Posted on Feb 11, 2026
The WWII Battle of Manila: The Deadliest Urban Battle of the Pacific War
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This is an incredible story!
Japanese Rear Admiral Sanji Iwabuchi carried a heavy burden. In November 1942, the USS Washington's guns had sent his battleship Kirishima to the bottom of the ocean off Guadalcanal. He survived. In Japanese military culture, that survival brought immense disgrace. Two years later, commanding naval forces in Manila, Iwabuchi saw his chance at redemption. General Tomoyuki Yamashita ordered him to abandon the Philippine capital. Iwabuchi refused, choosing to sacrifice himself and the lives of his men so he could regain a sense of honor. His decision to fight to the death would transform Manila into the most savage urban battlefield of the Pacific War and kill more than 100,000 Filipino civilians in just a month of combat.
Japanese Rear Admiral Sanji Iwabuchi carried a heavy burden. In November 1942, the USS Washington's guns had sent his battleship Kirishima to the bottom of the ocean off Guadalcanal. He survived. In Japanese military culture, that survival brought immense disgrace. Two years later, commanding naval forces in Manila, Iwabuchi saw his chance at redemption. General Tomoyuki Yamashita ordered him to abandon the Philippine capital. Iwabuchi refused, choosing to sacrifice himself and the lives of his men so he could regain a sense of honor. His decision to fight to the death would transform Manila into the most savage urban battlefield of the Pacific War and kill more than 100,000 Filipino civilians in just a month of combat.
The WWII Battle of Manila: The Deadliest Urban Battle of the Pacific War
Posted from military.com
Manila
WWII World War Two
Military History
World History
Edited 10 d ago
Posted 10 d ago
Responses: 5
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Ego and pride...still rules most of the bad decisions in the world. A few egos at the top, and millions at the bottom pay the price. And like all good soldiers...they followed their orders
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This woman was a HERO!
Josefina Guerrero was a 27-year-old woman suffering from Hansen's disease. Her illness made Japanese soldiers recoil in fear. "I'm a leper," she would cry if a sentry approached her. No one wanted to search her. She became the perfect resistance member. In late January 1945, Guerrero received her most dangerous mission. "You had better go to confession and make a good act of contrition," her commander told her, “For you will not be coming back." Her job was to carry a map of minefields guarding Manila to American headquarters 35 miles north.
Despite paralyzing fatigue and headaches, she taped the map to her back and set off on foot. She walked 25 miles to Hagonoy, took a boat around an active combat zone while outrunning river pirates, then walked another eight miles to Calumpit. When she arrived, the Americans had already moved to Malolos. So she turned around and kept walking. She delivered the map to Captain Blair of the 37th Infantry Division. Her intelligence allowed American troops to navigate the minefields safely. Guerrero then advanced with them into the city, tending to wounded soldiers and civilians and carrying children to safety through enemy bullets.
Josefina Guerrero was a 27-year-old woman suffering from Hansen's disease. Her illness made Japanese soldiers recoil in fear. "I'm a leper," she would cry if a sentry approached her. No one wanted to search her. She became the perfect resistance member. In late January 1945, Guerrero received her most dangerous mission. "You had better go to confession and make a good act of contrition," her commander told her, “For you will not be coming back." Her job was to carry a map of minefields guarding Manila to American headquarters 35 miles north.
Despite paralyzing fatigue and headaches, she taped the map to her back and set off on foot. She walked 25 miles to Hagonoy, took a boat around an active combat zone while outrunning river pirates, then walked another eight miles to Calumpit. When she arrived, the Americans had already moved to Malolos. So she turned around and kept walking. She delivered the map to Captain Blair of the 37th Infantry Division. Her intelligence allowed American troops to navigate the minefields safely. Guerrero then advanced with them into the city, tending to wounded soldiers and civilians and carrying children to safety through enemy bullets.
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PO3 Phyllis Maynard
Lt Col Charlie Brown there are so many comments befitting this heroine, but I will say her greatest feat of heroism is using her attributes, to gain victories for the Americans she helped. Her greatest asset to the cause was her appearance.
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