Survivors mark recapture of rock

Survivors mark recapture of rock

CORREGIDOR, Philippines (AFP): American and Filipino veterans and one of their surviving Japanese World War II enemies returned to this ancient fortress yesterday to mark the 50th anniversary of one of the bloodiest scenes of combat in the Pacific theater.

The old soldiers were joined on the island which guards the entrance to Manila Bay by Philippine President Fidel Ramos -- a former general who as a young officer fought for the south in the Korean War -- and U.S. Secretary of the Army, Togo West.

"We commemorate the recapture, 50 years ago, of Corregidor, not to reopen old wounds caused by war, but to point out the folly of war and stress how much more nations can benefit if they work together," Ramos said after laying a wreath at a war memorial here.

The tiny island had briefly served as the seat of the Philippine government and the general headquarters of U.S. Gen. Douglas McArthur.