NOTE: Historical sections of this article are taken from the book Once Forgotten: Philip R. Haley’s Combat and Prisoner of War Experiences in the Far East 1941-1945 by D. Randall Haley, Ph.D. (click title to purchase the book on amazon.com)
“We were alone.”
1942, Corregidor, the Philippines. The United States Marines are fighting a last-ditch defense in the face of an overwhelming Japanese invasion. US Marine Philip R. Haley greets the dawn with the realization that his platoon has pulled out in the night leaving him behind. Only Haley and two other Marines are left facing the Japanese onslaught.
Haley pulls back with his fellow Marines to find his platoon. Avoiding snipers and a Japanese machine gun position that had set up a firing position overnight, they move cautiously. Finally, they retreat to the Malinta tunnel with other survivors. As the last American machine gun in the tunnel entrance falls silent, Haley waits for his inevitable capture by the forces of the Empire of Japan.
Taken to the Cabanatuan Prisoner of War Camp, Haley began what would become 39 months and 11 days as a Japanese prisoner of war. Eventually transferred to a camp in Manchuria, Haley is freed by the advancing Russian army in 1945.
Having been declared Missing in Action, most of his family believed him dead. However, his mother kept the faith for over a year until news of his capture and survival made its way to the family in the USA. Philip’s father was not living at the time, having died in 1930 of long-term complications of a chemical weapons attack while fighting in the Ardennes in World War I.
I knew this story in general, having heard it from my friend Captain “Rusty” Haley (Philip R. Haley, III) son of the legendary Marine. I grew more familiar with the story when I had the honor to officiate Rusty’s funeral in 2022 and met Randall Haley, the author of the Once Forgotten book. Captain Rusty Haley was a long-time 747 pilot, plane commander, and meteorologist. Rusty’s brother, Randall, was a university professor after having served a long and distinguished military career.
The People’s Marathon
One of the unique marathons in the world is the Marine Corps Marathon run annually in Washington, DC on the last weekend in October. Called “The People’s Marathon” it has aid stations manned by many young United States Marine Corps officers who train nearby. At the finish of the 26.2-mile race, a Marine will hand you your medal with the Globe and Anchor on it and give you a hearty well done.
One moving feature of the race is called the “Blue Mile” where you run between American flags and large pictures of American service personnel who have given their lives in combat (from all branches of the military). Also, in this race you can run in honor of a veteran, living or dead, by wearing a race bib with the veteran’s name on it. Because of the recent funeral of Captain Rusty, I decided in 2022 to run in honor of Pvt. Philip R. Haley, USMC.
I will spare you, dear reader, the agonies of running a marathon in general. I will say that only the US Marines would think to place the finish line at the top of a hill after you have just run 26.2 miles. Oorah!
At the finish line, a gentleman came up and asked to have a picture taken with me. I should have suspected something when I noticed that he had a full Colonel as an aide. He said, “Let’s get a picture, I am the Secretary of the Navy.” I was able to report to him that I had completed the course. Further, that I was running today’s race in honor of Philip R. Haley, USMC, defender of the Philippines, freed Prisoner of War, and a member of one of the most incredible families in the USA, the Amazing Haleys.
Michael R Spradlin 