
"No need." Li Zhifeng smiled: "I am already a dead person, and dead people have no names."
What do you mean, dead person?
Frank didn't understand at all.
"correct."
Li Zhifeng said to him again: "There is an envelope in the bag. The contents inside must be handed over to Commander MacArthur."
Did you talk about yourself?
MacArthur immediately asked: "Did you bring this envelope?"
"Yes, sir."
Frank immediately took out the envelope.
MacArthur took it.
Inside the envelope were eight photos.
When he saw these eight photos, MacArthur's expression changed.
The photo clearly captures how the Japanese army massacred the forty-six American prisoners of war.
This is the most direct evidence.
"gentlemen."
At this moment, his assistant hurriedly walked in: "The information we just received is that 150 of our prisoners of war have been executed."
On December 14, 1944, just as the U.S. military was preparing to attack Luzon, the Japanese army executed 150 U.S. prisoners of war in Palawan.
The execution method was exactly the same as when Frank and others were executed.
The prisoners of war were driven into air-raid shelters. The Japanese sealed the exits, poured gasoline into the caves, and burned the prisoners alive.
Fortunately, U.S. Army Private First Class Eugene Nelson also survived and recounted the experience to U.S. Army Intelligence on January 7, 1945.
MacArthur's face was completely distorted.
He clutched these eight photos tightly in his hand: "This time the beasts, beasts, these Japanese monkeys who deserve to be thrown to hell will face the most violent revenge from the Americans."
"Sir." Frank said boldly: "We still have many prisoners of war in the Philippines. The top priority now is to rescue them as soon as possible, otherwise it will be too late and the Japanese will kill them all!"
