Filipinos WW11 US Military Service

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USAFFE
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Filipino WW2 U.S. Veterans Fight 4 Equity
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Library of Congress Oral History
J. Wertz: Writer Seeking 1941-1942 Filvets
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Guest Webpage: Japanese Memorials
Guest Webpage: Japanese Occupation
Guest Webpage: Japanese Holdouts

Soldier’s Home State/Country of (military) Record or State/Country of Residence:

California **

Hawaii *  

Oregon ***

Washington****

Philippines #

 

AUS- Army of the United States

BNR-Body Not Recovered

BR-Body Recovered

DOW- Died of Wounds

DSC-Distinguished Service Cross (54 recipients)

KIA-Killed in Action

MIA-Missing in Action

POW-Prisoner of War

PA Philippine Army, part of the United States.Armed Forces

PS-Philippine Scout, part of the United States Armed Forces

SWA-Seriously wounded in action by missile

USAFFE United States Armed Forces of the Far East; organized 12/1941 commanded by Gen Douglas MacArthur beginning 7/26/1941

WAS- Women’s Auxiliary Service

 

 

Units established in the United States -1st Filipino Inf Bn, 1st Filipino Inf Regt (“Laging Una”), 2nd Filipino Inf Bn, 2nd Filipino Inf Regt, 5217 Recon Bn, 5218th Recon Co and 978th Signal Service Co

Ist Recon Bn (“Come What May”)

 

 

H

Dulcesimo Habal Sgt Army; Hdqtrs Co 57th Inf Regt (PS); Award: Distinguished Service Cross (for 1/9/1942)

Ong Hai Maj. "Ampaw" Unit Col. Chua Sy Tiao guerrilla group

Adolpho Rula Haime * Navy SD1C also WW1 Cpl Hawaiian Inf

Walter Hamile * Filipino Inf Regt

Benjamin Harder Army Sgt; arr. Mindoro via the 1st submarine to surface in the Philippines-the USS Narwhal on 10/23/1943 (w/ Capt Ricardo Galang, 1st Lt. R.F. Songco; Sgts Vicente Pinuela, Alfredo Alberto; Ramon Vitorio & Arcangel Baniares

Crisostomo Hatico * Filipino Inf Regt

Caraciolo Hayan # head of guerilla movement Tolosa Leyte

Chan Heng Sgt. "Ampaw" Unit Col. Chua Sy Tiao guerrilla group

Chan Heng Lt. "Ampaw" Unit Col. Chua Sy Tiao guerrilla group

Co Heng Lt. "Ampaw" Unit Col. Chua Sy Tiao guerrilla group

Al Hernandez Lt. 1st Reconn; Award: Legion of Merit

Amado Vera Hernandez born 9/13/1903 Hagonoy Bulacan; died 3/24/1970 intelligence operative of Marking & Anderson guerillas; post-war: writer & labor union organizer; Pres of Congress of Labor Organizations (CLO); suspected of rebellion; arrested 1/26/1950; imprisoned @ New Bilibid Prison & acquitted; National Artist in Literature 1973 (Posthumous) husband of Atang Dela Rama, a National Artist for Theatre, Dance & Music

Jose R. Herrera Pfc Troop E 26th Cavalry PS

Raymond Hesapene * Filipino Inf Regt

Tanacio Hesapene * Filipino Inf Regt

Chua Hian Sgt. "Ampaw" Unit Col. Chua Sy Tiao guerrilla group

Marciano Haw Hibi born Philippines; enlisted PS 2/1941; POW1942 (6 months); 4/1945 rejoined PS; discharged 12/1945 Source: Court cases regarding Mr. Hibe naturalization application; for more info view: http://filipinos-ww2usveterans-4equity.tripod.com

John Hidalgo Alamo Scouts

Anthony Hierro * Filipino Inf Regt

Manuel Hilario Navy Casualty Machinist Mate from Bago Imus Cavite

Tek Him Sgt. "Ampaw" Unit Col. Chua Sy Tiao guerrilla group

Benjamin Himalaya * Filipino Inf Regt

Larry Himalaya * Filipino Inf Regt

Mateo Hinaut * Navy Cook 1/c; also WW1 Cpl Hawaiian Inf

Jose Hipolito* birth: 6/23/1895 Philippines, Navy 1st Steward, also WW1 Veteran

Rufino Holland born Philippines; died 5/4/1944 Casualty; buried Cambridge Nat. Cemetery Massachusetts; Merchant Marine

Chua Pue Hong Sgt. "Ampaw" Unit Col. Chua Sy Tiao guerrilla group

Chua Hu Capt "Ampaw" Unit Col. Chua Sy Tiao guerrilla group

Sotero Huertas born Philippines; died 1944 POW; Casualty; Navy Storekeeper 3c; from 310 Quiricada Santa Cruz Manila

Petronio Huerto # 1st Lt 1st Reconn Bn

Ramon Huesly Navy Casualty Electrician’s Mate 1c from Caloocan Rizal

I

Amado Ibanez Pvt Troop E 26th Cavalry PS

Angel Miguel Ibanez * born 9/3/1924 Pahau Hawaii; died 4/15/2004 Kaiser Hospital; buried Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery; Army Sgt; Filipino Inf Regt; civilian: retired supervisor supply system analyst @ Lualualei Ammunition Depot; federal civil employee

Deogracias Ibanez born Philippines; Casualty

Fruto Ibanez # born 1919 Philippines; died 3/31/1946 Fort MCkinley Philippines

Sabiniano Ibanez born 1911 Philippines; enlistment 12/1/1945

Artemio Bermudes Ibarra born 6/13/1908 Philippines; died 1/28/1996; buried Ft. Rosecrans (SD

CA) National Cemetery; Army Pfc

Egmedio N. Ibarra ** born Phil 1912; enlisted 7/22/1942 SF Ca

Ernesto Reyes Ibarra born 9/2/1922 Philippines; died 3/17/2008; buried Himlayang Memorial Philippines; Army TSgt

Francisco R. Ibarra born Philippines; POW

Jose F. Ibarra died 1942 Ft. McKinley Casualty

Pedro D. Ibarra died 1942 Ft. McKinley Casualty

Perfecto Ibarra born Philippines; enlistment

George Atigora Ibay born 6/25/1903 Philippines; died 7/31/1997; buried El Camino Memorial Park San Diego California; Navy SDC

Deogracias Icallia * Filipino Inf Regt

Iluminado M. Icasas 1st Lt CE 41st Engr Bn 41st Div (Source: Special Order #176 dated 8/3/1941 from Commonwealth of the Philippines by command of Maj Gen Valdes calling reserve officers to active duty effective 8/28/1941, a copy given by Mariles, daughter of retired Guam SC Judge Ramon V. Diaz to M.E. Embry 3/2010)

Jose L. Icaza born Philippines; Casualty Navy Seaman 2c from Binakayan Kawit Cavite

Lawrence B. Idica born 3/10/1911; died 1/24/1986; buried National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific; Army Pfc

Gabriel Adzura Idnay born Badoc Ilocos Norte; died 7/15/2004; buried Maui Hawaii Memorial Park; post-war: retired school teacher in the Philippines

Agustin Ignacio Cpl Troop C 26th Cavalry PS

Catalino "Iggy" Ignacio # born 12/9/1919 Nueva Ecija, Philippines; died 7/7/2005 in Carson Ca; buried Green Hills Memorial Park @ Palos Verdes Ca; PS, Death March, POW, also a Korean War veteran; retired fr. Military 1968 as a 1st Lt. postwar: volleyball referee (1968 Olympic Games; 1977 World Cup, etc.) inducted Volleyball Hall of Fame 1991

http://www.usolympicteam.com

Celestino Ignacio Pvt Troop F 26th Cavalry PS

Julian Aniciete Ignacio, Sr. # born 1/20/1921 Philippines died 10/18/2006 John Muir Medical Center Concord Ca; buried @ Holy Cross Cemetery Antioch Ca; Death March survivor; post war occupation: an attorney & educator in the Philippines; moved to Pittsburg Ca. in 1967

Remigio Quezon Ignacio born 8/13/1922; died 11/23/1998; buried Houston Tx National Cemetery; Merchant Marine

Ricardo Bautista Ignacio born 6/9/1919 Philippines; died 10/31/1982; buried Golden Gate National Cemetery; Cpt Army; also Korean War veteran

Rodolfo C. Ignacio Lt # w/ Villamor (PRS) Philippine Regional Section; 1st Reconn Bn

Pekelino Ihan * Filipino Inf Regt

Hemernis Norman Ilac* Filipino Inf Regt

Bonifacio Paulo Ilao ** born 6/5/1893 Santa Cruz Laguna Phil; died 1/12/1966 Sf Ca.buried Golden Gate National Cemetery, 2nd Filipino Inf Co K Pvt also WW1 Co G Hawaiian Inf Pvt

Roman Papasin Ilao born 3/8/1925 Philippines; died 7/14/1995; buried San Joaquin Valley Ca National Cemetery; Army Pfc

Rafael Ileto # Alamo Scouts Ileto Team; postwar: Philippines Defense Secretary; died 11/2003; buried Libingan Ng Mga Bayani, Taguig, MM Philippines

Dominador I. Ilio, Sr. born 1913 Malinao Capis; died 2/7/2006 Cpt guerilla under Col. Macario Peralta; also engineer, writer, painter, poet

Pedro P. Illastron # born Iloilo Philippines; died 6/27/1999 Wilcox Hosp Hawaii; Army served in the Philippines & Okinawa; post-war retired Philippine Congressional Clerk

Valentin Imotan Navy Casualty Baker from #4 F.B. Harrison Pasay Rizal

Guillermo Infante Navy Casualty Seaman 2c from 338 Solis St. Tondo Manila

Dalmacio Infiel Sgt Army Co I 57th Inf Regt (PS) KIA Distinguished Service Cross (for 1/14/1942; posthumous)

Maximo P. Infiel, Sr born 11/7/1913; died 10/5/1974; buried National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific; Army Pfc

Socino Stanley Ingano * Filipino Inf Regt

Ismael Ingeniero # PA Major assigned to Bohol resistance efforts

Gustavo Ingles PMA grad

Nemecio Conquero Inong born 12/14/1899 Philippines; died 7/28/1958 San Joaquin Co. California; buried Sacramento City Cemetery; Pvt Hq Co Filipino Inf; listed 1930 Yuba Co California Census

Carlos "Charlie" Inot born 11/4/1919 Philippines; died 8/1966 Connecticut recruited for the Navy in 1944 w/ 4 other guerrillas;

boxing champion of the Subpac

Marcos Ipili (PS)

F. Isidoro Lt

Esmeraldo Izon # guerilla; father of Noel "Sonny" producer of WW11 movie about Filipino Inf Regt "An Untold Triumph

J

Marcelo Jacang * born 9/2/1903; died 7/17/1966; buried Schofield Barracks (Hawaii) Post Cemetery; Army MSgt

Antonio Grinio Jacomina Navy Casualty Machinist Mate 2c from 25 E. Fernandez St San Juan Rizal

Ramon P. Jadulang *born 8/8/1907; died 9/26/1971; buried Halawa Cemetery Hawaii, Hawaii; Pfc 251 Ord Ammo Co.

Doroteo Jamero POW

Ottoinsani Jamil * Filipino Inf Regt

Pedro Jaminola Maj

Sivero Jamito * Filipino Inf Regt

Isidro Jamoral SSgt Troop C 26th Cavalry PS also was in Troop B (son Arcoben died 1/17/1930; buried Ft Stotsenburg Philippines)

Maximiano S. Janairo * born 08/20/1905; died 12/14/1997; buried Arlington National Cemetery; Army Colonel, also Korean War veteran

Santiago M. Jaramillo, Sr ** born 12/26/1914 Philippines; died 12/5/1996; buried Mission Memorial Park Seaside Ca Army SP2

Lamberto Javalera

Alfonso Tavara Javier # born 1/19/1904; died 7/17/2004; buried Catholic Cemetery Tubao La Union Philippines; Army

Bartolome E. Javier # San Esteban Ilocos Sur Sgt 1st Recon Bn

Dalmacio N. Javier born 9/27/1911; died 7/24/2000; buried Dona Gregoria Mem Park Kawit Cavite, Philippines; Navy SDC; also Korean War veteran

Filomeno Javier Navy Casualty Mess Attendant 1c from San Jose Manabo Abra

George R. Javier # born 6/23/1919; died 3/17/2004; buried San Joaquin Valley Nat Cemetery; Army Cpl served in the Philippines

Jose "Joe" Javier Lt

Leocadio Javier # MIA 6/21/1942; Army Pfc

Marcello J. Javier # born 7/1/1905 Philippines died 1/7/1987 Stockton Ca; buried E. Union Cemetery S. Joaquin Ca.; Army Tec5

Pablo Jimenez * Filipino Inf Regt

Enrique "Ike" "Titon" Joaquin guerilla; born 1924 San Juan Rizal; uncle of journalist Tony Joaquin

Patricio Jorge # Sgt w/ Villamor (PRS) Philippine Regional Section; 1st Reconn Bn

Esperidion Joyo Navy Casualty Cook 3c from 508 Legarda St. Sampaloc Manila

Anastacio Juaner Navy Casualty Machinist Mate from #13 M. Castro Caridad Cavite

Godofredo M. Juliano # 1LT PAAC 6th Pursuit PS; Silver Star recipient (USAFFE HQ G.O # 27, 1942); buried Libingan Ng Mga Bayani Philippines

Vicente Jungco born 10/12/1901; died 10/1979; buried San Pablo City; POW; Pfc Signal Corps; served 8/23/1919-1/26/1952; SS# issued Hawaii

Ramon M. Jungco Army Pvt MIA Casualty 7/6/1942

Enrique L. "Henry" Jurado # born 1911 Philippines; Casualty; killed 10/19/1944 by a competing band of guerillas; Major; Army; U.S. Naval Academy 1934 grad M.S. M.I.T.

Willie Jurado born 1921 Philippines; died 2006 Daly City California; buried Cypress Lawn Mem park; guerrilla post war: journalist; owner/founder "The Eye" newspaper; Manila International Airport manager

K

Ang Ka # Sgt. "Ampaw" Unit Col. Chua Sy Tiao guerrilla group

Ruperto Kadava Kangleon AKA Tigulang born 3/27/1890 San Roque, Macrohon, Southern Leyte; died: 2/27/1958 of heart failure buried: Manila South Cemetery (reinterred to Macrohon later) Colonel; Commanding Officer 81st Inf Div; POW Butuan; assigned to Leyte guerrilla group that facilitated the 10/20/1944 Leyte landing of Gen McArthur; appointed military governor of Leyte 10/23/1944.; prewar: Olympics player (1912-1913) PC Academy (now PMA) 1916 grad; PC 1936, later Phil Army; USAFEE 9/1941; postwar: awarded 17 medals & campaign ribbons including the Distinguished Service Cross (for 10/1/1943 to 10/20/1944) pinned personally by Gen McArthur; civil governor of Leyte; Philippine 6th Secretary of National Defense (5/28/1946-8/31/1950); posthumous promotion Brig Gen; elected Senator (served 1953 until his death); a military camp in Barangay Campetic Palo Leyte was named in his honor

Graciano "Grasing" Kapili.born Himatagon (St. Bernard) Leyte, rescued Kangleon from POW camp in 12/1942

Jose Kare # pilot LT PAAC 6tj Pursuit Squadron

Tomas B. Karingal # postwar: Quezon City, Philippines Chief of Police; General; National Police Superintendent

Yu Go Kee # Pfc. "Ampaw" Unit Col. Chua Sy Tiao guerrilla group

James Bayani Kemkem Navy Casualty Seaman 1c from #33 Batac Ilocos Norte

Ong Kiao # Maj. "Ampaw" Unit Col. Chua Sy Tiao guerrilla group

Ching Kiat # Sgt. "Ampaw" Unit Col. Chua Sy Tiao guerrilla group

Tan Khi # Pfc. "Ampaw" Unit Col. Chua Sy Tiao guerrilla group

Tan Li Kim # Sgt. "Ampaw" Unit Col. Chua Sy Tiao guerrilla group

See Kio # Sgt. "Ampaw" Unit Col. Chua Sy Tiao guerrilla group

Felix O. Kirao* born 5/20/1895 Sigma Philippines; died 3/27/1976 Kaneohe Hawaii; Pfc Army buried National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific; (also WW1 Pfc Co B 1st Hawaiian Inf; 7/29/1917-7/15/1919; resident of Aiea Hawaii)

Sisoye Kobalis * Filipino Inf Regt

 Bayan Ko 

 
Ang bayan kong Pilipinas
Lupain ng ginto't bulaklak
Pag-ibig ang sa kanyang palad
Nag-alay ng ganda't dilag.
At sa kanyang yumi at ganda
Dayuhan ay nahalina
Bayan ko, binihag ka
Nasadlak sa dusa.

Ibon mang may layang lumipad
Kulungin mo at umiiyak
Bayan pa kayang sakdal dilag
Ang di magnasang makaalpas!
Pilipinas kong minumutya
Pugad ng luha ko't dalita
Aking adhika,
Makita kang sakdal laya!

 by Jose Corazon De Jesus, 1929

 

Horatius

By Thomas Babbington, Lord Macaulay

Lars Porsena of Clusium by the Nine Gods he swore
That the great house of Tarquin should suffer wrong no more.
By the Nine Gods he swore it, and named a trysting day,
And bade his messengers ride forth,
East and West and South and North,
To summon his array.


East and West and South and North the messengers ride fast,
And tower and town and cottage have heard the trumpet’s blast.
Shame on the false Etruscan who lingers in his home,
When Porsena of Clusium is on the march for Rome


The horsemen and the footmen are pouring in amain
From many a stately market-place, from many a fruitful plain;
From many a lonely hamlet which, hid by beech and pine
Like an eagle’s nest hangs on the crest of purple Apennine;


From lordly Volaterrae, where scowls the far-famed hold
Piled by the hands of giants for god-like kings of old;
From sea-girt Populonia, whose sentinels descry
Sardinia’s snowy mountain-tops fringing the southern sky;


From the proud mart of Pisae, queen of the western waves,
Where ride Massilia’s triremes heavy with fair-haired slaves;
From where sweet Clanis wanders through corn and vines and flowers;
From where Cortona lifts to heaven her diadem of towers.


Tall are the oaks whose acorns drop in dark Auser’s rill;
Fat are the stags that champ the boughs of the Ciminian hill;
Beyond all streams Clitumnus is to the herdsman dear;
Best of all pools the fowler loves the great Volsinian mere.


But now no stroke of woodman is heard by Auser’s rill;
No hunter tracks the stag’s green path up the Ciminian hill;
Unwatched along Clitumnus grazes the milk-white steer;
Unharmed the water fowl may dip in the Volsinian mere.


The harvests of Arretium, this year, old men shall reap;
This year, young boys in Umbro shall plunge the struggling sheep;
And in the vats of Luna, this year, the must shall foam
Round the white feet of laughing girls whose sires have marched to Rome.


There be thirty chosen prophets, the wisest of the land,
Who always by Lars Porsena both morn and evening stand:
Evening and morn the Thirty have turned the verses o’er,
Traced from the right on linen white by mighty seers of yore.


And with one voice the Thirty have their glad answer given:
‘Go forth, go forth Lars Porsena; Go forth, beloved of Heaven;
Go, and return in glory to Clusium’s round dome;
And hang round Nurscia’s altars the golden shields of Rome.’


And now hath every city sent up her tale of men;
The foot are fourscore thousand; the horse are thousands ten.
Before the gates of Sutrium is met the great array.
A proud man was Lars Porsena upon the trysting day.


For all the Tuscan armies were ranged beneath his eye,
And many a banished Roman, and many a stout ally;
And with a mighty following to join the muster came
The Tusculan Mamilius, Prince of the Latian name.


But by the yellow Tiber was tumult and affright:
From all the spacious champaign to Rome men took their flight.
A mile around the city the throng stopped up the ways:
A fearful sight it was to see through two long nights and days


For aged folks on crutches, and women great with child,
And mothers sobbing over babes that clung to them and smiled.
And sick men borne in litters high on the necks of slaves,
And troops of sun-burned husbandmen with reaping-hooks and staves,


And droves of mules and asses laden with skins of wine,
And endless flocks of goats and sheep, and endless herds of kine,
And endless trains of wagons that creaked beneath the weight
Of corn-sacks and of household goods choked every roaring gate.


Now, from the rock Tarpiean, could the wan burghers spy
The line of blazing villages red in the midnight sky.
The Fathers of the City, they sat all night and day,
For every hour some horseman came with tidings of dismay.


To eastward and to westward have spread the Tuscan bands;
Nor house, nor fence, nor dovecote in Crustumerium stands.
Verbenna down to Ostia hath wasted all the plain;
Astur hath stormed Janiculum, and the stout guards are slain.


I wis, in all the Senate, there was no heart so bold,
But sore it ached, and fast it beat, when that ill news was told.
Forthwith up rose the Consul, up rose the Fathers all;
In haste they girded up their gowns and hied them to the wall.


They held a council standing before the River-Gate;
Short time was there, ye well may guess, for musing or debate.
Out spake the Consul roundly : ‘The bridge must straight go down;
For, since Janiculum is lost, nought else can save the town.’


Just then a scout came flying, all wild with haste and fear:
‘To arms! To arms! Sir Consul, Lars Porsena is here.’
On the low hills to westward the Consul fixed his eye,
And saw the swarthy storm of dust rise fast along the sky.


And nearer fast and nearer doth the red whirlwind come;
And louder still and still more loud, from underneath that whirling cloud,
Is heard the trumpet’s war-note proud, the trampling and the hum.
And plainly and more plainly now through the gloom appears,
Far to left and far to right, in broken gleams of dark-blue light,
The long array of helmets bright, the long array of spears.


And plainly and more plainly, above that glimmering line,
Now might ye see the banners of twelve fair cities shine;
But the banner of proud Clusium was highest of them all,
The terror of the Umbrian; the terror of the Gaul.


And plainly and more plainly now might the burghers know,
By port and vest, by horse and crest, each warlike Lucumo.
There Cilnius of Arretium on his fleet roan was seen;
And Astur of the four-fold shield, girt with the brand none else may wield,
Tolumnius with the belt of gold, and dark Verbenna from the hold
By reedy Thrasymene.


Fast by the royal standard, o’erlooking all the war,
Lars Porsena of Clusium sat in his ivory car.
By the right wheel rode Mamilius, prince of the Latian name,
And by the left false Sextus, who wrought the deed of shame.


But when the face of Sextus was seen among the foes,
A yell that rent the firmament from all the town arose.
On the house-tops was no woman but spat toward him and hissed
No child but screamed out curses, and shook its little first.


But the Consul’s brow was sad, and the Consul’s speech was low,
And darkly looked he at the wall, and darkly at the foe.
‘Their van will be upon us before the bridge goes down;
And if they once might win the bridge, what hope to save the town?’


Then out spoke brave Horatius, the Captain of the Gate:
‘To every man upon this earth Death cometh soon or late.
And how can man die better than facing fearful odds,
For the ashes of his fathers, and the temples of his Gods,


And for the tended mother who dandled him to rest,
And for the wife who nurses his baby at her breast,
And for the holy maidens who feed the eternal flame,
To save them from false Sextus, that wrought the deed of shame?


Hew down the bridge, Sir Consul, with all the speed ye may;
I, with two more to help me, will hold the foe in play.
In yon strait path a thousand may well be stopped by three.
Now who will stand on either hand and keep the bridge with me?’


Then out spake Spurius Lartius; a Ramnian proud was he:
‘Lo, I will stand at thy right hand and keep the bridge with thee.’
And out spake strong Herminius; of Titian blood was he:
‘I will abide on thy left side, and keep the bridge with thee.’


‘Horatius,’ quoth the Consul, ‘As thou sayest, so let it be.’
And straight against that great array forth went the dauntless Three.
For Romans in Rome’s quarrel spared neither land nor gold,
Nor son nor wife, nor limb nor life, in the brave days of old.


Then none was for a party; then all were for the state;
Then the great man helped the poor, and the poor man loved the great.
Then lands were fairly portioned; then spoils were fairly sold:
The Romans were like brothers in the brave days of old.


Now Roman is to Roman more hateful than a foe,
And the Tribunes beard the high, and the Fathers grind the low.
As we wax hot in faction, in battle we wax cold:
Wherefore men fight not as they fought in the brave days of old.


Now while the Three were tightening their harness on their backs,
The Consul was the foremost man to take in hand an axe:
And Fathers mixed with Commons seized hatchet, bar and crow,
And smote upon the planks above and loosed the props below.


Meanwhile the Tuscan army, right glorious to behold,
Came flashing back the noonday light,
Rank behind rank, like surges bright of a broad sea of gold.
Four hundred trumpets sounded a peal of warlike glee,
As that great host, with measured tread, and spears advanced, and ensigns spread,
Rolled slowly towards the bridge’s head, where stood the dauntless Three.


The Three stood calm and silent, and looked upon the foes,
And a great shout of laughter from all the vanguard rose:
And forth three chiefs came spurring before that deep array;
To earth they sprang, their swords they drew, and lifted high their shields, and flew
To win the narrow way;


Aunus from green Tifernum, Lord of the Hill of Vines;
And Seius, whose eight hundred slaves sicken in Ilva’s mines;
And Picus, long to Clusium vassal in peace and war,
Who led to fight his Umbrian powers from that grey crag where, girt with towers,
The fortress of Naquinum lowers o’er the pale waves of Nar.


Stout Lartius hurled down Aunus into the stream beneath:
Herminius struck at Seius, and clove him to the teeth:
At Picus brave Horatius darted one fiery thrust;
And the proud Umbrian’s golden arms clashed in the bloody dust.


Then Ocnus of Falerii rushed on the Roman Three;
And Lausulus of Urgo, the rover of the sea,
And Aruns of Volsinium, who slew the great wild boar,
The great wild boar that had his den amidst the reeds of Cosa’s fen,
And wasted fields, and slaughtered men, along Albinia’s shore.


Herminius smote down Aruns; Lartius laid Ocnus low:
Right to the heart of Lausulus Horatius sent a blow.
‘Lie there’, he cried, ‘fell pirate! No more, aghast and pale,
From Ostia’s walls the crowd shall mark the track of thy destroying bark.
No more Campania’s hinds shall fly to woods and caverns when they spy
Thy thrice-accursed sail.’


But now no sound of laughter was heard among the foes.
A wild and wrathful clamour from all the vanguard rose.
Six spears’ lengths from the entrance halted that deep array,
And for a space no man came forth to win the narrow way.


But hark! The cry is Astur: And lo! The ranks divide;
And the great Lord of Luna comes with his stately stride.
Upon his ample shoulders clangs loud the four-fold shield,
And in his hand he shakes the brand which none but he can wield.


He smiled on those bold Romans a smile serene and high;
He eyed the flinching Tuscans, and scorn was in his eye.
Quoth he, ‘The she-wolf’s litter stand savagely at bay:
But will ye dare to follow, if Astur clears the way?’


Then, whirling up his broadsword with both hands to the height,
He rushed against Horatius and smote with all his might.
With shield and blade Horatius right deftly turned the blow.
The blow, yet turned, came yet too nigh;
It missed his helm, but gashed his thigh:
The Tuscans raised a joyful cry to see the red blood flow.


He reeled, and on Herminius he leaned one breathing-space;
Then, like a wild-cat mad with wounds, sprang right at Astur’s face.
Through teeth, and skull, and helmet so fierce a thrust he sped,
The good sword stood a hand-breadth out behind the Tuscan’s head.


And the great Lord of Luna fell at that deadly stroke,
As falls on Mount Alvernus a thunder-smited oak.
Far o’er the crashing forest the giant arms lay spread;
And the pale augurs, muttering low, gaze on the blasted head.


On Astur’s throat Horatius right firmly pressed his heel,
And thrice and four times tugged amain, ere he wrenched out the steel.
‘And see,’ he cried, ‘the welcome, fair guests, that waits you here!
What noble Lucumo comes next to taste our Roman cheer?’


But at his haughty challenge a sullen murmur ran,
Mingled of wrath, and shame, and dread, along that glittering van.
There lacked not men of prowess, nor men of lordly race;
For all Etruria’s noblest were round the fatal place.


But all Etruria’s noblest felt their hearts sink to see
On the earth the bloody corpses; in their path the dauntless Three;
And, from the ghastly entrance where those bold Romans stood,
All shrank, like boys who unaware, ranging the woods to start a hare,
Come to the mouth of a dark lair where, growling low, a fierce old bear
Lies amidst bones and blood.


Was none who would be foremost to lead such dire attack:
But those behind cried ‘Forward!’, and those before cried ‘Back!’
And backward now and forward wavers the deep array;
And on the tossing sea of steel, to and fro the standards reel;
And the victorious trumpet-peal dies fitfully away.


Yet one man for one moment strode out before the crowd;
Well known was he to all the Three, and they gave him greeting loud.
‘Now welcome, welcome, Sextus! Now welcome to thy home!
Why dost thou stay, and turn away? Here lies the road to Rome.’


Thrice looked he at the city; thrice looked he at the dead;
And thrice came on in fury, and thrice turned back in dread:
And, white with fear and hatred, scowled at the narrow way
Where, wallowing in a pool of blood, the bravest Tuscans lay.


But meanwhile axe and lever have manfully been plied;
And now the bridge hangs tottering above the boiling tide.
‘Come back, come back, Horatius!’ loud cried the Fathers all.
‘Back, Lartius! Back, Herminius! Back, ere the ruin fall!’


Back darted Spurius Lartius; Herminius darted back:
And as they passed, beneath their feet they felt the timbers crack.
But when they turned their faces, and on the further shore
Saw brave Horatius stand alone, they would have crossed once more.


But with a crash like thunder fell every loosened beam,
And, like a dam, the mighty wreck lay right athwart the stream:
And a loud shout of triumph rose from the walls of Rome,
As to the highest turret-tops was splashed the yellow foam.


And, like a horse unbroken, when first he feels the rein,
The furious river struggled hard, and tossed his tawny mane,
And burst the curb, and bounded, rejoicing to be free,
And whirling down, in fierce career, battlement, and plank, and pier
Rushed headlong to the sea.


Alone stood brave Horatius, but constant still in mind;
Thrice thirty thousand foes before, and the broad flood behind.
‘Down with him!’ cried false Sextus, with a smile on his pale face.
‘Now yield thee’, cried Lars Porsena, ‘Now yield thee to our grace.’


Round turned he, as not deigning those craven ranks to see;
Nought spake he to Lars Porsena, to Sextus nought spake he;
But he saw on Palatinus the white porch of his home;
And he spake to the noble river that rolls by the towers of Rome.


‘Oh Tiber! father Tiber! To whom the Romans pray,
A Roman’s life, a Roman’s arms, take thou in charge this day!’
So he spake and, speaking, sheathed the good sword by his side,
And, with his harness on his back, plunged headlong in the tide.


No sound of joy or sorrow was heard from either bank;
But friends and foes in dumb surprise, with parted lips and straining eyes,
Stood gazing where he sank;
And when above the surges they saw his crest appear,
All Rome sent forth a rapturous cry, and even the ranks of Tuscany
Could scarce forbear to cheer.


But fiercely ran the current, swollen high by months of rain:
And fast his blood was flowing; and he was sore in pain,
And heavy with his armour, and spent with changing blows:
And oft they thought him sinking, but still again he rose.


Never, I ween, did swimmer, in such an evil case,
Struggle through such a raging flood safe to the landing place:
But his limbs were borne up bravely by the brave heart within,
And our good father Tiber bare bravely up his chin.


‘Curse on him!’ quoth false Sextus; ‘Will not the villain drown?
But for this stay, ere close of day, we would have sacked the town!’
Heaven help him!’ quoth Lars Porsena, ‘And bring him safe to shore;
For such a gallant feat of arms was never seen before
.’


And now he feels the bottom: now on dry earth he stands;
Now round him throng the Fathers, to press his gory hands;
And now, with shouts and clapping, and noise of weeping loud,
He enters through the River-Gate, borne by the joyous crowd.


They gave him of the corn-land, that was of public right,
As much as two strong oxen could plough from morn till night;
And they made a molten image, and set it up on high,
And there it stands unto this day to witness if I lie.


It stands in the Comitium, plain for all folk to see;
Horatius in his harness, halting upon one knee:
And underneath is written, in letters all of gold,
How valiantly he kept the bridge in the brave days of old.


And still his name sounds stirring unto the men of Rome,
As the trumpet-blast that calls to them to charge the Volscian home;
And wives still pray to Juno for boys with hearts as bold
As his who kept the bridge so well in the brave days of old.


And in the nights of winter, when the cold north winds blow,
And the long howling of the wolves is heard amidst the snow;
When round the lonely cottage roars loud the tempest’s din,
And the good logs of Algidus roar louder yet within;


When the oldest cask is opened, and the largest lamp is lit;
When the chestnuts glow in the embers, and the kid turns on the spit;
When young and old in circle around the firebrands close;
When the girls are weaving baskets and the lads are shaping bows


When the goodman mends his armour, and trims his helmet’s plume,
And the goodwife’s shuttle merrily goes flashing through the loom;
With weeping and with laughter still is the story told,
How well Horatius kept the bridge in the brave days of old
.

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