World War II Honoree

Liberato R. Picar

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Caba, La Union, Philippine Islands

Honored By

Commodore Ramon A. Alcaraz (Ret)

Relationship

Shipmate

EXECUTIVE OFFICER ON Q-113, A BRITISH-MADE TORPEDO BOAT, IN PHILIPPINE ARMY UNDER OPERATIONAL CONTROL OF U.S. ARMED FORCES FAR EAST HEADQUARTERS IN CORREGIDOR, HE SAW ACTION PATROLLING EASTERN BATAAN IN ITS HEROIC 148-DAY DEFENSE. Q-113 TRANSPORTED THE FIRST GROUP OF U.S. ARMY COMMANDOS THAT INAUGURATED GUERILLA OPERATIONS IN ZAMBALES MARCH 11,1942 THE SAME DATE GENERAL MACARTHUR AND STAFF LEFT CORREGIDOR FOR AUSTRALIA USING FOUR TORPEDO BOATS UNDER LIEUTENANT BULKELEY, U.S. NAVY. WHEN THE U.S. ARMED FORCES FAR EAST SURRENDERED APRIL 9, 1942, HE AND HIS Q-113 SHIPMATES MANAGED TO ESCAPE AND AVOIDED BECOMING PRISONERS OF WAR. LATER HE JOINED THE GUERILLAS AND CONTINUED FIGHTING THE JAPANESE UNTIL THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES IN EARLY 1945.