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The story you are about to read was actually written by my father’s hand,Ignacio B. Manuel, and I am digitizing it for record purposes.

I am writing it as he wrote it….

1943 Japanese occupation in the Philippines. I was15 years old. It all started in my hometown Piddig,Illocos Norte, Barrio 19, Nagribcan, headquarters ofguerrillas USAFIP NL which is the 15th Infantry. Iwas in a company called Ordnance my boss SGT.Madamba and LT Fabian. We have about 50personnels, we do have a lot of volunteers every daypeople can’t refused to work.

At times I was given assignment to go downtowncheckout positioning of Japanese soldiers on thepremises of the town, and my boss will relay the infoto the infantry intelligence. My weapon is a .44caliber revolver with only three bullets, the tworounds is for enemy, and last round is for myself,order not to be captured alive.

One day month of September 1943 on my way backto camp a Japanese aircraft spotted me walking justone kilometer from town. I got panic and scared Irun toward the bamboo bushes, only knowing that theaircraft is using his machine gun to me. The aircraftcircled four times shooting where I was before hedeparted.

We have in the company expert in weapons, eithermaking or fixing, two guys from Batac Ilocos Norteand three guys from LaPog Ilocos Sur. Barut is wherewe camp, we servicing weapons that’s out of

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commission from the infantry. From Barut wetransferred to Otoy for safety. Than leaving Otoytraveled to Abra Province Lagangilang we short cutcrossing the mountain by foot. We were followingthe movements of the infantry. From Lagangilang toIlocos Sur Susupe, than to Narvacan. From there westarted moving toward mountain province, just keeppushing Japanese soldiers to consolidate them intoone location. Next camp was Baoco, alreadymountain province, than to kilometer 90 where thestrongest hold of Japanese soldiers in Northern Luzon.

Month ofSeptember 1944received orderthat all guerillaswereautomaticallyinducted toPhilippine Armymy ASN no.177269. Middlepart of SeptemberI got sick and wassent to hospitallowland TagudinIlocos Sur. I get

well in two weeks I returned to my company butalready disbanded all I know I was in another

company Motor Pool 121st Infantry Paraoir BalaoanLa Union where we camp and stayed until order ofseparation from Philippine government.

October 1944 when Japanese surrenders in therestrongest hold mountain province of Northern Luzon.Honorably discharged June 6, 1946 from 23rd InfantryI’m 18 yearsold. Afterdischarge Istayed with afriendGregorioNerosaNagribcanLuna La Union. I got me a job driving bus. I drivefor six months and got home. I made trip to CagayanApari two times driving six-by-six truck converted topassenger. Than it was opening for school June 1947I attended class 1st year high school Roosevelt HighSchool, Piddig, Ilocos Norte. In the middle of July Ireceived letter from Gregorio, stating of Guamemployment July 27, 1947 I left home to see myfriend Gregorio. I have 80 pesos suppose to be myschool tuition fee. I stayed in my friend’s house andwaited for him but his wife doesn’t want him to gountil I decided myself to leave him. On the end ofSeptember 1947 I took a ride to Manila City by a

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friend who is returning equipments to QuartermasterDepot, by Sambrano bus station, Manila City.

Early morning 1st day of October 1947 I am atMandaloyon Recruiting Employment for Guam MK& PK. My first day to be by the gate. Security guardis asking three hundred pesos for entrance fee, which Iknow I don’t have that money. I told the guard I amnot seeking employment, I just want to see themanager. Following morning same guard but didn’tlet me in without the money three hundred pesos.Third morning same guard he got pissed off to see meagain, so instead he wave his hand to me and say“okay go!” So I slowly walk in but my inside waslaughing then. I see the manager, told him I justrecently discharge from the Philippine Army and Iwant employment for Guam. He look at me andasked what job do I want. I said either cookhelper ormess attendant. He let me sign two contractwhichever is open when reach Guam. But requiredfor physical. During after lunch my name was calledthat the results of my physical exam was all cleared. Iwas briefed to stay in camp waiting for shipment,likewise salary started.

November 7, 1947 departed P.I. we were delayedarriving Guam due to a typhoon. November 17arrived Guam, port area by ship LST 883. We weretransported to Andersen we stayed in barracks made

of tents my salary .21 cents per hour. In four monthsjob is completed March 18, 1948, we were all liningup for processing to go back to P.I. By this time tworepresentative from the Army civilian personnelMarianas Bonnis Command were asking anyone tostay Guam will raise up their hands. I was the firstone, they asked me what I can do in the Army, so Isaid “I can drive light, medium, and heavy vehicle.”They were happy to hire me as a messenger driver,starting pay salary of .44 cents per hour.

March 19, 1948 started working for the Army, myduties is a messenger driver tointer-island offices Navy, AirForce, likewise pickup and ordeliver federal employees toand from airport terminal totheir dormitory compound,

even off duty or after office hours. The two years onthis job I reached the highest pay salary as a drivermessenger, my boss administrative officer MajorPrahanski, interviewed me in his office to report forduty to Chief Duke, Fire Department. That’s when Istarted a fireman’s job as a fireman trainee Septemberof 1950. In 1952 when all Army is departing Guamdue to Korean War, we were then automaticallytransferred to Air Force Command Andersen, Guam.

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I made request to Civ. Pers. Air Force of my intentionto get married, permission was granted. Married to

Rosario Guerrero RiosFebruary 23, 1952.Likewise permission to liveoffbase was given, andhouse was inspected forsafety requirements. I tookvacation to P.I. with myfamily in year ’53 and ’55by travel orders

government expenses by ship. I lost this privilegewhen I got reduction in force September 1956. I havemy citizenship April 18, 1957. I passed civil servicetest and started working federal trust territory as aWarehouseman August 8, ’57. Likewise I passedfirefighting test and I am on the register waiting forjob opening. August 1960 inter-agency transfer to AirForce Fire Department as a Driver Operator GS-5.

I was given opportunity to attendschooling in Illinois Chanute AirForce Base for driving newmodern fire truck P-2, that wasJuly 1972. Next schooling samelocation September 1974 forFirefighting Rescue Operation,its all Air Force expenses.

I stayed on this job until I retired at the age of 55,mandatory retirementDecember 1982. Lastposition held GS-7, Step 8,Station Captain $29,000per annum, hold positionfor one year and sixmonths, before retiring onfederal job for 33 yearsservice.

Two years before retirement I started working forparttime job as a Security Guard (MSA) Agency to

buildup my social securitypension. October 14, ’80started up to the presenttime with beginning rank ofPrivate. In two years I wasselected Security Officer of

the Year. I was then in the rank of Corporal. As partof the appreciation I was given free dinner of two atKing’s Restaurant. Right after my retirement from thefederal I change my status to a full time. Covering alot of open post at anywhere anytime. I build up myrank to the present as a Lieutenant Colonel Managerof Hotel Operations effective 1st of January of 1991.

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I have survived with my ownsweat and energy to raise up mybig family 5 boys and 6 girls. Iowned my home and car a carthat’s all it needs to survivedsince I was independent at theage of 15 years old. I haveexperience a lot, though I havework my life up to this time.

Again I am seeking to have my second retirementparty for my social security pension the only way Ithink I could. Show as a good example toward myfamily that I mean business, in which mypreparation for the future to come is all done and setto both heads of the family……

So help me God…… end of my life history

IKE MANUEL