101st Division (Philippines)
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (February 2017) |
| 101st Division | |
|---|---|
 101st Philippine Division Emblem 1941–42 | |
| Active | 1941 – 10 May 1942 |
| Disbanded | May 11, 1942 |
| Country |  Commonwealth of the Philippines |
| Allegiance | US Army |
| Branch | Philippine Army |
| Type | Infantry Division |
| Size | Division |
| Part of | Mindanao Force Visayas-Mindanao Force |
| Garrison/HQ | Lake Pinamaloy, Maramag, Bukidnon Camp Casisang, Malaybalay, Bukidnon |
| Engagements | World War II |
| Commanders | |
| Commander | Col. (later BGen.) Joseph P. Vachon |
| Chief of Staff | Col. Eustaquio Baclig, PA |
| Notable commanders | BGen. Joseph P. Vachon |
| WWII Philippine Army Divisions | ||||
|
The 101st Infantry Division was one the reserve divisions of the Philippine Army under the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE)'s 10th Military district mainly entire island of Mindanao.
Organization
It was active from 1941 to 10 May 1942, whereupon it surrendered after Corregidor fell. It was active in Mindanao. Col. (later BGen.) Joseph P. Vachon (USA) was the division's commander, and he was given the command of Cotabato-Davao sector. Filipino Col. Eustaquio S. Baclig (PA), a 1918 U.S. Military Academy graduate, was appointed as division chief of staff.[1][2] When 102nd Division was organized to cover Cagayan sector, General Vachon moved his headquarters at Lake Pinamaloy in Southern Bukidnon for him to focus in Davao-Cotabato sector.
Combat Narrative
After the Japanese invasion of the Philippines in December 1941, it formed part of Visayan-Mindanao Force under Brigadier General (later Major General) William F. Sharp, with headquarters originally in Cebu City, and later under Mindanao Force still under Major General Sharp after Visayan-Mindanao Force was split into different commands as reorganized by General MacArthur before his departure to Australia in March 1942.
Initial Japanese landings in Davao subsector
101st was tasked to oppose the Japanese invasion in Davao-Cotabato sector one of the five defensive sectors of Mindanao island. 101st Infantry Regiment (less one battalion) with 2nd Battalion of 82nd Infantry, and a battery of QF 2.95inch Mountain Guns was posted in Davao-Digos road. 102nd Infantry Regiment was posted to Cotabato to Kabacan subsector at the end of Sayre Highway. This preventing Japanese from reaching to Bukidnon. 101st Infantry Division soldiers lack of trainings, weapons and low on ammunition still defended the Cotabato-Davao sector.[3]
On December 20, 1941 Japanese landed in Davao with the support of Davao Attack Force (Naval Fleet) under Vice Admiral , Muira detachment under Lieutenant Colonel Toshio Muira landed in the northern side and Sugakuchi Detachments of 56th Division in southern part of Davao moving towards Digos. Lacking artillery and air support the 101st Division soldiers resorted to delaying actions. Due to stubborn and fierce resistance put up by Colonel Hilsman's troops and the high casualties of Muira detachment, General Sakaguchi has no choice but to commit his reserve force intended for invasion of Jolo Attack Force. Colonel Hilsman pullout his forces out of the City and retreated northwest, where he and remnants has to hike the jungle just to reach Bukidnon. The Davao subsector force has disintegrated and Japanese took a firm hold of Davao Gulf and the Sasa Air Field.
General Vachon ordered two battalions under Lieutenant Colonel Howard Frissell to move out for Davao from Malaybalay to defend Digos-Pikit road. With 3rd Battalion 101st Infantry, 3rd Battalion 102nd Infantry, and a battalion of Philippine Constabulary they setup defense in Digos.[4] Another Japanese landing in Malalag is made by Sakaguchi detachment. Digos commander reported a 3,000 strong and moving towards its way, Frissell pulled out the 3rd Battalion 101st Infantry from Davao to strengthen the position at Digos Junction. Minor skirmishes with enemy patrols took place on 23rd of December and near Padada Plantation south of Digos on 27th[5].
Sakaguchi detachment left for Sulu and Dutch East Indies leaving only Muira detachment to continue its campaign towards Kabacan the southern end of Sayre Highway. However, Lieutenant Colonel Muira was not successful in his drive inland, only his air and naval support prevented his unit not drive back to the sea.
Japanese reinforcements
Cotabato subsector
In April 29, 1942 Kawaguchi detachment of Imperial Japanese Army landed in towns of Cotabato and Parang, opposing them in Parang is 2nd Regular Regiment under Lieutenant Colonel Calixto Duque and Cotabato sector force under Lieutenant Colonel Russell Nelson comprising 3rd Battalion of 102nd Infantry, 2nd Battalion of 104th Infantry, and 3rd Battalion of 101st Field Artillery (fighting as infantry). Supported by Constabularies and service troops to prevent Japanese from reaching Kabacan the southern end of Sayre Highway. 2nd Battalion of 104th put up a stubborn resistance in Cotabato but Japanese aircraft from Zamboanga came to support the invading forces resulting to the battalion being pulled back. Colonel Duque's regiment put up a heavy and strong resistance in Parang delaying the Japanese for hours but was forced to withdraw in a risk of being surrounded as defending forces in Cotabato has already pulled out.[6]
Surrender
After receiving order from General Wainwright to surrender, General Sharp surrendered his Visayas-Mindanao Force on May 9,1942.
Order of battle
- 101st Infantry Regiment (PA) (LCol. Howard Frissell | LCol. Howard R. Perry | LCol John H. McGee)
- 1st Battalion - Maj. John H. McGee
- 2nd Battalion – LCol. Roger Hilsman, USA
- 3rd Battalion - Maj. Arlie Higgins, USA
- 2nd Battalion, 82nd Infantry
- 102nd Infantry Regiment (PA) – LCol. Russell Nelson, USA
- 1st Battalion (Transferred to Zamboanga sector)
- 2nd Battalion - Major William Baldwin, USA
- 3rd Battalion - Captain Johnson
- 103rd Infantry Regiment (PA) (Maj. Joseph R. Webb) (transferred to 102nd Division (PA) in Cagayan sector)
- 1st Battalion
- 2nd Battalion
- 3rd Battalion
- 104th Provisional Infantry Regiment (PA) –
- 1st Battalion
- 2nd Battalion
- 3rd Battalion
- 101st Field Artillery Regiment (PA) – LCol. Alexander Quintard | LCol. Reed Graves
- 101st FA Regt HQ Company (PA)
- 1st Bn/101st FA Regt (PA) (QF 2.95-inch pack howitzers, 8×)
- 2nd Bn/101st FA Regt (PA) (QF 2.95inch mountain guns, 8x)(guns & ammo never arrived; sunk on the SS Corregidor, 17 Dec 41)
- 3rd Bn/101st FA Regt (PA) (guns & ammo never arrived; sunk on the SS Corregidor, 17 Dec 41)
- 101st Engineer Battalion (PA) - 1Lt.
- 101st Medical Battalion (PA)
- 101st Division Units (PA)
- 101st Division Headquarters & HQ Company (PA)
- 101st Signal Company (PA)
- 101st Quartermaster Company (Motorized) (PA)
- 101st QM Transport Company (Truck) (PA)
- Attached units
- Field Artillery Detachment (3 QF 2.95inch Mountain Guns) - Captain Manuel Acosta
- 2nd Infantry (Regular) Regiment (PA) - Lieutenant Colonel Calixto Duque
- 1st Battalion
- 2nd Battalion
Notable Soldiers
- Salipada Pendatun (later commanded guerilla force in Mindanao, governor of Cotabato 1945 - 1946 and Philippine senator 1962-1967)
- Eustaquio Baclig (Chief of Staff of 101st Division, WestPoint Graduate 1918).
- Gumbay Piang, Congresman of lone district of Cotabato (1946 - 1949)
- Roger Hilsman Sr., Commander Davao Sector then Negros Force.
- Joseph Vachon, Division commander
- Calixto Duque, AFP Vice Chief of Staff 1949 to 1951 and Chief of Staff 1951 to 1953.
Sources
- Morton, Louis (1953). United States Army in World War II, The War in the Pacific: The Fall of the Philippines. Washington, D.C.: Center of Military History, United States Army.
- Whitman, John W. (1990). Bataan: Our Last Ditch: The Bataan Campaign, 1942. Hippocrene Books. ISBN 0-87052-877-7.
Bibliography
- Morton, Louis. The Fall of the Philippines (Publication 5-2) Archived 2012-01-08 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 14 Feb 2017.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
References
- ^ Alcaraz, Ramon A. (November 17, 1941). Personal Diary. Philippine Diary Project. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
- ^ "International Graduates (through Class of 2020)" (PDF). West Point Association of Graduates. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
- ^ Morton, Louis (1953). The Fall of the Philippines. Washington, D.C: US Government Printing Office. pp. 507–508.
- ^ Dioso, Marconi M. (2010). The Times When Men Must Die: The Story of the Destruction of the Philippine Army during the early months of World War II in the Pacific, December 1941 - May 1942. Pittsburg, Pennsylvania: Dorrance Publishing Co. pp. 126–128.
- ^ Tarkington, Hiram (20). There were others (Unpublished ed.). WestPoint, New York. p. 122.
{{cite book}}: Check date values in:|year=(help)CS1 maint: year (link) - ^ Morton, Louis (1953). The Fall of the Philippines. Washington, D.C: US Government Printing Office. pp. 509–513.