[Webmaster Note: The following division information is reproduced
from the public domain publication, The Army Almanac: A Book of
Facts Concerning the Army of the United States, U.S. Government Printing Office,
1950. Portions of the information may be out of date. Only minor formatting changes and
typographical corrections have been made.]
World War II
-
Campaigns: Philippine Islands.
Honors: Distinguished Unit Citations: 1 (all units).
Awards: MH-3.
Commanders: Maj. Gen. Jonathan M. Wainwright (November 1940-December 1941),
Brig. Gen. Mason S. Lough (December 1941-May 1942).
Inactivated: 30 April 1947 in the Philippine Islands.
Combat Chronicle
-
Units of the Philippine Division were on security missions at Manila, Fort McKinley, and
Bataan prior to the declaration of war in the Pacific, 8 December 1941. After
undergoing 2 days of bombings, the Division 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, 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 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, 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, 10 April 1942. The victory over Japan ended the misery of Japanese
prison camps for the survivors of the Philippine Division.
See Also:
6th Infantry Division,
7th Infantry Division,
24th Infantry Division,
25th Infantry Division,
27th Infantry Division,
31st Infantry Division,
32nd Infantry Division,
33rd Infantry Division,
37th Infantry Division,
38th Infantry Division,
40th Infantry Division,
41st Infantry Division,
43rd Infantry Division,
77th Infantry Division,
81st Infantry Division,
93rd Infantry Division,
96th Infantry Division,
98th Infantry Division,
11th Airborne Division,
1st Cavalry Division,
Americal Division
|
|
|
|