[World War II Photographica]: [Philippines Photographica]:

$1,250 · Offered by William Reese Company

[PHOTOGRAPH ALBUM CONTAINING OVER 130 ORIGINAL IMAGES COMPILED BY A MEMBER OF THE 142nd UNITED STATES NAVAL CONSTRUCTION BATTALION STATIONED IN GUIUAN DURING 1945 FOLLOWING THE PHILIPPINES ... A fascinating photographic account of military service in the Philippines compiled by a member of the 142nd U.S. Naval Construction Battalion, the Seabees, in 1945. Most of the images, approximately three-quarters of the album, were taken in Guiuan, on Samar Island in the central Philippines, where the photographer was stationed: Guiuan city square, the Seabees' camp, numerous portraits of local girls who sometimes pose with American soldiers, local families and their activities, indigenous architecture, and other local scenes. They also show the Immaculate Conception Church, with shots of the exterior and detailed views of the silver altar - built in 1595 to 1844, but completely destroyed by Typhoon Haiyan in 2013. Several other photos evidently portray the album's compiler, posing next to an American fighter plane, while boiling sea shells, in front of his tent, etc.The final portion of the album contains photos taken during the operations aboard the U.S.S. "Monrovia" and "President Harris" in October-November 1945, including views of Okinawa on the way to China, and snapshots of soldiers unloading cargo in China before returning to Manila. There are also eight clear views of Manila, showing destroyed Japanese cranes and boats in the harbor, American army headquarters, and a warehouse

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