MACARTHUR AND HIS MEN

The Jap was relentless: his was the patience, the endurance, the determination to wipe out the last Philippine defender, though it meant expenditure of a major force on the bloody, outnumbered remnants of the islands' defensive garrison. His heavy artillery, from cleverly concealed positions across Manila Bay, bombarded three of the four forts guarding the bay. His bombers braved uncannily accurate ack-ack fire to hound Bataan positions night & day. His infantry closed in, hoping for the kill.

But to date the best Jap efforts have not been enough. The men pictured here and hundreds of others like them are the reasons why. Seen and unseen, they are all heroes.

Hero's Heroes. On beleaguered Bataan Peninsula General Douglas MacArthur's cocky soldiers referred affectionately to the single, battered old P-40 droning overhead as "our Air Force." Unable to send mail of their own, they asked TIME Correspondent Melville Jacoby to address a message for them all to their Commander in Chief: "Dear Mr. Roosevelt: Our P-40 is full of holes. Please send us a new one." In Washington Congress proposed a Congressional Medal of Honor for Douglas MacArthur, considered naming a projected TVA dam and a Washington boulevard (now Conduit Road) in his honor.

Douglas MacArthur's daily communiques to the War Department have been eloquent in their terseness. Although he has made five major generals and 18 brigadier generals since the war started, he has not thought it necessary in several instances to cite the deeds which prompted the promotions, nor has he taken time to reveal his staff's working structure. Departmental sources believe that Major General Jonathan M. ("Skinny") Wainwright, 58-year-old cavalry expert, is Douglas MacArthur's second in command. Horseman Wainwright and Brigadier General Albert N. Jones received Distinguished Service Crosses for "extraordinary heroism in action" during early phases of the Philippine invasion. Douglas MacArthurs Chief of Staff is handsome, young (48) Major General Richard K. Sutherland. Commanding Corregidor is tall, thin Major General George F. Moore, a Coast Artilleryman since 1909. Carl Seals, Douglas MacArthur's closest friend and Adjutant General, was recently made a brigadier. Chief of engineers is Brooklyn-born Brigadier General (until recently Colonel) Hugh John Casey, of Casey's Cookies fame (TIME, Feb. 9).

For "their leadership in the field and . . . combat command appropriate to the rank," jovial, mustachioed Edward P. King Jr., genial George M. Parker Jr., were raised from brigadier to major generals. For "leadership and gallantry" Colonel Harold H. ("Pursuit") George, St. Mihiel and Argonne veteran, trim James R. N. Weaver, Mississippi-born William E. Brougher, were made brigadiers.

Major Thomas J. H. ("Trap") Trapnell, who braved heavy fire to destroy a bridge in the path of an enemy advance, and Captain Jesus A. Villamor, Philippine Air Corps daredevil ace, were awarded D.S.C.s.

These were just a few of the promotions and honors that grow in significance each day Bataan continues to withstand the Jap's assaults. Two were in a class by themselves: Second Lieutenant Alexander Ramsey ("Sandy") Nininger Jr., posthumously honored with World War II's first Congressional Medal of Honor for "intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty" (TIME, Feb. 9), and Captain Colin P. Kelly (TIME, Dec. 22), who was awarded a posthumous D.S.C.

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