bentpole, funny you mention the Philippines. I was fortunate enough to serve a tour at Clark Air Base and was able to search some of the caves in the mountains behind the base left by the Japanese army. I left with a couple of US Army canteens that I found (the old steel ones and still had there canvas covers) dated 1941 and 1942. (They were stamped on the bottom). I knew a couple of guys that actually found Japanese swords, it seemed thats what everyone was after...A short story of WWII I will pass on from my ex-father in law (a Philppine national and peasant rice farmer). During one of the many dog fights that he witnessed, an American fighter pilot was shot down over Clark field and he and a couple of his friends rescued the man. They hid him away from the Japanese & fed him for 2-3 years until MacArthur came back. This American pilot was spared the Bataan death march. He told me his name was Bill, thats all he could remember. My ex father in law was only 16-17 years old at the time and received much abuse and beatings from the Japanese. He told me this story in his native tongue and my ex-sisters interpreted for him. I was awestruck. Anyhow, just thought you guys would enjoy hearing about this from one of our Allies stand point.