Bugabuga - Ken Noguchi

Perhaps somewhere on Leyte, while surrounded by the US Army, he glimpsed up at the night sky
through the dense palm fronds. Rain fell upon his unwashed face. Perhaps he was wounded and if so,
perhaps shivering from a raging infection. If he lived until morning, he found each dawn worse than the
dawn before. He was starving.

Report on Leyte Island remains

On October 17, I left Japan and went to Cebu Island to investigate the remains on Leyte Island in the
Philippines. Joined Mr. Uta Kurata, the secretary general of the Air Relief Corps, and the team leader.
Enter Leyte Island, Ormoc on the 18th. Kurata-san's strong desire to return his remains to his home
country, no matter what, the “Air Support Corps” was born. As many as 20 remains surveyed in the
Philippines by the Air Corps over the past three years, this is the seventh time this year. In the
Philippines, Leyte, Cebu, Luzon, and Mindanao are the areas where the most killed were killed, and
400,000 remains are still wild. In Leyte Island, a fierce battlefield, more than 80,000 Japanese generals
and troops (civilians) were sacrificed and most of them were not collected.

Leyte Island became a fierce battle because it was flat and suitable for air bases. Only the 16th Division
(18,600) defended Leyte before the US army landed. The big headquarters reported that it had won a
big victory in the previous "Air Battle off Taiwan", and on October 20, the ministers including the Prime
Minister, the Navy Minister, and the Army Minister gathered at the Hibiya Auditorium and celebrated
the great victory. Ironically, the American army landed on Leyte Island on the same day.

It was thought that most of the US aircraft carrier, which was the main force of the U.S. military, was
sunk and hit devastatingly. Is a complete misinformation (announcing 11 aircraft carriers, 2 battleships, 8
aircraft carriers, destroying 2 battleships, and many other enemy ships, but sunk ships were zero). 700
American warships gathered off the coast and fired simultaneously. It was reported that it was secret
and misinformation to the Navy's central part, but it was already reported to the Emperor, and there
was also a conflict with the Army, 3 days later, the fact remained hidden while knowing that it was
misinformation The Leyte Island Battle was carried out. Although the Japanese troops were greatly
increased, many soldiers had to escape to the jungle outskirts in an unexpected fire from the American
fleet.

And it was Filipino guerrillas that attacked Japanese soldiers as if they were chasing. General MacArthur,
who was chased by the Japanese army immediately after the war, was committed to organizing the
Philippines' guerrillas against Japan. Radios, weapons, ammunition, medical equipment, etc. were
loaded onto submarines and kept secretly sent to Leyte Island. The movement of the Japanese army was
monitored by guerrillas everywhere and reported in detail to MacArthur.
And on December 10, the large headquarters finally abandoned Leyte Island and ordered the surviving
soldiers to evacuate to Cebu Island where the Americans had not landed, but it was already too late.
Many soldiers decided themselves because they were desperate to cross the sea by themselves, and
they were forbidden to become prisoners of war. Only 900 people were able to cross Cebu. Over 10,000
people were left behind on Leyte Island.

Soldiers stood up at Mount Kangipot and tried a thorough anti-war, but suffered extreme hunger
without supplying food and ammunition, but more than 10,000 people were surviving, but came down
from Kangipot Mountain at the end of the war There was no soldier. Most of the soldiers sent to Leyte
were young people around the age of 20, and 97% of the soldiers actually killed were killed. The failure
of the operation.

This time, we investigated the Kangipot Mountain, which was the crushing ground, and the surrounding
area.

On October 18th, one remains were found around SAN VICENTE.

On October 19th, two remains were found in the banana field of MATAG / OB City

Kangin Pot Mountain, 3 remains found in a cave in the mountains

On October 20, about 10 remains were found in Ormoc city

On October 21, about 8 remains were found across the Camotes Islands

In a 4-day survey, about 24 remains were found.

A lot of Japanese grenades, bayonets and ammunition were discovered along with the remains. All were
unexploded and unused. Was he starved to death without the ability to self-determine? I grabbed his
remains and looked for the voice of the spirit to see what happened, but I was told only regret.

Five general participants joined this remains research team. Surprisingly, the participants learned and
applied for my remains research activities at NHK's “point of view”.

Mr. and Mrs. Majima who participated as a couple. His wife's father was killed in Leyte Island and his
remains remained unknown. Perhaps a dad might have been in the remains of this discovery, "I wanted
to come to Leyte to see my dad once. Dad!" Sixty years have passed since then, and my daughter came
to Leyte Island to pick you up. Father must be delighted.
Yuko Morita also touched on the remains of her bones. “Thank you for your hard work. I was brought to
this place and I want to come back to Japan as soon as possible. I ’m really sorry.” And arranged in order.
Mr. Takashi Fujioka said, “The recorded video was black and white and was not realistic, but when I saw
this scene with my own eyes and stood at this scene, I felt there was a war,” Although it is not possible
to recruit many participants, I want as many Japanese people as possible to know what is happening in
the field.

The jungle was steamed and drowned in harsh weather conditions. We stayed at most for a few days
but were still tired. In this jungle, the soldiers who were left behind and abandoned without the hope of
reinforcements felt what they were, and the end of that time. When I went up to the ridgeline of the
mountain, I could see the Pacific Ocean. Beyond that sea is homeland Japan. Wasn't there any anger at
the country that forced desperate operations at the same time as the desire to return? In the first place,
the Leyte Battle that began with misinformation. The operation itself was bankrupt from the beginning.
Organizations that don't value soldiers aren't fragile.

They were killed by their homeland. I don't feel that way. Nevertheless, the country does not try to fulfill
its minimum responsibility.

In contrast, the United States still has a team of about 400 soldiers, war history researchers, and
anthropologists to search for and collect remains of soldiers missing in the Second World War, the
Korean War, the Vietnam War, etc. . Annual budget is 5.5 billion yen. In June last year, a search was
conducted for only one American soldier missing from Iwo Jima. The United States is continuing this
investigation all over the world.

While conducting research activities on Leyte Island, if this is the role of a country, then if that country
does not, then who will do it! Until the country moves, I want to continue going to the spirit with Uyama
Kurata as a member of the Air Corps.

Talk about the remains. Then we have to speak up instead. There are still 80,000 remains left on Leyte
Island.

October 23, 2008 Return to Japan Ken Noguchi