Reading names at American Cemetery Manila

[GON]

Received a invitation to the promotion of a USMC Senior Non Commissioned Officer. The ceremony was held at the American Military Cemetery in Manila, Philippines. Over 16,000 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines are at rest at this cemetery. There are two additional American Military Cemeteries in the Philippines. Of note , the vast majority who gave the ultimate sacrifice were in their teens, and twenties.

Arriving early to the cemetery this Saturday morning I am reading names . Something I think that may be overlooked at times in documentaries are the different MOSs that were killed in a combat zone.

Today three names caught my eyes. Milledge P. Adams, USN, from South Carolina, a mess attendant. Glenn Alderman, USNR, from Virginia, a ships cook. And John Alfonso, USN, from Florida, a ships cook.

I also see pharmacist mate, motor machinist mate, this list of all the MOSs that paid the ultimate sacrifice goes on and on.

Always deeply humbled looking across at the many thousand of White Crosses and Star of David markers of primarily young adults and teenagers that sacrificed their lifes so we can live in freedom.

 

[GON]

 

[walterjay]

Seeing that is indeed sobering.

I visited the graveyards in Normandy this summer. It brings a deeper understanding of the sacrifices that were made. I will never forget the visit.

 

[berniedd]

What a privilege, GON! The Manila American Cemetery is the largest overseas American military cemetery in the world.

 

[GON]

What a privilege, GON! The Manila American Cemetery is the largest overseas American military cemetery in the world.

Of note, the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Manila was a week ago, 22 FEB 2025. Very few veterans of the Battle of Manila are still alive.

Lest we forget.

 

[dnewton3]

 

[alarmguy]

I think I posted in here. I was there in Nov 2024. Im man enough to admit, the second we walked past the guards and started down the road to the pavilion. I had to stop looking at the fields of graves, solemnly I was fighting back the tears unsuccessfully I had to wipe them away. Sobering is an understatement. Largest WWII American Cemetery in the world. About 10 minutes from the main GBC area.
Very Sobering of those whose bodies were never found. Their names on all these walls in the center of 17,000 graves of those who were found and transported.

My wife and I felt compelled to pray for them and their families in the Chapel>

Not a blade of grass out of place

Im very much a patriot and somehow I wish we could teach and fly every youth and MANY adults to one of these cemeteries , so they can understand the scope of brutally our people and other people of the world have fought in the dirt and brutal battle fields with primitive technology so they and other people of the world could live free.
Sorry @GON dont mean to hi-jack your thread. Seeing your post brought back those feelings of my trip there Nov 2024.

Another place we went to in Manilla were the torture chambers that many Philippine people had endured until freed by MacArthur.

 

[Owen Lucas]

Im very much a patriot and somehow I wish we could teach and fly every youth and MANY adults to one of these cemeteries , so they can understand the scope of brutally our people and other people of the world have fought in the dirt and brutal battle fields with primitive technology so they and other people of the world could live free.

This would be very effective.