Prologue.  Chapter 4.  The past week or so was as close to “vacation” as we have had over the journeys of past summers.  A few off the beaten path side trips, but mostly beach bum time in mid-heavy “touristy” areas (Honolulu= Las Vegas).  Enjoyed.

In the world of Scouting (that consumed a good chunk of LIFE®  a few years back) we are now ready to really start climbing the mountain.  The “easy” first steps, up the gentler slopes of that mountain, of our journey are over.

The next steps take us further than any of our journeys.. including big leaps in culture.  Past journeys may have had us driving longer, but most were in areas where English is primary or at least somewhat understood.   We now leave the driving to others and other than a guide (hopefully) to help in the Philippines, we leap deep into the unknown.

Irvin’s (and his fellow foxhole friends) leap dwarfs our small level of risk.  Still cannot conceive what he and the others went through...  RIP and thank all again for their sacrifices...

We last left Irvin’s trail as he boarded a transport ship from Oahu on June 23, 1944 .... not knowing where they were heading...

July 13, 1944 Irvin's ship arrives in New Guinea (final combat rehearsals - major battles over, still some Japanese presence)

Cheryl made the call... and yet another great compromise in our LIFE® journey... and vetoed a stop in New Guinea.  Something about social unrest... kidnapping of foreigners, etc... made her uncomfortable.  And best I could figure out we had to first fly to Australia... take local plane to Port Moresby on southern coast of New Guinea ... then another hop to Lae on opposite coast... then book a 2 day passage on a freighter to go down the coast and get to where Irvin and the 38th were stationed.  And from what info I could find.. any remnants of their presence now consumed again by the jungles.

Only remember a few stories from Irv on his time there (a little over 4 months)...guarding prisoners of war... and seeing the natives...   he received a patch for participating in the New Guinea campaign, but most of the 38th time there was “mop up” and continue training for what was yet to come...

October 20, 1944 General MacArthur returns to the Philippines on the beaches of Leyte

December 1, 1944 Irvin boards troop transport ship and leaves New Guinea

December 14, 1944 Irvin's ship arrives in the Philippine Islands - battle of Leyte (October 17 - December 26, 1944)

We catch back up with his trail there....racking up the miles as we hop back from Hawaii to Oakland on Southwest.. and then use Delta from San Francisco to Shanghai and then one more hop and will land first in Manila late at night (hotel = rest) .... and then board local plane in morning for flight to Tacloban City, Leyte.

Will let Cheryl and the daily blog take us through the details... stay tuned.