WWII-MI-BOOE, Robert E.
Source: The Veedersburg News Friday May 11, 1945
The drawbridge creaked down across the deep moat, and the men-at-arms swarmed across it, thus surmounting the high, impenetrable walls. In a moment the castle was theirs " - the above is not from some ancient tale, but chronicles recapture of Ft. Drum, guardian island fortress of Manila's harbor by a picked platoon of the 151st Infantry. Fort Drum is a concrete and steel replica of a battle ship, its 350-foot concrete "deck" about 40 feet above the water. S Sgt Robert E. Booe, 819 RR St, Veedersburg, Indiana member of the platoon, told the story. "The ramp of a landing craft could not span the height of the "deck" but the Navy built a heavy wooden ramp to let down from the tower of a special structure. "Meanwhile," Booe continued "using aerial photos as their guide, our officers laid out the design of the deck on the old parade ground on Corregidor, with all air vents, gun emplacements and other openings marked off. Each man had an opening to cover. We practice racing t our stations from the 'fore deck, where we planned to land, until we could have found them in the dark. We were fired on as our LSM approached the island fortres, but we pulled alongside and the ramp dropped. In 30 seconds every opening was covered by a Tommy gun automatic rifle or a Garand.
Ten men following us each carrying 60 # of TNT. Others dragged the nozzle of an oil hose to the mouth of an air shaft. As the mixture of oil and gasoline was pumped down the shaft from the ship, the explosive with a time fuse set, was lowered down the vent. Within 5 minutes our work was done, we raced back to the landing ship and pulled away. What a honey it was when the explosion and fire came. There were several blasts as powder magazines went off and smoke and flames flared high in the air.
Twenty four hours later we returned. Deep down we found the charred remains of the Jap garrison. I'd say it worth all the War Bods it costs for we had wiped out the enemy and only two of our men suffered slight wounds.