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Coastside WWII: Lifting the Veil of Military Secrecy/The End of Hostilities

From the Half Moon Bay Review, 1945, an article celebrating the end of hostilities.

“Japanese capitulation, ending World War II, has lifted the wall of military secrecy on San Mateo County’s magnificent contribution to the fighting machine of America and her allies in mankind’s greatest conflict of arms.

“It was no small part that we of the Peninsula played in winning the victory over Nazi Germany and a Japan bent on world conquest. And it was no small peril in which the the county, as key to the defense of San Francisco and the metropolitan bay area, found itself when the foe threatened invasion of our shores in the dark years of 1941-42.

“Ships launched in South San Francisco helped beat the submarine menace in the Atlantic and Mediterranean.

“Parts turned out in small factories in San Bruno, South San Francisco and San Carlos and other parts assembled in San Mateo, helped produce the miracle of radar that enabled our fighting ships to detect enemy aircraft and send up planes to intercept the foe approaching shores of our allies.

“Millions of gallons of aviation gasoline and tons of ammunition were funneled through Port Redwood City to power our Pacific aircraft and provide the shells that pounded the enemy into submission.

“A thousand other vital instruments making up the mightiest war machine in history were made here.

“Lastly, parts used in the manufacture of the most terrible weapon ever devised by man–the atomic bomb which brought on Japan’s surrender, were turned out in a San Carlos laboratory.

“Now can be revealed, too, the dire peril to our shores in the critical months after Pearl Harbor, when the U.S. military fully expected an invasion attempt in this sector.”
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Coastside WWII: The War Ends; the Military Closes Down, Secrecy Remains

With the war finally over in 1945, the cloak of miitary secrecy which smothered the Coastside during the war was finally lifted, and some information was leaked to the local newspaper.

It was as if a signal was given; the military pulled out as fast as their convoys had arrived. The airport used for target practice was returned to civilian use. The soldiers abandoned their temporary living quarters in the schools and the hotels. The mandatory “blackout” ordinance was repealed.

Overnight, the Montara naval station, including barracks, vanished.

What remained of the military presence was what could not be easily carted away: the secret tunnels and caves; the artillery outposts carved out of immovable rock at Devils Slide, the jeeps and other army-navy gear.

The Coastside turned into a perfect and mysterious playground for the local kids who romped around the jeeps, collected the targets, climbed the mountains to examine the rocky outposts, and, in the nearby forests stumbled upon stray bullets left behind.

The war had ended, the military was gone, yet something wasn’t right. The Coastside was a close-knit community and there were still secrets untold.

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Coastside WWII: Navy Abandons Air Strip: “One of the ‘secret’ installations”

From the Half Moon Bay Review

The year was 1945

“Mills field navy installations totaling $5,000,000 are to be turned over to San Francisco and 85 acres of the property will be promptly leased to Pan American Airways as its Pan-Pacific terminus.

“The explanation was made by Capt. Bernard M. Doolin, airport manager, in clarification of the navy’s announced intention to abandon its facilities at the field.

“At the same time the navy further announced it will the north of Half Moon By air strip, one of the erstwhile secret installations of the war.

“Both actions are expected to take place by June 1946.

“According to earlier agreements, Doolin said, the navy has agreed to hand over to the city property and $5,000,000 of improvements within two years after the war. The contract for lease of the acreage to Pan American has already been signed.

“The arrangement was unique, said Doolin, and was done because the city wanted Treasure Island as an airport and the navy demanded it as a base. The army made similiar use of the field with the same understanding. The government paid for $10,000,000 worth of improvement, Doolin said. In November, San Francisco taxpayers will vote on a $20,000,000 bond issue to complete the Mills Field expansion program.

“Installations at Treasure Island, declared surplus, meanwhile, will either be offered to another naval bureau or air operations will be reduced, said naval spokesman.

“Local naval authorities were unable to disclose disposition of the Coastside air strip, which is operated as an auxiliary to the Alameda base….”

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Around the same time the “blackout resolution” was repealed by the County War Board.

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Coastside WWII: Farm Draft News

January 1945

From the Half Moon Bay Review

“War needs more men in the Armed Forces and the Draft Boards must supply much greater numbers next spring than last fall. However, since food needs also must be met it appears that except for boys just turning 18, most San Mateo County farmers still at home now will probably continue to be deferred on condition that they do a good job on their crops,” D.T. Campbell, Chairman of the San Mateo County War Board, Half Moon Bay, Calif.

“Cooperation of Draft Boards of San Francisco and San Mateo Counties, the War Board carries on a continuing review of the work and the crops of all deferred farmers so that those not doing a full farm job may be promptly released to the Armed Forces.

“Currently all deferred farmers until 26, all over the United States are being given a routine physical examination to learn which are qualified and which are not qualified physically for Military duty. A similar check-up may be made shortly for men over 26.

Dr. D. T. Campbell, War Board chairman said, “These examinations should not be confused with the well known Pre-Induction Physicial Examination. In spite of erroneous statements to the contrary, these routine examinations as were held this last week for San Mateo County men are unlikely to change the draft status of farmers. Farmers should stay right on the job and continue full crop plans for this season. If you are in doubt about your own caseor your prospects, call at the War Board Office in Half Moon Bay.”

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Coastside WWII: Japanese Home Burns near Pescadero

January 1945

From the Half Moon Bay Review

“A Japanese-owned home, barn, tool shed and farm equipment on a hilltop between Pescadero and the new coast highway were destroyed recently by a mysterious fire, it became known Friday.

“The place was owned by Elizabeth Kiyoko Monometo Matsuki, who resided there with her three children prior to being evacuated by military order three years ago.

“The residence was a four-room house, with a large barn and toolshed. Considerable farm equipment were stored in the barn. The loss is estimated at several thousand dollars.

“Reluctant to discuss the fire, Robert Wilson of the Pescadero grocery, said that return of the Japanese to Pescadero and that locality would not be welcomed by many residents and signs had been erected on roads warning them that they were not wanted.

“I do not know of any investigation being made and do not know whether the fire was incendiary,” Wilson said. “All I know is that fire destroyed the place about the time the announcement was made that Japanese would not be allowed to return.

“The place was burned on the morning of December 21, the blaze being discovered about 4 o’clock in the morning.

“No report of the fire was made by the county fire warden’s office and residents of Pescadero were reluctant to discuss the fire at all.

“A check in Pescadero revealed that no report had been received of any proposed return of the Matsuki family.

“A power pole, transformer and electric wires leading to the house and supplying electricity, were destroyed in the blaze.

“Since the evacuation of the family, the place was under lease of Mrs. Isabelle Artiego, who, in the past had raised starwflowers on it…”

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Contemplating Coastside WWII (in the “Magic Forest,” Moss Beach)

What’s interesting to me is that there are so few stories about the military presence between the years 1942 and 454. Those two years are the silent years, the secret years, the years of self-censorship. In addition to the self-censorship, The only information the government allowed was essentially war propaganda.

Where are the photographs of the soldiers, of the sailors? Where are the photos of the temporary military barracks? Of the military equipment, of their jeeps, of their guns? Where is everything?

If you’ve been following my Coastside WWII series, you’ll see that the years of secrecy end in the beginning of 1945 when bits of information start to come out in the local newspaper, the Half Moon Bay Review.

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Coastside WWII: Sgt. Canadas Has Close Call

February 1945

From the Half Moon Bay Review

(Photo: In Half Moon Bay, during WWII, there was a parade on Main Street, in support of the troops overseas. Courtesy Spanishtown Historical Society.)

February 1945

From the Half Moon Bay Review

“Nine Live, 171 Others Die; St. Canadas Has Close Call”

“Wounded three times in his 34 months in the South Pacific, Sgt. Ellsworth Canadas, 28, of Half Moon Bay, recently was sent home and is in Santa Barbara convalescing, it was reported today. Of the 180 men in his infantry outfit with whom Sgt. Canadas left for overseas only nine remain alive.

“Canadas was shot in the hand, leg and hip in three separate engagements on New Guinea. After each injury he was hospitalized for three months and then returned to combat. Sergeant Canadas was in on the invasion of the Philippines just prior to returning to the United States. He also took part in the invasion of Gualalcanal and on furlough visited Australia.

“The young veteran is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Canadas of Half Moon Bay. He is a graduate of Half Moon Bay High School and was employed as a carpenter in San Mateo prior to joining the army four years ago. He is entitled to wear the Presidential Unit Citation, the Purple Heart, the Oak Leaf Cluster and the Asiatic-Pacific ribbon.

” His brother S/Sgt. Raymond Canadas, 25, is now serving with the 5th Army in Italy. Raymond was recently wounded but is back in action according to a letter to his parents.

“Like his brother, Raymond is a graduate of Half Moon Bay High School and worked as a carpenter in San Mateo prior to entering the army three years ago.”

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Coastside World War II: “Perhaps the most disruptive part of the early months of the war

was the removal of many Italians from the coast, along with all persons of Japanese ancestry.

“Beginning in February of 1942, all Italian aliens living inland from Highway 1 south of Laguna Creek were required to move inland from the highway, and since many of the Italian families living on the North Coast had elderly unnaturalized parents and grandparents, the military orders brought extreme hardships to the farmers between Laguna Creek and the city limits of Santa Cruz. For the few families of Japanese present since the 1920s, the removal from the North Coast to a concentration camp in Arizona was devastating. Very few of the Japanese returned to the North Coast after the war.”

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From: Coast Dairies Property: A Land Use History, click here

Special thanks to John Vonderlin ([email protected]).

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Coastside WWII: Gasoline Ration Reminder

January 1945

From the Half Moon Bay Review

“Here’s an important ration reminder. When applying for gasoline rations, all motorists who have “A” cars must present to the local War Price and Rationing Boards their mileage ration records.

“This form was given to all “A” book holders during the re-regisration and must accompany all applications for supplemental special or furlough rations.

“If you do not have a mileage ration record, or have lost or destroyed it, apply to your local board right away for a duplicate.”

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Coastside WWII: Excerpts From Letters Written By Staff Sergeant George Dunn, Jr.

February 1945

From the Half Moon Bay Review

(Note: S/Sgt Dunn is the son of Mr and Mrs. George Dunn, Editor and Publisher of The Review and Pebble. He has been stationed in the Pacific War Area for the past 18 months…S/Sgt George Dunn is with the Sixth Army Corps, the 160th Infantry of the 40th Division who landed on Luzon in an 800 ship convoy on January 9th when General Douglas MacArthur started the liberation of the Philippines.)

Letter from S/Sergeant George Dunn, Jr.

“If you don’t mind me writing in a “fox hole,” I’ll get a long delayed letter written to you. I expect my dear you know I am somewhere in the Philippines, in fact I suppose by now you even know, from the radio and newspapers, just where, and probably know just what we are doing.

“Our landing was most exciting, in fact, that word doesn’t express to well what we went thru that day.
“I’m getting a little ‘breather’ today, surely was tired for a few days. Haven’t had my clothes off yet, my change should be up from the ‘rear’ soon.

“The Filipino people are greeting us with open arms. They are very poor after three years of Jap control, but even so, they give us eggs, chickens and bananas in exchange for American cigarettes.

“They have been more than willing to dig my Message Center holes, believe me I have surely dug enough of them. It is a good thing they do help because we haven’t always had “quiet” time enough.

“I can tell you this much, a Jap is no one to have around until he is dead and I’ve seen plenty of them. Our Army and Navy Air Corps, and the boys up here in the front lines are really giving it to them.

“I had quite a night last night. It was raining very hard, in fact there were four inches of rain in my fox hole, thought I could stick it out tho until a small pig crawled in with me, that was too much. I got out and took cover under a shack. I traded my underwear for a barbecued chicken this noon, did tht ever taste good.

“You have no idea how it feels to get out of that jungle and see some civilization, at least this seems civilized to us after where we have been. There are a lot of very old churches here and very huge. All of the houses are built off of the ground and made of bamboo, but even they look good to me.

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