Journal of Commodore Ramon A. Alcaraz

1
October1941
Journal of Commodore Ramon A. Alcaraz
2
October 6, 1941

• Our general mobilization is going according to
  schedule in all ten PA Military Districts.
  Personnel of the 2nd Regimental PA Reserve
  Divisions started reporting for duty in their
  respective Centers last Oct. 2. By 1946, when we
  gain our independence, the defense plan would
  have trained adequate personnel with necessary
  armaments. OSP will have 50 Q-Boats by then but
  at present we only have three. With the
  mounting build up of Japanese forces in nearby
  Indo China, I wonder what will happen if
  hostilities start way before 1946. Just
  wondering.
• 
  
• The bad news is the order by the US War
  Department that Plan Rainbow to be in effect in
  the Phil, which Gen MacArthur as CG, USAFFE
  objected vigorously as it means less priority
  tantamount to immediate loss. He believes we can
  be defended successfully if given proper military
  hardware and logistics for training a total
  200,000 troops expected to be mobilized by April
  1942.

3
October 6, 1941 - continued

• The good news is that joint naval exercises
  between Q-Boat RON One and PT RON THREE starts
  today to cover communications, basic tactics and
  formations. These exercises are essential for
  future coordinated joint operations and will last
  for a week.
• Manila news states that Nazi executed Czech
  Premier Alvis Elias. In Paris, six synagogues
  were blown up. Nazi warned Norwegians to comply
  with rules of the occupation or face starvation.

4
October 11, 1941

• After a week long Joint Tactical Training between
  our Q-Boat Squadron and PT Ron Three, the OSP
  Officers hosted a dinner dance for the USN
  Officers at the Winter Garden, Manila Hotel. I
  invited my good friend Lt Sid Huff USN to the
  affair. He escorted former Miss Philippines,
  Miss Conching Sunico.
• It was an impressive social gathering of the
  cream of Manila socialites and among those that
  graced the affair were Erlinda Kalaw Josephine,
  Purita and Baby Yulo Eva and Nina Estrada Helen
  Bennett Alice Dreyfus Aurora Zablan Paquita
  Puzon Amparito Gutierrez Leonor and Maxime
  Carmelo Helen and Evelyn Fabella Betty
  Arrastia Erlinda Garcia, Susan Magalona etc.
  This is not surprising as the Head of our
  Invitation Committee was Lt Charlie Albert '39.

5
October 11, 1941 - continued

• The atmosphere was joyful with a scent of
  Christmas. After dinner our guest enjoyed
  dancing with their new friends from Manila.
  Dancing lasted past midnight with our guest
  expressing profound thanks for a memorable
  evening. Lt John D Bulkeley, Sqn Comdr PT Ron
  Three told me how much they enjoyed the honor
  accorded them.
• Manila's front page good news announced USSR Red
  Army stopped the German advance towards Moscow.

6
October 14, 1941

• Reinforcements in equipment, ordnance and
  personnel that left USA last August started
  arriving in Manila Sept 20 last month. Today,
  the good news is about the arrival of Artillery
  Ordnance. Fifty 75 MM Self Propelled Mounts
  (SPM) Artillery Twenty four 155 MM Artillery
  and 155 MM Howitzers on wooden wheels that also
  arrived were issued to the unit of Col Alexander
  Quintard.
• Manila front page news is all about USSR Red
  Army's continued counter attacks against the
  Germans in Ukraine and Leningrad fronts claims
  Nazi losses to 3 million to their 1.1 million.

7
October 16, 1941

• The 1st Q-Boat Squadron had been training since
  last March and after six months tactical
  exercises in various scenarios, it is confident
  of performing anticipated missions. Our Joint
  Training with PT Ron 3, USN, bolstered not only
  our morale but also the number of our torpedo
  boats to a total of nine, a potent number to
  reckon with.
• Yesterday, Oct 15 Class '40 Officers at OSP
  celebrated its 18th month after graduation from
  PMA March 15,1940 at our officers club. We
  talked about other classmates in the other
  branches and noted that of the total 79 members,
  17 had married the cream of society in their
  respective communities leaving 62 of us
  bachelors.

8
October 16, 1941 - continued

• Among those married are (Mistah's last name and
  wife's 1st name) Mayo Pet Navarro Fe
  Estrada Trining Perez Virginia Lising
  Loudes Orias Toyang Esguerra Rosal Velasco
  Soty Sebastian Hilda Santos Pepay Piccio
  Llaning Soliman Aurora Picar Betty De
  Leon Marion Yap Betty Iway Lourdes
  Bocalbos Josie The brides came from nationally
  known families like Guidote, Ilano, Rosales,
  Marino, Sison, Celi, Mendoza, Uvaz, Arrizabal,
  etc.
• PMA graduates then had a scent of glamor and were
  in demand

9
October 16, 1941 - continued

• And so, as war clouds continue to gather, I
  decided to be the 18th member of the class to get
  married quietly this afternoon to my sweetheart,
  Lucille Johnson of LA. In tune with the time,
  the civil ceremony was performed by JP C Navarro
  at 1543 San Jorge, Manila with only close members
  of our family in attendance followed by dinner
  reception at the Johnson residence at Tennessee
  St. The only non-members of the family in that
  dinner was Lt Abraham Campo, my ExO and the five
  crew members of Q-112. I was given a week
  honeymoon leave spent in Baguio City and during
  my absence, Lt Campo was Actg Co, Q-112.
• Manila news report German troops took Odessa on
  the Black Sea. In France, the Vichy Govt
  sentenced Leon Blum, Edouard Deladier, Georges
  Mandel, Paul Reynard and Maurice Gamelin to life
  imprisonment.

10
October 24, 1941

• For the past few months, Gen MacArthur, as CG,
  USAFFE had made repesentations with Pres. Quezon
  for additional lands in the perimeter of Clark
  Field to increase its capacity to accomodate the
  planes he anticipated coming from the USAAC.
  Purchase negotiations were having difficulties
  due to aggrarian demands by certain sectors in
  Pampanga led by Pedro Abad Santos. To solve the
  problem, Pres Quezon made the bold decision to
  expropriate the needed areas for Clark Field
  effective Oct. 21, due to the exigencies of the
  emergency situation. The decision seems to meet
  public approval as no complaints were registered.
  

11
October 24, 1941 - continued

• After a week-long leave, I resumed my duties as
  CO, Q-112. However, during my leave, Manila News
  reported the resignation of the entire cabinet of
  Prince Konoye of Japan on Oct 17. Emperor
  Hirohito accepted the Konoye's decision and
  designated Gen Hideki Tojo, the War Minister, to
  head a new govt. To the US, the transformation
  holds threatening possibilities as Konoye was
  more receptive to Washington than Tojo has ever
  been.
• Manila News also reported the USS Kearney torpedo
  attack by German U-Boat near Iceland, survived
  the attack but 11 crew members were killed. This
  stirred passion in Washington specially in
  Congress. And today, Joe Dimaggio hit safely in
  a record 56 straight games.