43d Memorabilia      [Home]   [1] [2] [3] 4   [5]   [6]

Ipo Dam - Philippines Manila received 30 percent of its water supply from Ipo.  On May 7,1945 - the 43d Division initiated its attack to secure it. On May 19,1945 - all enemy resistance in the Ipo area had ceased and mopping up operations contined until June 2nd. The 43d Division was ordered south to relieve elements of the 38th Infantry Division attempting to seize Mount Oro, Mount Ayaas and Mount Haponang Banoy.

Life vest from the sinking of the US President Line's - President Coolidge on October 26, 1942. The Coolidge was entering the harbor of Esperitu Santo in the New Hebrides group islands. Accidently, the ship struck two friendly anti-submarine mines.  The detonations crippled and sank the Coolidge within hours. The 172nd Regimental Combat Team with the 103rd Field Artillery were on board. Captain Edward Euart of Providence, Rhode Island, 103rd Field Artillery gave his life saving others.

Photo taken by author at the 57th Reunion of the 43d Infantry Veterans Assn.    Life vest is the property of  Stanley Winslow - 172nd Infantry The stains on the vest are from the fuel oil slick from the wreck.

Men scramble over the sides of the doomed Coolidge.  The Captain ran her aground as soon as the mines went off.                    --National Archives Photo--

Map of Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides Islands, now called Vanuatu.

The Coolidge hit two anti-submarine mines at 9:30am.  At 10:55am, just short of an hour and a half after the first explosion,  the Coolidge slid off the reef and went down, stern first, to the channel floor 135 feet below.                                                         --National Archives Photo--