Shadow Commander: The Epic Story of Donald D. Blackburn—Guerrilla Leader and Special Forces Hero by Mike Guardia

Shadow Commander: The Epic Story of Donald D. Blackburn—Guerrilla Leader and Special Forces Hero by Mike Guardia

Author:Mike Guardia [Guardia, Mike]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Tags: Bisac Code 1: HIS027100
ISBN: 9781612000794
Publisher: Casemate Publishers
Published: 2015-11-24T04:30:00+00:00


The next stop on Blackburn’s reorganization tour was Tuao. He established a temporary headquarters there and was soon joined by two other men: Tomas Quiochco, the Philippine Army lieutenant whom Volckmann had mentioned in his letter from August 5, and Barris, a former taxi driver. Barris had run afoul of the Japanese during the early days of the Occupation. One morning, Barris had driven the Japanese “puppet president,” Jose P. Laurel, to a local golf club in Manila. Minutes after leaving Barris’ cab, Laurel was shot and wounded in a brutal assassination attempt. Thinking that the cab driver had been an accessory to the crime, the Kempai Tai arrested him and locked him away at Fort Santiago. Although Barris had nothing to do with the assassination plot, the Japanese did not believe him. He was later released and acquitted of all charges, but his tenure at Fort Santiago was marked by severe torture and savage beatings. At one point, the Japanese had forced him to drink diluted sulfuric acid to obtain a confession—a stomach pump narrowly saved his life. A third new arrival was a woman, Socorro Viloria, a former nun who had forsaken her vows and pledged her service as a spy for the guerrillas.

In a letter dated October 5, 1944, Blackburn conveyed the following updates to Volckmann:

I have written Manriquez of my findings in his District. I hope he does not resent my frankness.

I have contacted a doctor who wants to join up, Calbes Diego of Masarat Grande. I have commissioned him a First Lieutenant and given him the immediate mission of buying up all the medical supplies he can find in Masarat Grande.

Joaquin Dunuan [a Philippine Army captain who had joined the guerrillas in August] are reporting progress to the north [organizing guerrilla companies in said area]. Dunuan has organized three companies in his new sector. He reports that the mayor of Pinukpuk is pro-Jap and has sent him an ultimatum. Swick [who recently escaped from his Japanese prison camp] is in or near the town of Tuao. I sent Lieutenant Quiocho north to Swick. Dunuan and Swick are operating in bad malaria and blackwater fever country and I can use any amount of quinine you can spare.

Recruits are coming in all the time. One of the recent ones, Lieutenant Agneo, claims to have been in touch with one of Robert Arnold’s guerrillas. I sent one of my new agents, Miss Socorro Viloria, into the area where Arnold was reported to be, and she confirmed Lieutenant Agneo’s story. So I am sending Agneo into the same area with a letter from me that may convince Arnold that our attempts to bring him in are not a trap.

I have enclosed letters for the United States. I have sealed one to Miss Ann Smith. I can assure your headquarters that nothing of importance from a military or Japanese viewpoint is included. But if same must be censored then go to it.



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