In December 2003, Cindy (my wife) and I travelled to the Philippines. We have documented our experience through the photos you see here.
You can view the photos chronologically or by the categories below.
Manila American Cemetery and Memorial | Manila (57 of 194)
[From the American Battle Monuments Commision website:]The World War II Manila American Cemetery and Memorial is located about six miles southeast of Manila, Republic of the Philippines within the limits of Fort Bonifacio, the former U.S. Army Fort William McKinley. It can be reached easily from the city by taxicab.
The cemetery, one hundred and fifty-two acres in extent, is on a prominent plateau, visible at a distance from the east, south and west. It contains the largest number of graves of our military Dead of World War II, a total of 17,206, most of whom gave their lives in the operations in New Guinea and the Philippines. The headstones are aligned in eleven plots forming a generally circular pattern, set among masses of a wide variety of tropical trees and shrubbery.
The chapel, a tall stone structure enriched with sculpture and mosaic, stands near the center of the cemetery. In front of it on a wide terrace are two large semicircles with rooms at each end. Twenty five large mosaic maps in these four rooms recall the achievements of the American Armed Forces in the Pacific, China, India and Burma. On rectangular Train limestone piers within the semicircles are inscribed the names of 36,282 of the Missing who gave their lives in the service of America and who rest in unknown graves. Carved in the floors are the seals of the American states and its territories.
From the memorial and other points within the cemetery there are impressive views over the lowlands to Laguna de Bay and toward the distant mountains.