Word: fabian
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Dates: during 1940-1949
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Part the First. So vast was the armada under Vice Admiral Thomas Cassin Kinkaid that it was divided into four: 1) bombardment and fire-support group, under Vice Admiral Jesse Barrett Oldendorf (victor of Surigao Strait); 2) close cover group, under Rear Admiral Russell S. Berkey; 3) San Fabian Attack Force, with troops for the northern beachhead, under Vice Admiral Daniel E. Barbey; 4) Lingayen Attack Force, with troops for the southern beachhead, under Vice Admiral Theodore S. Wilkinson...
Oldendorf's floating batteries poured it on all day, raking the coast from San Fernando south to San Fabian and west to Lingayen. Jap troops were scattered; cheering Filipinos streamed down to the beaches until the gunfire made it too hot for them. Next day Oldendorf was still at it. Japanese soldiers streamed out to the north, using pushcarts and bicycles...
Luzon at Last. It was Tuesday, Jan. 9, when Barbey's landing craft nosed in to the beach extending south from San Fabian. Assault troops streamed ashore in full daylight, direct from LCIs, with no opposition save enemy mortar fire. Wilkinson's group, following Barbey's into the gulf and staking out the southernmost beach west to Lingayen, met no enemy fire, but heavy surf breaking far out complicated the task of landing heavy equipment...
...Great Event. At week's end, the big show was unfolding. By enemy report, no less than 70 Allied warships had penetrated into Lingayen Gulf, were laying their guns on coast defenses as far south as San Fabian (see map). Third Fleet carrier planes supplied close air support. The Japanese description of the scene was nothing if not vivid: "The whole area of Lingayen Gulf is detonating with the fiercest bombardment ... by the enemy surface units as well as the large carrier-borne plane bombings. . . . Superheavy guns mounted in the fortresses of San Fernando, Bauang, Damortis and other places...
Perhaps Rommel was restrained by the Fabian hand of Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt. Perhaps he was not a great and daring general, after all. In any case, he frittered away a lot of his armor and more of his chances in local, uncoordinated counterattacks which merely harassed methodical General Sir Bernard L. Montgomery. Rommel got nowhere. The Allies made good progress, were fighting a winning battle...