I am Segundo E. Vergara, World War II veteran. I served as Intelligence Officer, 3rd District, 121st Infantry of the United States Armed Forces in the Philippines, North Luzon, (USAFIP, NL).

            In this capacity, the then Regimental Commander Major George M. Barnett ordered me to report to him in Manabo, Abra, in the early part of September 1944. With me were Sgt. Leonardo M. Europa and Sgt. Constantino Vergara. We arrived in Manabo after a long journey on foot in the evening of that September day. (I could no longer recall the exact date.)

            Upon arrival, Major Barnett and I conferred in secret. He gave me a coded message, which he ordered me to decode. He said he already knew the contents of the message, but for security reasons, I had to decode it myself.

            The message was: A US Navy submarine is scheduled to surface either at Darigayos, La Union as primary point, or Santiago/San Esteban as alternate point, on or about October 22, 1944. The cargo consists of 25 tons of arms and ammunitions, medical supplies, and radio and weather equipment. He emphasized that since this is a monumental job, I had to recruit hundreds of people and boats. I informed the major that there is a Japanese garrison in San Esteban in addition to that of Santa Maria, Narvacan, and Candon. He replied that he has full confidence in me to accomplish the mission and it is up to me to establish my base of operation free of Japanese interference.

            The next day, I planned to move out as early as possible, but as we were having breakfast, he was canvassing all the officers at the table, talking about a court-martial at 9:00 o'clock. Since my mind was preoccupied with the burden ahead of me, I was not attentive to his talk about a court-martial until he called my attention. "Segundo," he said, "Did you hear what I am saying?" I said "No, sir."

            He told me that a sergeant by the name of Jesus Batoon, is in jail awaiting trial for his crimes. He will be tried, and will be executed at 9:00 a.m., but, for formality's sake he has to be defended and nobody wants to defend him. He asked, "Will you defend him?" I said, " I do not know the fellow." He replied, " You better see the prisoner and familiarize yourself with the case. It will only be a few hours delay of your return trip." I found out that he was being charged with spying, rape, and banditry, all punishable by death. The trial began on time. The details on how I defended him will be discussed in another episode. In short, I saved his life. I heard he is now living in California.

            On our way home, my worries about my mission returned. For a long time, I did not talk to my companions. I broke my silence and told them about our mission. We all realized that the possibility of a leak to the Japanese means failure and repercussions by them.

            We arrived in San Esteban late at night, safe and sound. The next morning, I assembled hundreds of men from San Esteban, people I could trust. I dispatched Manong Ponding (Rodolfo Vergara) to contact all the fishermen from San Pedro, Navacan to Tamurong, Candon. My instructions to Manong Ponding were to first observe the people and rely more on those we know to be sympathetic to our cause. We had to exercise caution in order not to alert the Japanese in Santa Maria, Narvacan, Candon, and San Esteban.

            I made my permanent headquarters in Apatot, San Esteban. I gathered all the brilliant minds of San Esteban: Atty. Perfecto Querubin, Rosito M. Europa, Cecilio Espejo, Samuel Orpilla, Macario Esperanza, Benjamin Dequis, Lt. Jesus Ordonez, and many more. I inducted all the men who I assembled the day after our arrival.

            Soon after the induction of the people, I was approached by many of my intelligence agents. An unfortunate event took place in Santiago the night before our arrival. My agents got word that a certain Escobar was in Santiago. They took matters into their own hands and tied up Sgt. Escobar and his men, (the wrong Escobar). The incident angered the 3rd Battalion commander, Capt. Eduardo Borge, and he dispatched Capt. Felix Cacatian to arrest and execute those involved. Fortunately, I was already in town when Cacatian ordered twenty-nine men from San Esteban and Santiago to report to him in Mandulon, San Esteban. Those who ignored his summons came to me in Apatot.

            I immediately proceeded to Mandulon with these men. I had a heated argument with Cacatian. He told me that he has orders from Capt. Borge. I told him that I am on a very secret mission on orders from Major Barnett and I have the authority to arrest and detain any intruder in the area. After so many hours of arguing, he finally accepted my explanation. I returned to Apatot with all the men I accompanied. The sun was just setting so we had to hurry back. However, upon reaching Tapaoan, somebody said that there were four men left behind - two from San Esteban, and two from Santiago. Cacatian's men killed them all before we arrived in Mandulon. They all complied with Cacatian's men and paid with their lives. Going back was out of the question. It was already dark.

            Back in Apatot the following day, we went to work, putting white cloth spread between two poles to designate our presence in case the submarine is out there at sea. At night, we lighted bonfires. If Japanese ships or planes were sighted, we would lower our signal. We would extinguish the bonfires at night if there were any danger.

            About three weeks before the designated date, Major Barnett arrived in Apatot. In addition to the signaling by bonfire, we would have the boatmen take us out to sea. This was our nightly routine. Nothing happened during the month of October. Major Barnett received another message that the submarine rescheduled its mission to or about November 22, 1944.

            The daily raising of the white cloth during the day and our nightly outing offshore continued. We were now in November. Luckily, on the night of November 22, we saw a silhouette rising from the sea. The boatmen kept rowing toward the emerging figure, hoping that it would not be an enemy ship. Major Barnett shouted in English and got a reply in English. We were all excited to be pulled onboard - Major Barnett, Samuel Orpilla, and me. Major Barnett went inside to confer with the submarine commander and the army landing team. I conferred with the other officers on intelligence matters. Two minutes later, Major Barnett came out and told me that the sub commander made a mistake. They thought they were surfacing in Darigayos, La Union. The major gave orders to go back and clear the area early in the morning.

            We paddled back to shore. Only then did I notice that Samuel was not with us. He was left behind on board the submarine. As soon as I arrived at my headquarters, I briefed everybody about the submarine. After all the hard work, we were disappointed that we did not complete the landing operations.

            I was so tired that I slept on the bench. As if in a dream, I heard Major Barnett's voice: "Segundo, wake up." I opened my eyes and the major was bending over me. He told me that the submarine came back because there were too many Japanese in Darigayos. It is now submerged far offshore. He introduced me to Capt. Vaughn, the ranking officer of the landing team of nine officers and fifteen enlisted men. Samuel also informed us that there is a townmate on board the sub by the name of Larry Guzman. He was one of the demolition men to blow up the bridges.

            At breakfast, Capt. Vaughn was surprised to see beautiful women in my headquarters. He kept looking around and seemed not interested in eating rice. Major Barnett asked me secretly if anybody saw a box of sandwiches that was to be Capt. Vaughn's meals during the day. I later found out the girls ate all the sandwiches.

            I immediately dispatched Manong Ponding to alert all the boatmen he contacted almost two months earlier to assemble at Santiago Cove as soon as it gets dark that day, November 23, 1944. That night, the submarine USS "GAR", U.S. Navy, resurfaced at the mouth of Santiago Cove. I was designated as Beach Commander coordinating the unloading and movements of boats and cargadores. All went well, thanks Heaven and the Almighty God; there was no loss of life. The entire 3rd Battalion, 121st Infantry, performed the security of the operations.

            Major Barnett gave orders to clear the area of all evidence like cigarette butts or matches. He told me to get out of Apatot . He himself followed the cargadores to the inland distribution sites. We left Apatot, cleaned all the evidence of our presence there. Apatot now became a landmark and San Esteban became a household word for safety. Evacuees from Vigan and vicinity flocked to San Esteban.

            Three days after the landing operations, the Japanese burned all the houses in Santiago Cove. They also burned the Santiago Catholic Church and established an observation post. That was the grave risk I took. Had the Japanese obtained advance information about the submarine landing, they could have burned the entire barrio of Apatot. Thanks to Lt. Jesus Ordonez who was given the task of befriending the Japanese in San Esteban, at times giving them false information.

            I relocated my base of operations to the hills of Luna, southeast of Burgos. My operations expanded with the addition of Radio Station ZPV, Weather Station, and of course the Intelligence Unit. Sgt. James Bierley, one of the nine enlisted men from the submarine came back to establish the Weather Station. We had Pacita Hernandez and Angelina Rosales who reported to me in October and November respectively to be weather observers. The third observer was Rizalina Vergara. Macario Esperanza and Santiago who had earlier worked in Vigan manned the radio station. I cannot recall his surname. The code clerks were Luz Andrada, Charing Quitivis , and Perla (I cannot recall her surname). Felicissimo Amores from Vigan was the draftsman. The office staff consisted of Leonardo Europa, Constantino Vergara, Perfecto Querubin, Rosito M. Europa, Cecilio Espejo, Benjamin Dequis, Petronilo Cabus, Jaime Jimeno, and many more I cannot recall.

            At the end of December 1944, the U.S. planes flew just over our place in Luna to stage a sneak attack on Japanese ships bound for Formosa (now Taiwan). They destroyed one ship in Apatot, another historical event to remember about that barrio.

            All of the Japanese troops moved out of Ilocos Sur to guard the entrance to the Tangadan Tunnel, which is the gateway to Abra. By then, the Japanese knew that the war was turning against them. On January 9, 1945, the U.S. 6th Army landed in Lingayen, Pangasinan.

            I relocated back to San Esteban and established my office at the house of Tata Esteban Pacquing, at the end of the street just east of the municipal building. The Radio Station ZPV and the Weather Station were set up on top of the hill 300 meters east of my office.

            It was at this location that I received a radio message from General Headquarters, USAFIP, NL at Camp Spencer, La Union for the "ARREST RPT ARREST LT. EMILIO ESCOBAR, RPT ESCOBAR." I then dispatched the message to Capt. Sillona, CO 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry, and superior officer of Escobar. There was a message that I received earlier for Capt. John O'Day to report to Camp Spencer immediately. This was a trick to avoid interference in arresting Lt. Escobar, also known as "Sagad". Sagad was known to have killed a lot of people in Ilocos Sur, Abra, and Ilocos Norte, but the people were so scared of him that they did not report the atrocities he committed. In San Esteban, however, a few brave men rose up to hold him accountable for the death of Lt. Carlos Pacquing, Intelligence Agent Rodrigo Abad, a Teniente del Barrio of Ansad, ( Elaydo, I cannot recall his name), and Eulogio "Uloc" Andrada.

            The following day, I learned that Colonel Salvador F. Reyes, Judge Advocate General arrived from Camp Spencer and was staying at his home in Silag, Santa Maria. I immediately went to him. As soon as he saw me, he asked if Sagad has been arrested. I said "No" because the message was for his superior officers in the 15th Infantry. He then asked me where Sagad is. I answered he is in Suso, Santa Maria, his home barrio, with his company of three hundred men armed with Garand rifles, carbines, and grenades. It seems that nobody was brave enough to arrest him.

            If Sagad knew of his impending arrest, everybody would be in danger, so Colonel Reyes, Lt. Floro Crisologo, and I devised a plan. I would send a message to Sagad telling him to report to my office in San Esteban for an important message I received regarding his promotion. However, I told the colonel that I do not have men to back me up. Colonel Reyes turned to Capt. Callejo and asked him how many men he has. Callejo replied that he has over a hundred men without guns and ammunitions. I had 152 Garand rifles at the Burgos airstrip consigned for the 15th Infantry. The colonel told me to turn over those rifles and ammunitions to him. He then instructed Capt. Callejo to take over the rifles and meet me at my place in San Esteban before daybreak the following day.

            Sagad took the bait because before he named himself "Sagad', he was my sergeant when I was an Executive Officer of the 3rd Battalion with Capt. O'Day, the Acting Commanding Officer. Before Sagad's arrival, I had Colonel Reyes, Floro Crisologo, and Callejo hidden at the radio station.

            The strategy and tactics employed for his arrest were thrillers by themselves. Sagad and his men arrived by midmorning. His first sergeant, followed by Sagad, came up the stairs. His sergeant hesitated and tried to turn back but Sagad was behind him so they both approached me at my desk. The sergeant positioned himself between Sgt. Bierly and me. I offered Sagad the chair at my left. As soon as he was seated, I picked up the arrest message from my pocket. I got up from my chair, which was the prearranged signal for the men, downstairs to disarm all his men. In a split second, all his men were disarmed and Sgt. Bierly disarmed his sergeant. In the meantime, Sagad looked at the message as if he were paralyzed. I told him to get up, and then I took his .45 caliber pistol, campilan (long bolo), grenades, and a dagger. We brought them to Colonel Reyes and ordered them to be tied up.

            Colonel Reyes read his orders and authority to conduct the court martial. He asked if there is anyone to defend him. No takers. He told Lt. Crisologo to read the charges, which he declined, so he told me to read the charges. The colonel then asked him to comment on the charges. Sagad said that all the people in Santa Maria are spies. Colonel Reyes asked him if he could offer any defense for his crimes. He kept his mouth shut. The colonel ordered the appearance of his four hatchet men. They all kept their mouths shut. Colonel Reyes gave Sagad and his sergeant the death sentence, and the four hatchet men, life imprisonment.

            We lined up Sagad and his sergeant before the firing squad. When we went back to the colonel to report their deaths, he remarked that we just wasted the bullets to kill them. I replied it was Callejo's idea. They were buried east of the Catholic cemetery in San Esteban. Nobody ever recovered the remains.

            San Esteban's reputation as the safest town was reinforced. Several prominent evacuees included provincial dignitaries like Pablo Pe Benito, who was named by the National Government, as the Governor of Ilocos Sur. San Esteban became the provisional capital of Ilocos Sur. The town also had the Army Hospital under Dr. Castor Cabebe.

            Shortly after that, I left for the frontlines of San Fernando, La Union where I assumed command of the Combat Company, 121st Infantry. After the fighting in the hills east of San Fernando, my company was reorganized as the "C" Company, Military Police Battalion, USAFIP, NL. My company guarded the road junction at Bitalag, Tagudin, that leads to Bessang Pass.

            We did not stay long at this place. I was ordered to take my company to intercept the Japanese forces coming down the Bakun River from Mountain Province and prevent their joining the Japanese defenders at Bessang Pass. The Japanese were not able to go as far as Bessang . They only went as far as the riverbed south of Butac.

            I received a call via radio from Colonel Balao, CO, 121st Infantry, to take my men to Butac as soon as possible. Unfortunately, I got sick, so I returned to my Command Post in Alilem, the town east of the Amburayan River Bridge. From there, the Battalion Surgeon took me under his personal care near the Battalion Headquarters in Tagudin, Ilocos Sur. Upon my recovery, I was ordered to take my company to Laoag, Ilocos Norte where I became Military Police Commander of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and Abra.. Finally, another responsibility was given to me - Peace and Order.

            Victory is almost certain with the fall of Bessang Pass to the 121st Infantry, USAFIP, NL on June 14, 1945. The way is now clear for our troops to advance to the hideout of General Yamashita in Loo Valley, Mountain Province.