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Thursday, October 28, 2004
Battle Of Surigao Strait: A forgotten WWII event?
By Ben Serrano
SURIGAO CITY -- Dubbed as the greatest and decisive naval battle in recent history, the memories of the Battle of Surigao Strait are also slowly fading away like the battleships that sank that fateful morning of October 25, 1944 barely four miles away off coast Lipata Wharf in this coastal city of Caraga Region.
Even if it is considered one of the turning points in the outcome of World War II the question is asked: Does the Battle of Surigao Strait already a forgotten event?
"In some other ways, yes" said historian and former PPA Manager Fernando A. Almeda Jr., now president of the Surigao Heritage Center (SHC), who wrote an account of the battle simply written on the "T."
The existing marker at the Lipata Port some 12 kilometers northeast of the city proper only consists of a simple "T" symbolizing the classic naval "T" formation which the victorious U.S. led armada who achieved in defeating the advancing Japanese fleet.
Another marker in honor of the officers and men of both warships who saw action during the Battle of Surigao Strait will be added to the small shrine placed by the Surigao Heritage Center at Lipata.
The embassies of the US, Australia and Japan have been invited to the celebration. America has sent only token representation during the last few years with Australia.
This year, Arthur Thomas, an Australian representing the officers and men of the HMAS Shropshire and Arunta, was scheduled to attend the austere and simple ceremony held last Monday, October 25 at the Lipata Ferry Terminal, the site of the previous celebrations now on its 60th year.
Solemn
In a press statement, Almeda said, "It seems that the Battle of Surigao Strait, one of the greatest and decisive naval battle in history is a forgotten event."
"Compared to the Leyte landing rites few days ago when no less than President Arroyo and a large foreign delegation were in attendance, the Surigao celebration on October 25 will be modest," Almeda said.
According to Almeda, the 60th anniversary of the historic battle of Surigao Strait will be celebrated in simple and solemn ceremonies at daybreak in this coastal city.
As in previous years, the celebration is held at the Lipata Ferry Terminal at Barangay Lipata.
The terminal is managed by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and is the entry and exit point in Mindanao of the Philippine-Japan Friendship Highway crossing Surigao Strait.
The Battle of Surigao Strait was the last seen action between battleships as it was also the final return payment for Pearl Harbor, for most of the American ships had been seriously damaged or sunk in December 1941.
Five of the relatively old battleships who saw action at the Battle of the Surigao Strait namely the West Virginia, Maryland, California, Tennessee and Pennsylvania were extensively reconstructed and equipped with radar systems had been present at Pearl Harbor on December 7,1941, at the time of the devastating Japanese surprise attack.
The Battle of Surigao Strait was one of the four separate actions known collectively as the Battle of Leyte Gulf.
As part of the Sho 7 plan, the Japanese had sent two detachments under Vice Admiral Nishimura (designated force C of the 1st striking force and the 2nd striking force) towards Surigao Strait.
Nishimura entered Surigao Strait just after midnight on October 24,1944. Two destroyers were leading the flagship Yamashiro, the Fuso and the heavy cruiser IJN Mogami. The Japanese flagship Yamashiro burned like a furnace and sank with some other Japanese cruisers and destroyers except the Shigure.
(October 28, 2004 issue)
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