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Chapter 12: “Whatever You Do, Don’t Get under the Damned Truck!”
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Chapter12 341 C H A P T E R 1 2 “Whatever YouDo,Don’tGet undertheDamnedTruck!” P rivate Henry Brodginski was still behind the oscilloscope in the SCR-270Boperationsvanat12:40p.m.,excitedlymonitoringthe approachingJapanesebombers.Hiscommandingofficer,Lieutenant Wimer,hadtoldhimtostayonthescopeuntilthefirstbombshit. ExceptfortheplotterandBrodginski,alloftheotheroperationsvan crewmenhadtakenrefugeinthetrenchjustoffIbabeach.SergeantWade NelmswasintheAirWarningCompanydetachment’snearbyradiotent, preparingtoleavehisdutystationforsafety,accompaniedbyhisassistant, Pfc.OrvilleStreetandthetelephoneoperator,Pvt.JarrietMoore.Nelms andhismenhadkeptbusyallmorningtakingcallsfromtheoperations vanontheJapanesepickupsandradioingtheinformationtotheAWS atNielson.Nowheleftthetentwiththeothers,headedforthetrench wheretherestofthedetachment’smenhadtakenrefuge. Downonthebeach,Pvt.MelvinThomaswasbusyfillingsandbags. SergeantThomasJ.HoskinshadaskedThomasearlierinthemorningto helptheotheroff-dutymeninthedetachmenttofillasmanyaspossible aftertheyreceivedthenewsofthePearlHarborattack.Ashepassedby thebigpowertruckconnectedtotheoperationsvan,Thomasraninto histwobestfriendsinthecompany,Pfc.BillToddandPvt.JohnHarler. LiketotheothersexpectinganattackonIbathatday,Thomastoldthem, “Whateveryoudo,don’tgounderthedamnedtruck!”Thomasknew thatifhispowertruckwiththebigLeroyenginefullofgasolinewerehit, itwouldcreateaninferno.Seekingshelterunderthebigtruckwouldbe atickettodisaster.1 AtthenorthendofIbaField,S.SgtWoodyMcBrideandhiscrewof nine men were eating sandwiches in their gun emplacement, prepared fortheimpendingattackontheirbase.The3dPursuitmenhaddugpits ch12 4/2/03,1:06PM 341 PartIV 342 oneithersideoftheemptyfifty-five-gallongasolinedrumsaroundthe emplacement.CorporalEricSchrammwasbehindoneofthetwo.30caliber LewisgunsandCpl.ClaireCrosswasinchargeoftheother.Meanwhile ,Pfc.OrvilleRolandwasbecomingincreasinglyanxiousashebusily addedsandbagstoanotherLewisgunemplacementnearthe3dPursuit’s communicationstent.Howweretheygoingtodefendthisplaceagainst aJapanesebombingattackwiththefewWorldWarI–vintageLewisguns theyhadsetup?Theyhadnootherantiaircraftweaponsattheirdisposal.2 HighOverIbaField Zambales,Luzon 12:40p.m.,December8,1941 Twentythousandfeetoverhead,Lt.TamotsuYokoyamaarrivedover theIbaarealeadingacolumnoffifty-oneZeros.Theyflewinalarge circle,searchingforenemyplanesintheskyprotectingthebase,andhe waspuzzledtofindnone.SurelytheAmericanshadissuedorderstoprepare torepelanattackonIbabeforetheJapanesearrived.Still,afterchecking forseveralmoreminutes,heconfirmedthatforsomeunknownreason therewerenoAmericanpursuitshipswaitingtointerceptthem.3 Three thousand feet higher thanYokoyama’s force ahead of him, Comdr.Yoshizo Suda was spreading out theTakao Kū’s twenty-seven Type1land-basedattackbombersunderhiscommandinpreparation for their northwest–southeast bombing run over the airfield. His own chūtaiconsistingofnineoftherikkōunderLt.JirōAdachiwasinaperfect Vformation,withthechūtaiofLts.HiroseMinebehindandonhisleft andKoshiro\Yokomizobehindandonhisright,alsoformingVs.Eachof thebomberswastounloaditstwelve132-poundbombsatthree-second intervalsasitpassedoverthefieldsothatthebombswouldcarpetthe smallbasebelow.SeatedinfrontofSudaatthecontrolsoftheleadrikkō, LieutenantAdachiobservedthetargetfromonhighashepreparedto leadhisnine-shipformationoverit.TheTakaoKū’sseniorbuntaichōanda veteranofmanyattacksonChungkinginearlieryears,Adachiwaspiloting theleadbomberinhischu\tai’sfirstattackagainstJapan’snewenemy, theAmericans.4 Adachi’sbombardier,Seiji...