A five-sided concrete monument about 4 feet high with 5 inscribed bronze plaques attached to it.

The monument remembers the “Rock Force” and the re-taking of Corregidor Island in 1945.  The Rock Force was the assault unit built around the 503^rd Parachute Infantry Regiment commanded by Colonel George M. Jones.

Corregidor in 1945—though it lacked in importance to the defensive strategy of the Japanese that it previously had held for the Americans in early 1942—remained a formidable sentinel to the entrance to Manila Bay. Consequently, American planners thought it merited a separate attack.

MacArthur's strategy was to make a combined amphibious and airborne assault—among the most difficult of all modern military maneuvers—to retake the island. Although this particular plan of action had been used to good effect during the Luzon landings, the airborne phase was risky. As small as it was, at just over five square miles, the tadpole-shaped island made a difficult target for a parachute drop.

The honors for recapturing the Rock went to the 503rd Parachute Regimental Combat Team of Lieutenant Colonel George M. Jones and elements of Major General Roscoe B. Woodruff's 24th Infantry Division ( 34^thInfantry Regiment commanded by Colonel Aubrey “Red” Newman), the same units which undertook the capture of Mindoro island. The 503rd PRCT included the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment, Co. C, 161st Airborne Engineer Battalion, and elements of the 462nd Parachute Field Artillery Battalion with 75 mm pack howitzers. They were airlifted by C-47 aircraft of the 317th Troop Carrier Group. The amphibious assault was by the reinforced 3rd Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, carried by Landing Craft Mechanized (LCMs) of the 592nd Engineer Boat and Shore Regiment. The attack commenced on February 16, 1945.

On March 2, General MacArthur returned to The Rock and replaced the battle torn flag of the 503rd PRCT with a brand new American flag. During the flag-raising ceremony, Colonel Jones stepped forward, saluted General MacArthur, and said, “Sir, I present to you Fortress Corregidor.”

The 503rd Parachute Regimental Combat Team had 17 officers and 148 enlisted men killed on Corregidor. It also had 17 officers and 267 enlisted men wounded, 64 sick paratroopers evacuated, and 331 troopers listed as injured for a total of 844 casualties. Out of a total force of 2,962 paratroopers, engineers, artillerymen, and other personnel, the 503rd PRCT suffered casualties of 28.5 percent.

The reinforced 3rd Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division had 264 casualties out of 1,598 men. Overall, Rock Force suffered 1,105 casualties out of 4,560 men, a loss of 24.3 percent. The Japanese, who fought to the bitter end, had almost 100 percent casualties. Only 20 Japanese soldiers were taken prisoner. Among the men killed were 200 soldiers that tried to swim to the Bataan Peninsula but were intercepted by the surrounding U.S. Navy ships.

In 1942, it had taken the Japanese five months to conquer the 1,300 American defenders on Corregidor. In 1945, it took Rock Force 15 days against 6,000 defenders to take it back.

Marker panel 1 on topside of monument:

”I see the old flagpole still stands. Have your troops hoist the colors to its peak, and let no enemy ever haul them down.”

These historic words were spoken by General Douglas MacArthur near the site of this memorial on 2 March 1945 after the recapture of Corregidor by the 503rd Parachute Regimental Combat Team. The “Rock Force” commander, Colonel George M. Jones in the presence of his regiment saluted and said in a clear voice, “Sir, I present to you Fortress Corregidor.”

(Insignia of the 503rd Airborne - “The Rock”, and the US Army Parachutist badge)

This memorial is a tribute to the men and women who defended and recaptured Corregidor during World War II. Dedicated by Brigadier General George M. Jones, (Retired), and former members of the 503rd Parachute Regimental Combat Team with their families and friends on 16 February 1979, the 34th anniversary of the Recapture of Corregidor.

Marker Panel 2 on east face of monument:

THE ROCK FORCE

503rd Parachute Regimental Combat Team

503^rd Parachute Infantry Regiment

462nd Parachute Field Artillery Battalion

Company “C” 161st Parachute Engineer Battalion

With Attached Units

3rd Battalion 34th Infantry Regiment

18th Portable Surgical Hospital (Reinf)

3rd Platoon Antitank 34th Infantry

3rd Platoon Cannon Company 34th Infantry

3rd Platoon Company C 3rd Engineer Battalion

Company A 34th Infantry

3rd Platoon Company C 24th Medical Battalion

Detachment Service Company 34th Infantry

Battery A 950th AAA (AW) Battalion

174th Ordnance Service Detachment (Bomb Disposal)

Detachment 592nd Engineer Boat & Shore Regiment

Detachment 98th Signal Battalion

Detachment 1st Platoon 603rd Tank Company

Detachment 592nd Joint Assault Signal Company

Detachment 6th Support Air Party

Combat Photo Unit A GHQ Signal Section

Combat Photo Unit Q GHQ Signal Section

Marker Panel 3 on the west side of the monument: 

The 503rd Memorial Committee & Project Coordinators

(List of names, see picture)

Marker Panel 4 facing the parade ground:

NO SOIL ON EARTH IS MORE DEEPLY CONSECRATED

TO THE CAUSE OF HUMAN LIBERTY THAN THAT OF THE

ISLAND OF CORREGIDOR

GENERAL DOUGLAS MAC ARTHUR 

503^RD PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT

(LIST OF THE NAMES OF KIA, SEE PICTURE)

Marker Panel 5 facing the parade ground:

HISTORY WILL RECORD THAT WHAT YOU DID HERE

THIS HALLOWED GROUND SHALL BE YOUR TOMB

AND THE HEARTS OF A FREE PEOPLE FOREVER

FILLED WITH GRATITUDE SHALL BE YOUR MOMENT

BRIGADIER GENERAL GEORGE M. JONES

503^RD PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT

(LIST OF THE NAMES OF KIA, SEE PICTURE)

462^ND PARACHUTE ARTILLERY BATTALION

(LIST OF THE NAMES OF KIA, SEE PICTURE)

COMPANY “C” 161^ST PARACHUTE ENGINEER BATTALION

(LIST OF THE NAMES OF KIA, SEE PICTURE)

WE SALUTE THOSE SOLDIERS OF THE 34^TH REGIMENT

AND SUPPORTING UNITS WHO WERE KILLED IN ACTION

HERE ON CORREGIDOR AND WHO IN DEATH REMAIN UNKNOWN