"I'd like to lead it, Sir," Captain Hedges said.
"You're too valuable around here, Hedges," Fertig said.
"With respect, Sir," Captain Platten said. "I've got more experience in infantry. Nothing personal, Weston."
"I'll tell you this once, Platten," Fertig said. "I considered that, among other factors, before I made my decision. Never again question my orders."
Platten's face tightened, but after a moment he said, "Yes, Sir. Sorry, Sir."
As finally formed, the attack party consisted of the detail commander (Captain Weston) armed with a Thompson.45 caliber submachine gun; three officers (Captain Platten, and Lieutenants Everly and Alvarez) armed with Springfield 1903.30-06 rifles; and nine enlisted men (two American) armed with Enfield Model 1917.30-06 rifles.
They were accompanied by a twenty-five-man labor detail under Lieutenant Jose Lomero, late of the 17th Philippine Scouts. Lieutenant Lomero was armed with a.45 ACP Model 1911A1 pistol and an Enfield rifle. Two of his sergeants were armed with the Enfield. The balance of his detail was either unarmed or armed only with machetes. They carried with them the only shovel available to USFIP, and a motley collection of canteens, water bottles, and other vessels, including two small wooden barrels.
The attack party left Headquarters, USFIP, at first light Monday 19 Octo-ber with the labor detail sandwiched between the armed men. After an eight-hour march through the mountainous jungle, a bivouac was established at what was estimated to be a mile from the ambush site.
A detail under Captain Weston, consisting of Lieutenant Everly, four armed members of the party, and three members of the labor detail, then pro-ceeded to the attack site. Captain Platten remained at the bivouac site to super-vise the construction of crude lean-tos and to establish a perimeter guard.
One hundred yards from the highway, the labor detail dug four holes, each large enough for a fifty-five-gallon drum. They next made arrangements to conceal their location by distributing the removed earth over a wide area and selecting foliage that would be placed over the holes once the barrels were placed in them.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Everly selected both the precise location for the ambush and, insofar as possible, the positions on both sides of the highway from which the convoy would be brought under fire.
The reconnaissance party then returned to the bivouac area, leaving behind two unarmed members of the labor detail, who were wearing native clothing. Should there be any Japanese activity during the night, it was their mission to return to the bivouac area to warn the others.
They were not armed, because it was hoped that if they fell into Japanese hands, they could successfully argue that they were simple Filipino farmers, and because Lieutenant Everly suggested to Captain Weston that not arming the men would remove the temptation to attack the Japanese on their own.
At first light Tuesday 20 October, the bivouac was deestablished, with considerable care given to remove all signs of its overnight occupancy. The entire attack party then resumed the march toward the highway.
By 0645, contact was established with the two men who had been left be-hind. They reported no activity during the hours of darkness except the intru-sion of three small wild pigs, which had been decapitated with a machete and then skinned and gutted.
In total, in Captain Weston's judgment, the pig carci weighed approxi-mately sixty pounds. One of the men who had remained behind overnight was charged with carrying the rations to Headquarters, USFIP, together with a Situ-ation Update for General Fertig.
The labor detail remained approximately two hundred yards from the highway, while the attack party moved into position under the direction of Lieutenant Everly.
At Lieutenant Everly's suggestion, Captain Weston took up a position on the seaward side of the road, near Lieutenant Everly. Captain Platten took up a position approximately one hundred yards away. The balance of the attacking force was placed on both sides of the road, and Lieutenant Everly cautioned each member of the party to remain concealed and not to open fire until they heard the sound of his rifle. They were then to remain aware of the location of USFIP personnel on the other side of the road, so there would be no casualties from USFIP fire. This emplacement was accomplished by 0655 hours.
At approximately 0702, they heard the sound of a truck grinding gears.
Captain Weston at this point retracted the operating rod of his Thompson.45 ACP Caliber submachine gun, took a final look down the road, and then dropped out of sight. Six or eight feet away, he could see Lieutenant Everly, almost entirely concealed by the trunk of a tree and some foliage. He was sit-ting with his legs crossed under him, leaning forward so that his left elbow touched his knee. All it would take to be in a Parris Island-perfect "Sitting Position for Riflemen" would be for him to put the butt of his Springfield in the small of his shoulder and lower his face to the stock.
A moment later, he did just this; and as Weston heard the sound of vehicles approaching, he saw the muzzle of Everly's Springfield tracking their move-ment.
And then, without warning, Everly fired. There was a flash of orange at the muzzle, and the sharp-surprisingly loud and frightening-sound of the weapon firing.
The noise was immediately followed by the sound of other weapons firing. Weston got to his feet as quickly as possible. The lead vehicle of the convoy was a four-door Buick convertible, top down, with spare tires mounted in front fender wells. He was surprised to see how close it was to him, and that it was apparently headed directly toward him, as if trying to run him over.
After what seemed like a very long time, the Buick stopped, as its front wheels rolled off the road and further forward movement was impeded. Wes-ton then became aware of the occupants of the vehicle. The driver was now lying against the steering wheel, causing the horn to sound. One of the rear-seat passengers was trying to raise himself off the floor; and the other-an offi-cer-was simultaneously trying to stand up and unholster his pistol.
Everly's rifle fired again. As Weston heard the crack of the weapon firing, he thought he could also hear the whistle of its bullet passing close to him.
Weston raised the submachine gun to his shoulder, got a sight picture, and pulled the trigger, immediately releasing it. He felt the three-round burst recoil against his shoulder. The face of the Japanese officer in the Buick seemed to implode. He sat back and then slid off the seat. The second man in the back of the car suddenly jumped out of the car and started running to the trucks behind him.
Weston raised his Thompson to his shoulder and aimed it. As he was pre-paring to apply gentle pressure to the trigger, Everly's Springfield fired again, the running man's head seemed to explode, and he fell forward onto his face. His legs and arms twitched.
Weston looked back at Everly, who was now on his feet, pulling the loop of the sling off his arm. He looked at Weston and made an impatient gesture for Weston to return his attention to the road, or,
My God, he wants me to go out there! If I go out there, they'll be able to see me, and shoot me, and I'll be killed!
Oh, shit!
Captain Weston moved out of the foliage, holding the Thompson with one hand. He supported himself on the fender of the Buick and then made what he thought, for a brief moment, was a constructive act. He pulled the body of the driver away from the steering wheel. The blaring of the horn stopped.