BY: CHARLES NIKKO LIMON
Despite his frail health at 98 years old, World War II and Korean War veteran Ernesto Carreon Luis vividly recalled his harrowing experiences during the Second World War at the 80th anniversary celebration of Baguio City’s liberation.
Luis, a member of the 66th Infantry Regiment of the United States Armed Forces in the Philippines – Northern Luzon (USAFIP-NL), was among the soldiers who fought to liberate Baguio City from Japanese forces in 1945.
During the fierce battles, he narrowly escaped death when their truck was ambushed near Kilometer 99.
“When we got close to Kilometer 99, the Japanese hit us with machine gun fire. Our truck crashed and we were thrown onto the road. That’s when I got wounded,” Luis recalled.
Following the Philippines’ independence, Luis once again answered the call of duty, joining the 14th Battalion Combat Team under the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea (PEFTOK).
In the Korean War, he survived another near-death encounter when a mortar shell entered their bunker chimney, killing one of his comrades instantly.
During the anniversary event held at Veteran Park in Baguio City, Luis, assisted by Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr., offered flowers to honor his fallen comrades.
In his speech, Brawner emphasized that the liberation of Baguio was not just a battlefield victory but a triumph of the people’s courage and unity.
Brawner also addressed the ongoing defense of Philippine sovereignty, particularly in the West Philippine Sea, stressing the importance of wise diplomacy alongside military strength.
He encouraged Filipinos to protect the country’s sovereignty by voting wisely in the upcoming May 12 elections.
He also shared updates on the upcoming Balikatan Exercise 2025, highlighting the participation of the Japan Self-Defense Force’s radar systems and the use of the U.S. Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) to boost national defense capabilities.
