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2 “This Rumor Has Gone Too Far!” Acronyms and code names played a big role in the military lexicon of World War II. “Radar,” “OVERLORD,” and “D-Day” all had an additional life once the war was over. One name, however, seemed to fade away not long after its birth. That was Operation PLUM. The word “PLUM” was stamped on every piece of equipment and footlocker in October after the 27th received their secret orders. The reason this term has received little attention decades later is that for many it came to mean death, for most three and a half years as a POW, and for all an experience with extreme frustration. When Stephenson returned from his brief honeymoon trip to New York, most of the officers knew where the 27th was headed—the Philippines. Enlisted men like SSgt. Louis Kolger considered this a chance for travel and great adventure. “Our destination was supposed to be secret, and when the subject came up at Hunter Air Base, people would tell you so. On the other hand, you could go to any saloon in Savannah, and they would tell you that the 27th was being sent to the Philippines.” Operation PLUM Although many members of the 27th thought that PLUM was an acronym and meant either “Philippines-Luzon-Unaccompanied-Manila” or “Philippines-Luzon-Manila,” it was actually a code name for the “U.S. Army in the Philippines.” Pfc. Leland Sims of the Headquarters Squadron recalled that as a joke he and several others informed their families that PLUM stood for “Places Lost Unto Man.” Those who jokingly called it “PLUM to Hell,” however, would turn out to have the most accurate description of what was to follow. Some who had initially signed on escaped the assignment by pure luck. Pvt. Ralph Harrell had been with the 3rd Bombardment Group at Barksdale “This Rumor Has Gone Too Far!” 25 Field in Louisiana and moved with them to Savannah. He missed the Louisiana maneuvers in September because he was attending a technical school. A week before the 27th left for the Philippines, one of his hometown buddies in the 3rd, Pvt. Granville “Buck” Prewett, said, “Ralph, if you get out now and don’t go overseas, you will miss all of the excitement, and have nothing to talk about.” Prewett had just signed up for the 27th on a bulletin board in the cafeteria. Harrell also went over and put his name on the list. Later that day, however, his girlfriend in Savannah talked him out of it, and he crossed off his name. A day later the orders were cut, and those on the list were in the 27th and no longer part of the 3rd. By going to the Philippines, Buck definitely had something to talk about. He would endure the Bataan Death March and three and a half years in Japanese prison camps. Many looked back on that month of October as being one of utter confusion . New men were suddenly assigned to the 27th. There were a few desertions by those who did not want to go overseas. Unfortunately, much equipment needed for the Philippines was left behind. Kolger was told to leave all his supplies and equipment in Savannah with the understanding that it would be replaced when he got to his new base. He left Savannah without as much as a screwdriver to service a bomb group. Some took items that seemed illogical at first. Hubbard got some advice from a friend when he brought his wife to her parents’ home in Ohio. “Ran into an old retired army officer who had served in the Far East. Inspired by his stories of the hunting possibilities in the Philippines, I visited the local sporting goods store and bought the only big game rifle they had, a Winchester 348.” Since most of the officers and enlisted men assumed they were going to a warm climate, they packed such items as golf clubs and swimming suits. Gus Heiss, a pilot in the 17th Squadron from Houston, Texas, packed a small, but good, phonograph and his library of classical records. Despite the uncertainty over what to take, one thing seemed certain—the 27th would have A-24 dive bombers in the Philippines. Many of the pilots had only a few flights in the plane before they left Hunter. The promise was that the bombers would be there for them when they arrived in Manila. Majs...

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