I was with an United States Army regiment somewhere in the Philippines fighting what I can only assume is the Filipino Army. We were hunkered down in a bunker (just a big hole with dirt piled up on one side of it) exchanging rifle fire with unknown combatants. The funny thing is, I never felt nervous. Every now and then, someone would heave a grenade and it would explode causing unknown damage. After awhile of exchanging fire, the battle began to die down and we received word we could get out of our bunker. I remember walking up out of the bunker through some tall brush and trees to the edge of a dirt/gravel road. Across the road, about 50 yards away, was a group of Filipino soldiers all sitting around in a circle under a low hanging tree. I stood there and watched them for a few minutes clutching a grenade in my hand. I knew I could take them out if I wanted to. However, my commanding officer walked up beside me and looked back and forth from the group of soldiers to the grenade in my hand. After a moments thought, he waved his hand at them and said"forget it," so we walked up the road.
After a few minutes of walking up the road (I was now by myself...not sure where everyone else went), I came across this large group of prisoners, mostly Filipino and many children, being guarded by a thin Filipino lady in a large brimmed hat, loose robe-like clothing and sandals. She carried a long rifle in her hands, but she wore a big smile. She looked at me and motioned for me to fall in line with everyone else. I didn't feel threatened. One little Filipino kid in a baseball hat was at the back of the line as was running around, picking up sticks and rocks, basically just being a kid. The lady with the rifle called to him in Filipino, apparently telling him to get back in line and stop fooling around. She didn't yell...it was more like a babysitter. Once the kid got back in line, I got in line behind him, and down the road we walked.
After a few minutes of walking up the road (I was now by myself...not sure where everyone else went), I came across this large group of prisoners, mostly Filipino and many children, being guarded by a thin Filipino lady in a large brimmed hat, loose robe-like clothing and sandals. She carried a long rifle in her hands, but she wore a big smile. She looked at me and motioned for me to fall in line with everyone else. I didn't feel threatened. One little Filipino kid in a baseball hat was at the back of the line as was running around, picking up sticks and rocks, basically just being a kid. The lady with the rifle called to him in Filipino, apparently telling him to get back in line and stop fooling around. She didn't yell...it was more like a babysitter. Once the kid got back in line, I got in line behind him, and down the road we walked.
That is all I remember.
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