[Undated Article During WWII -- Steele, N.D. newspaper]

From Glenda Kleppin, May 1998

 

Mr. and Mrs. Rolla Armstrong recently received the following letter from their grandson, Chas. Kidd, who is with the Navy in the Pacific.

Dear Folks:
Will throw a few lines your way and tell you a few more things of what I have been doing. Some time ago we had ringside seats for one of the most thrilling scenes of the war. We gave Naval support for the landing on Corregidor, and what a show it was! Watch for pictures of it in "Life" Magazine.

The rock was well plastered by Army bombers early in the morning, and then at 6 o'clock the paratroopers arrived. Soon the air was filled with parachutes of various colors. It was a marvelous sight to watch. The transport planes coming in one right after another and dropping their load of chutists. I could see them coming, evenly spaced for miles, like heavy traffic on a holiday.

The troops began to land on the beach and the whole operation was beautifully coordinated. All the time the air was full of planes of all kinds, fighters, bombers, observation planes and our own fleet planes were up, too. After the paratroopers had landed, the plateau on top of Corregidor looked very much like a Philippine wash day for the Filipinos lay their laundry out on the grass to dry and the Island was dotted with various colored chutes. It looks like the Japs are pretty well washed up on the Philippines now. Particularly because it meant the recapture of Corregidor, where our brave troops have held on so long
about three years ago. I sure felt honored to have a part in this historic operation and the opportunity of seeing it all from such a splendid vantage point. It also is another highly interesting operation for our "Mighty Denver." (The ship on which Kidd is stationed). Hope to hear from you all soon.

Charles Kidd.