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I assured him it did not appear to be very serious. However, I called a medical aide man over and he arranged to get Vic back to our field hospital. Later, Vic said when they surgically removed the bullet, they noticed it to be an American 30 caliber, armor-piercing one. We surmised it came from our own forces. It had probably traveled some distance, then, ricocheted off some hard object and penetrated the skin on Vic's right shoulder blade. He was one lucky guy that the bullet was almost spent when it hit him, otherwise, he would probably have been fatally wounded by the impact of the bul1et.
For months to come, Morotai was the prime target area for Japanese night bombings. It was the hot spot in the Pacific, receiving Japanese bombing raids for 89 of the first 90 nights of our occupation of the island and many more thereafter. For seven months, our 155th Infantry Regiment manned part of the perimeter defense with all nights spent on guard in pillboxes and bunkers.
Frequently, we front-line combatmen conducted patrols to our Air Force supply and equipment areas behind our lines of defense. We eagerly "borrowed" their big machine guns and ammunition to supplement and enhance our own firepower. We also enjoyed stealing their more tasteful food. Their vehicle batteries and lights were prize items because the lights could be erected in front of our bunkers to highlight the enemy trying to infiltrate our lines at night. Also, on several occasions, we "borrowed" black currant berries from our Air Force comrades to make delicious "black currant wine."
Some of our infantry comrades were quite ingenious at times. Merchant Marine seamen would venture near our defense perimeter seeking souvenirs to take back home. Sooo! our men would cut squares of parachute cloth that we also "borrowed," paint the "rising sun" on each with mercurochrome or similar liquid, then, sell them as authentic Japanese battle flags. The merchant seamen were happy with their souvenirs and our men happy with the profits.
In early April 1945, orders came for our 31st Infantry "Dixie" Division to land on Mindanao Island of the Philippine Islands and engage the enemy.
On 27 April 1945, our 155th Regimental Combat Team moved to Kabacan to relieve elements of the 24th Division. After a few scattered enemy were destroyed, our regiment moved by forced march to Kibawe, covering 61 miles in 49 hours, where we were ordered to prepare to push south, down the Kibawe-Taloma
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