Wayne Sandefur: Battle of Zig Zag Pass
January 19, 2012
Posted in 152nd Infantry, 38th Infantry Division, Wayne Sandefur, World War II, Zig Zag Pass
Tags: 152nd Infantry, 38th Infantry Division, Wayne Sandefur, World War II, Zig Zag Pass
On January 29, 1945, American troops returned to Bataan. Company L, 152nd Infantry, 38th Infantry Division, commanded by Captain Wayne Sandefur, landed on the west coast of Luzon, near San Narciso. “Always the unexpected happens in war,” Comapany L trooper, Clarence De Turk said, with a laugh. “When we made our landing, we expected a heavy fight. No one was there. I guess they thought we’d land at Subic Bay. Not a shot was fired.”
The group met only light resistance through Olongapo, but hard times lay ahead. The 14-mile stretch along Highway 7 to Dinalupihan marked the only road from Subic Bay to Clark Field in the north and Manila in the south. This Zig Zag Pass slithered its way through the mountain jungle like a snake. In enemy hands, the route would prove highly defendable, almost impassable. “It was brush and bamboo, mountains and hills,” Jim Coy, another Company L soldier, described. “The Japs were dug in so well. They’d been there awhile, so their bunkers and emplacements had grown back over. We couldn’t see them at all. They’d cut lines of fire through the brush, really just slits. It was terrible.”
Sandefur’s 152nd Infantry led the way. The Japanese wasted little time in welcoming them. “Machine guns were cutting down soldiers seeking cover, and men who thought they had found it were being hit by snipers,” Sergeant Charles Pearson reported in Yank Far East. “And no one saw a Jap.”
“I got hit with some shrapnel early on,” Coy said. “It really wasn’t much. It burned my arm where it was hot. I just kept on fighting.”
The Japanese continued to defend the Pass at all costs. “They kept shooting our leaders,” De Turk said. “We couldn’t figure out what was going on. We were looking all around, but on the ground. Well, they tied snipers up into the tops of these trees—really suicide missions. Once we found out what was going on, we’d take a BAR and fire it up the tree. You’d hear them yell and that’d be it. They soon cut that out.
“Or a lot of nights, the Japs would call you out by name. They’d lay low and observe throughout the day. Then they’d try and get you out at night. Sometimes, they’d run through our lines, but we weren’t supposed to fire because we didn’t want to give away our positions for enemy artillery.”
The battle raged on. “I got wounded on February 11,” De Turk said. “…They threw a grenade in my foxhole and it blew me out. I had shrapnel all up my right leg, my hip, my back, up to my shoulder blade. It’s a good thing I’ve got a big butt. It took about 10 or 15 years for all that shrapnel to work its way out.
February 13, would be the last in the fight for Zig Zag Pass. In two weeks, American troops had forced their way through a seemingly impregnable gauntlet.
Company L – CO, Captain Wayne Sandefur earned the Silver Star for his gallantry under fire, as described by the Hattiesburg American newspaper.
Captain Wayne Sandefur receives the Silver Star from Gen. William Chase, 38th Infantry Division.
“Capt. Wayne T, Sandefur, whose wife lives at 136 West Fifth Street, has been awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action in the face of heavy enemy fire during the 38th Division’s fight to avenge Bataan. The 152nd (Indiana) Infantry was battling for heavily fortified Zigzag Pass, east of Olangapo, which opened another route to Manila. While attacking a strongly fortified Japanese position, Captain Sandefur’s company was subjected to heavy enemy mortar, machine gun and rifle fire. Although he lost all of his officers except one and many non-commissioned officers, he continued to advance aggressively throughout his company front lines, urging his men on to their objective. The final attainment of the company objective was largely due to the initiative and daring of Captain Sandefur. Presentation of the medal was made by Brig. Gen. William C. Chase, commanding general of the 38th Division, during ceremonies somewhere on Luzon. Captain Sandefur, commanding officer of Co. L, 152nd Infantry, has been overseas 14 months, and before seeing action in the Luzon campaign he served in Hawaii, New Guinea, and Leyte.”
Did you know a Tech Sargent , Floyd McKibben?
Hi Thomas,
Was McKibben with Sandefur’s Company L? Was he from Northern Indiana?
Floyd McKibben was from Portland, Indiana.
I am trying to get some information on some of the companies in the 38th that were in zig zag pass I have a family member whose father was in that battle and we are tryin to get maybe a roster that wiuld show his name so that we can get a bronze plaque for his head stone his family does not have his service record or St Louis either I can be reached at 765-647-5721 765-309-2358 Thank You Charles Thomas CVSO
My father-in-laws name is Delmer Keller. He served with the 152nd at zig zag pass. I would like to know if anyone knew him.
My maternal uncle SSgt Frances “Bud” Schmillen of Cherokee, Iowa was at ZigZag Pass and KIA there…Anyone who knew him or has information about him the family would appreciate any word…Thanks…Mike Brickman; Arvada CO
I HAD A UNCLE PVT ROY A HAYNES KILLED ON LUZON HE WAS IN THE 152INF 38 DIVISION HE WAS KILLED ON FEB 11 I SUSPECT ON ZIG ZAG PASS. ANY BODY WITH INFORMATION ABOUT HIM WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED
My uncle Donald D Archer served with the 38th 152nd. He was KIA may 15th 1945. Any info would be appreciated. My E-mail is [email protected]
My uncle Philip F. Cunningham [ to whom I was named after ] served with I Co. 152 Inf. Reg. 38th Inf. Div. He was KIA at the Battle of Zig Zag Pass on Feb. 1, 1945. Could you give me any more information about him. It would be appreciated. Thank you!