Brig. Gen. Antonio Ortega, Phil Army 21st Div

[pjavi]

Friends;

We regret that Brig. Gen. Antonio Ortega, the veteran & father of Ray, Manny & Teddy (WWII reenactors) passed away around 1AM of May 11'2010.

I just knew it this 100510 1000H when I called their house & a lady told me that Manny & Ray were still sleeping since they're tired last night because their father died.

Ray & Manny will advise us the address of the wake. Ray told me that maybe this coming Saturday 151010 is the last day of the wake & they'll go back to US to bury their father on Sunday.

Brig. Gen. Antonio Ortega was a WWII officer of the Philippine Commonwealth Army under the 21st Div. with a motto "They (Japanese) Shall Never Land". Maybe Ray, Manny, Vic or Philip can share the more detail about Col. Ortega's WWII experiences & accomplishment until post WWII when he became the tank commander of the Walker Bulldog tanks of the AFP before he retired.

May Brig. Gen. Antonio Ortega rest in peace. At least he saw for the last time the Mt. Samat Bataan last Apr 9' 2010 & he saw us there in uniform honoring the heroes like him.


Condolence to Ortega Family;
Perry

Attachments:

[otacon14th]

Its been a great honor meeting Col. Antonio Ortega personally and his family at Mt. Samat last Apr 9.

Condolence to Ortega Family

Otacon14th

(I still have some pics of Col. Ortega w/ us in my DSLR mems. I think Albert has the copy of it, and so we may share it to everyone as a tribute)

[labrador]

Condolences to the Ortega Family

[jimmiroquai]

My sincerest condolences to the Ortega family.

[kalbs]

Condolence to Ortega Family. May he rest in peace

[jnmodeller]

Condolence Ray and Many, as they say your Dad is with the General now.

[veevee]

Salutes and respects to Col. Ortega on his new duty with the Commander In Chief.

Deep and sincere condolences to Ray and family.

[bravotwozero]

Manny and Teddy , I'm sorry to hear about your loss. I have had the pleasure of meeting you Dad at a couple of events and I am deeply saddened by the news of his passing. I offer you prayers and deep condolences.

[pjavi]

Friends;

Sorry for the correction - its Brig. Gen. Antonio Ortega, not colonel. He retired as colonel (not lt. col.) so 1 rank higher after retirement, so he was a ret. Brig. Gen.

Best rgds;
Perry

[mikevictor]

Let me share a song in honor of this brave man. I never even met him, but I believe I still have to honor his service to our country. God rest his soul.


Ich hatt' einen Kameraden
(sung during German Military Funerals)

Ich hatt' einen Kameraden,
Einen bessern findst du nit.
Die Trommel schlug zum Streite,
Er ging an meiner Seite
In gleichem Schritt und Tritt.

Eine Kugel kam geflogen:
Gilt's mir oder gilt es dir?
Ihn hat es weggerissen,
Er liegt vor meinen Füßen
Als wär's ein Stück von mir

Will mir die Hand noch reichen,
Derweil ich eben lad'.
"Kann dir die Hand nicht geben,
Bleib du im ew'gen Leben
Mein guter Kamerad!"


I Once Had a Comrade

In battle he was my comrade,
None better I have had.
The drum called us to fight,
He always on my right,
In step, through good and bad.

A bullet it flew towards us,
For him or meant for me?
His life from mine it tore,
At my feet a piece of gore,
As if a part of me.

His hand reached up to hold mine.
I must re-load my gun.
"My friend, I cannot ease your pain,
In life eternal we’ll meet again,
And walk once more as one."

[mcshine2]

Thank you for the opportunity of meeting the good General. "May you rest in peace"

[blackdragon]

My condolences to the ortega family may he rest in peace

[zuma]

My condolences to the Ortega family. It was good to have met the General on Mt. Samat.

[veevee]

Another member of our Greatest Generation has been called by the Commander in Chief...



Brig Gen Antonio Ortega,
May 10, 2010

WWII BATAAN Silver Star Veteran
Medal of Valor, US Govt.

Commissioned in 1945 by General Douglas Mac Arthur
Awarded by General Basilio Valdez, AFP C of S

Philippine Gold Cross
for Gallantry in action, Philippine Govt.

Purple Heart, Death March Survivor


The intensity of the artillery concentration made the men feel that it was the beginning of the final offensive.
When they saw that many were getting killed or wounded, the rest began to withdraw to the rear.

To prevent an abandonment of the MLR, unit commanders, like Major Joaquin Espiritu who was in command of the 22nd Infantry,
and Lt. Antonio A. Ortega, commander of the 2nd Battalion, of the same regiment,
had to rush to the front to rally the men and stop a general withdrawal.
Both officers were awarded the Gold Cross medal.

The citation for Lt. Ortega's action:

"As battalion commander of the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry, in defense of the Mt. Samat sector, Bataan,
Ortega directed his battalion to hold the nose of Mt. Samat near Oyong Bridge against the onslaught
of the enemy for a breakthrough attempt on the defense line during the month of February 1942."


They Served with Honor, Filipino war heroes of WWII
by Col. Uldarico S. Baclagon

Actions during the Lull period chapter IV,
Patrol action and skirmishes, pp 87 - 88


Araw ng Kagitingan - Bataan, April 2010





“Daisy Mae”
# 11 lead tank
Commanded by Capt. Ortega
1st “Tabak” Division, 1st Recon, Philippine Army
June 12, 1961 The new Philippine Independence Day, Quirino Grandstand, Luneta Park, Manila, Philippines




Balanga, Bataan, January 1942

[Pumba]

what the heck?!? we had tanks??? And they look like main battle tanks too

My condolences to Ray, Manny and Teddy and to their family