Philippine Division (United States)

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See also: Divisions of the United States Army
Philippine Division
Image:Philippine Command Shoulder Sleeve Insignia.gif
Philippine Command Shoulder Sleeve Insignia
Active June 8, 1921 - April 30, 1947
Country USA
Branch Regular Army
Type Square Division
Garrison/HQ Fort William McKinley
Commanders
Notable
commanders		 MG Jonathan M. Wainwright
BG Mason S. Lough
U.S. Infantry Divisions
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The Philippine Division, a named rather than numbered U.S. Infantry Division of World War II, was the core of the US Army's Philippine Department. On July 31, 1941, the division consisted of 10,473 troops, mostly enlisted Filipinos, known as the Philippine Scouts. All of the division's enlisted men, with the exception of the 31st Infantry Regiment, and various military police and headquarters troops, were Philippine Scouts.

In October 1941, as part of the US Army Forces Far East, plans were made to "triangularize" the division. The 34th Infantry was detached from the 8th Infantry Division and moved to a port of embarkation in December 1941, along with two battalions of 105mm field artillery. The Philippine Division was to have two complete U.S. regimental combat teams in place by January 1942 to provide General Douglas MacArthur with a modern, trained mobile reaction force, while freeing up Philippine Scouts for rounding out other units. The outbreak of war in December 1941, however, isolated the Philippines and nullified implementation of the plan.

The division was carried on the rolls of the U.S. Army after its destruction in 1942, and was officially redesignated as the 12th Infantry Division in 1946.

Contents

[edit] Organization

[edit] Combat Chronicle

1st Filipino Infantry Regiment SSI (Soldiers from the Philippine Division left aboard the USS Mactan and were assigned to this unit)
1st Filipino Infantry Regiment SSI (Soldiers from the Philippine Division left aboard the USS Mactan and were assigned to this unit)[1][2]

The division was stationed at Fort William McKinley, Luzon, Philippines, as part of the US Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) Reserve. Units of the Philippine Division were on security missions at Manila, Fort McKinley,Bamban-Arayat, and Bataan prior to the declaration of war in the Pacific, 1941-12-08. After undergoing two days of bombings, the Division moved to Clark Field in response to a false report that Japanese Paratroopers had landed there, and then moved into the field to cover the withdrawal of troops to Bataan and to resist the enemy in the Subic Bay area. From 11 to 23 December. The Division Command Post was moved to Abucay on 1941-12-14 Positions were organized and strengthened and on 23 December the Division was assigned to the Bataan Defense Forces. While the 31st Infantry moved to the vicinity of Zig-Zag to cover the flanks of troops withdrawing from central and southern Luzon, 30 December, the rest of the Division organized the main and reserve positions on Bataan. The 31st Infantry Regiment moved to a defensive position on the west side of the Olongapo Road near Layac Junction, 5 January 1942. This junction was lost on the 6th, but the withdrawal to Bataan had been successfully concluded.

The Division was placed in reserve from 7 to 14 January 1942. This period was largely one of reconnaissance and development by the Japanese in preparation for their attack on the main battle position on the Abucay line. Elements repulsed night attacks near Abucay, 10-12 January, and other elements of the Division counterattacked on the 16th. Strong offensive and defensive action was not able to prevent enemy penetrations and the Division withdrew to the Reserve Battle Position in the Pilar-Bagac area, 26 January. Until the latter part of March the enemy, made cautious by heavy losses, engaged in patrols and limited local attacks, and after a general retirement on 24 February, did not undertake any serious activity on this front until 28 March. During this period elements of the Division were shifted to assist in the defense of other sectors.

The enemy attack on 28 March struck at a division weakened by malnutrition, sickness, and prolonged exposure to combat. The Division, no longer operating as a coordinated unit, was unable to counterattack against heavy enemy assaults. On 8 April, the 57th Infantry and the 31st Infantry were lost near the Alangan River, and the 45th Infantry surrendered, 1942-04-10. As of that date, the Philippine Division entered captivity. The victory over Japan ended the misery of Japanese prison camps for the survivors of the Philippine Division.

The Division was briefly reconstituted as the 12th Infantry Division in 1944-45 as the US liberated the Philippines, but was disbanded after the war.

[edit] Wartime Assignments

  1. U.S. Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) - 1941-12-08 - 1941-12-24.
  2. Bataan Defense Force - 1941-12-24 - 1942-01-06.
  3. U.S. Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) - 1942-01-06 - 1942-01-26.
  4. II Philippine Corps - 1942-01-26 - 1942-04-07.
  5. I Philippine Corps - 1942-04-07 - 1942-04-10.
  6. Prisoner Of War Captivity - 1942-04-10 - 1945

[edit] Miscellaneous

The Regimental Colors of the 12th Quartermaster Regiment (PS) were given to an Army nurse by the Regimental Commander. She told the Japanese that they were "only a shawl" and kept them safe throughout her captivity. Today, the colors are on display at the U.S. Army Quartermaster Museum, Fort Lee, Virginia.[3]

[edit] Honors

[edit] Campaigns:

  1. Philippine Islands.

[edit] Decorations

  1. Distinguished Unit Citations: 1 (all units).
  2. Medals of Honor-3.

[edit] Commanders:

  1. Maj. Gen. Jonathan M. Wainwright (November 1940-December 1941),
  2. Brig. Gen. Maxon S. Lough (December 1941-May 1942).

[edit] References

  1. ^ Fabros, Alex. California's Filipino Infantry. The California State Military Museum. Retrieved on 2008-02-27.
  2. ^ Cove, Dorothy (2006). Beyond Courage: One Regiment Against Japan, 1941-1945. sunstone press, 91. ISBN 0865345597. 
  3. ^ Honor Preserved at Corriegedor, The U.S. Army Quartermaster Museum, <http://www.qmmuseum.lee.army.mil/history/vignettes/honor2.html>. Retrieved on 22 May 2008 

[edit] See also

[edit] External links