Robert J. Atz was born on November 25, 1918 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the Army on September 17, 1941. Robert served in the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment as a Private First Class during World War II. He was Killed in Action on February 26, 1945 at the age of 26 during the battle for the recapture of Corregidor, Philippines against the defending Japanese garrison on the island and is now buried in the Manila American Cemetery, Taguig City, Philippines.

Other info: By the morning of February 26, the men of the 1st Battalion, of 503rd paratroopers had reached the tail of the tadpole at Monkey Point and were "mopping up." Already General MacArthur was making plans for his return to Corregidor. Just northeast was a little ridge and under it was an underground network of tunnels which had housed the Navy's Radio Intercept Station.

At ll:05a.m one of the tanks fired into the sloping entrance of the Monkey Point tunnel. Simultaneously, a violent explosion lifted the top off the ridge over the Radio Intercept Station, causing significant casualties on both sides.

“Reports that tank fired into one of the cave pill boxes and a big explosion followed by three or four smaller ones tore up high ground around Monkey Pt and occupied by our troops assaulting position.The blast tore apart a Sherman tank and big rocks filled sky which in falling caused many deaths & injuries. Med aid rushed from Mariveles by cub. The total casualties are 156.

“As the dust from terrific explosions settled, a hollow appeared where a small knoll had previously stood. Debris had flown as far as Topside where one man, almost a mile from the explosion, was injured by flying rock. Other debris hit a destroyer 2,000 yards offshore. A medium tank was hurled 50 yards through the air, most of its crew killed. Bits and pieces of American and Japanese troops splattered the ground; rock slides buried alive other men of both forces.“ Source: Triumph in the Philippines by Robert Ross Smith, Chapter XVIII Corregidor, page 348.

When the smoke and dust dissipated around the ruined tunnel, the surviving American soldiers stood there in silence, stunned by what they had just experienced. Whether this cataclysm resulted from suicidal Japanese troops seeking an honorable exit or from the muzzle of the army tank may never be known.

Available records give the number of casualties for 26 February but do not break out those due to this event alone. It appears, however, there were about 30 Paratroopers killed outright and about 125 seriously injured. Private First Class, Robert J. Atz of the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment was one of the men killed in the Monkey Point explosion. Over 200 Japanese also died in the blast.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com