re: #270 CuriousLurker

Yep. I remember my dad talking about how their job was to be sent onto an island where they had to clear out any dangers while the rest of the troops waited offshore. Once things were “safe” (or as safe as they can be during war) they’d light some sort of smoke bomb type flares that would send up colored smoke to let those waiting know where to go.

In that letter from the Philippines, he didn’t mention any combat—IIRC he was in Manila—it mostly sounded like they went in to secure the place after the Japanese had been routed. Oddly, the one thing I do remember is something about money from the banks lying around everywhere because it was now worthless—maybe it was Japanese money?—becuase he even joked about them being bank robbers.

Manila must have been a nightmare…virtually destroyed and untold thousands of civilian casualties…I can’t imagine