“They Call It Pacific” by Associated Press war reporter
Clark Lee began running in newspapers around the country
June 1, 1943. Each day, a new installment was printed. The
series was Clark's telling of the events he witnessed prior
to the Japanese attack on the Philippines through the fall
of that island nation.
On June 4, 1943, the 200th Coast Artillery men began to
appear. In that day's segment, the December 8, 1941 bombing
of Clark Field:
“They were Americans belonging to the 200th New Mexico
National Guard, an anti-aircraft regiment of the coast
artillery which came to the Philippines in September. ...In
the darkness we introduced ourselves. The sergeant was Joe
Smith, the corporal, Gene Davis. There were Gene Davis's
brother Dwayne, and Paul Womack, Leon Beasley, Charlie
James, Sam Buse, Lieutenant Frank Forni and Lieutenant J. A.
“We were at Clark Field yesterday,” they said.
“For God's sake tell me about it. ...”
“We Shot Down The First Japs”
Charlie James, Frank Forni and Leon Beasley
(Pre-war). Courtesy of Charlie James.