Felipe Ubaldo 3

Camilo Ubaldo: One day my father and his Army buddies decided that they would try bowling. While his friends were trying to learn to bowl, my father watched the technique of the Americans. A friend asked him why he wasn’t bowling with them and encouraged my father to give it a try. As a young boy my father often played “Leepai,” a game similar to bowling, but instead of a bowling ball and pins, seeds about the size of hockey pucks were used. On his first try, my father bowled a strike, or “Kerrat” as they would say in “Leepai.” The group continued to bowl together and some time later they decided to form a team. My father was chosen to be the team captain and spokesperson responsible for their proposal to form a competitive bowling team to their unit commander.

Their commanding officer had the team demonstrate their abilities. Captain Fitzgerald was so impressed with how well they bowled that he allowed them two hours a week to practice during duty hours. Since the 24^th Field Artillery Battery B bowling team did not have all the equipment that a normal team would have, Capt. Fitzgerald submitted a supply requisition so that the team would have uniforms, shoes, and bowling balls. The team competed in numerous tournaments with other teams from different forts. They won various medals, pennants, and banners. After winning first place in one tournament, the team was awarded a salary bonus. Unfortunately, the day came when my father received orders to be transferred to the 23^rd Field Artillery (PS). He did not want to be transferred, and his commanding officer told him not to worry. Captain Fitzgerald, who did not want to lose my father, was sure that he could straighten things out, but unfortunately wasn’t able to.

Camilo Ubaldo: My father was transferred to Battery A 1^st Battalion 23^rd Field Artillery (PS), where he served under Capt. Coverdale. One day his commanding officer told him that he was to train two horses named Dandy and Wyoming. My father inquired “Sir, how do I train the horses?” The Captain responded by handing him an instruction book and told him to read it. The training of Dandy and Wyoming went so well that later my father was able to compete in equestrian competitions with them. In one competition he and Dandy won first place. They did horse jumping exhibitions and shows at Ft. Stotsenburg. Joe (Felipe Jr.) and I were honored by the prestige that our father brought us. We were thrilled to be recognized as the sons of “the man who did horse jumps” by our peers. While in a competition with Wyoming, the horse tripped, and my father was injured. The injuries from the fall caused him to be hospitalized for five days. He never rode in a competition again. Being a natural athlete, he turned his attention to baseball, where he played short stop and third base.

Sgt. Felipe Ubaldo: WWII Victory Medal, American Defense Service Medal with Foreign Service Clasp, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one Bronze Service Star, Distinguished Unit Emblem with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Philippine Defense Ribbon with one Bronze Service Star