The Battle of the Stone Courtyard

Join 11th Airborne Division historian Jeremy C. Holm as we dive into the 511th PIR's Battle of the Stone Courtyard during the Battle for Manila in World War II!

As the 11th Airborne Division pressed north towards Manila, the Angels discovered that the main bridge over the Imus river had been blown by the Japanese. To secure a secondary crossing that was critical to the division's drive into the city, Company D of the 511th PIR was sent to Imus to prevent Japanese forces from destroying this remaining crossing. 

When told of their new mission, Platoon Leader 1LT Andrew Carrico said his squad leaders all asked, "Why do we get all the dirty jobs?!”

1st Platoon would lead the assault against an estimated 100 Japanese defenders and what followed was a harrowing, small-unit assault on a reinforced defensive position that led was viewed by and impressed General Robert L. Eichelberger himself who would later say of the Angels, "No one could have asked for finer fighting men."

Listen as Jeremy recounts D Company's 100-yard-dash across open ground full of spider holes and other enemy positions to assault the main fortified structure which controlled access to their objective, the Isabell II Bridge. 

Included in this story is the inspiring actions of TSGT Robert C. Steele who climbed on top of the structure's roof while under fire to burn out the enemy defenders. Bob was given a battlefield promotion for his courage and leadership, but was tragically killed a few days later during the Battle for Nichols Field. 

D-511's CPL William Walter said of his good friend Bob, "He was the kind of man that everybody would like to be."

To learn more about the 511th PIR, the Band of Brothers of the Pacific, you can purchase one of Jeremy's acclaimed books on the 11th Airborne Division in World War II here: https://www.11thairbornestore.com/books 

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You can read Manuel's bio here: https://511pir.com/enlisted-biographies/269-pfc-perez-manuel

To watch our full video on the story of Private Elmer Fryar, please click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSrTQxc3Lik

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Down From Heaven Comes Eleven! Airborne All the Way!