Santa Mesa and San Juan were crowded with evacuees from Pasay and other areas. The churches were full by 0630. An air-raid just before 0900 saw Japanese planes overhead en route to various targets. We heard no news from the front.

Spent the morning patching the house while Maurice and Dad were out buying supplies. The Da Silvas and a few other friends dropped in to say their good-byes.

Joe got a call from Fort Santiago. He was commissioned as First Lieutenant and should report immediately. I drove him to the Port Area where he collected his uniform and gear. Told that a car would be sent for him, Joe replied, “I’m ready to go right now.” Twenty minutes later, after saying goodbye to Mom and Dad by phone, he snapped me a salute and left for the war.

I noticed American and Filipino soldiers at the port — unshaven, dirty, drenched in sweat but tireless and uncomplaining — working like dogs to move a vast stockpile of U.S. Army goods out. So much stuff was about it’s hard to believe the Japanese have been dropping bombs elsewhere. No doubt this is a prime target. Merchant ships that recently took refuge in the Bay have gone.