101st Division (Philippines)

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101st Division
101st Philippine Division Emblem 1941-42.jpg
101st Philippine Division Emblem 1941–42
Active1941 – 10 May 1942
DisbandedMay 11, 1942
CountriesFlag of the United States.svg  United States of America
Flag of the Philippines (1946-1998).svg  Philippine Commonwealth
AllegianceFlag of the United States Army.svg United States Army
Branch Philippine Army
Type Infantry Division
RoleTerritorial Defense
SizeDivision
Part of Mindanao Force
Visayas-Mindanao Force
Garrison/HQCamp in Aroman, Carmen Ferry, Kabacan, Cotabato
Camp Casisang, Malaybalay, Bukidnon
Camp Overton, Lanao
Engagements World War II
Commanders
CommanderCol. (later BGen.) Joseph P. Vachon
Executive OfficerLieutenant Colonel Maguire, USA
Chief of StaffLieutenant Colonel Eustquio Baclig, PA
Division StaffsG1 Personnel

G2 Intelligence
G3 Operations - Captain Corvera

G4 Supply
Support StaffsEngineer - Capt. Ross Miller

Quartermaster

Judge Advocate
Notable
commanders		BGen. Joseph P. Vachon

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.

Contents

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 and later in Aroman, Kabacan, Cotabato until its surrender.

Division staff was composed of Filipino and American Army officers

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.

Preparations and Initial Japanese landings Cotabato and Davao

Davao subsector

101st was tasked to oppose the Japanese invasion in Davao-Cotabato sector one of the five defensive sectors of Mindanao island. It is the only army division in the entire Mindanao Island. After Pearl Harbor Bombing in Hawaii on December 7, 1941. Davao was bombed the following day, on December 9 General Vachon the division commander ordered Lieutenant Colonel Roger Hilsman to Davao to put up a defense. He brought his unit 2nd Battalion101st Infantry Regiment, with Company H (Machine Gun), 102nd Infantry. After reaching Davao on December 10 on 7PM, he setup his headquarters at the PC Camp which was also the headquarters of PC Davao under Major Gregorio Ferreol, PC. Major Frank D. McGee (retired) was recalled to assumed command of 2nd Battalion 101st Infantry, so Colonel Hilsman focus on setting the defense. [3] Lieutenant Colonel Francisco Torres, PC assistant inspector of Mindanao island arrived in Davao and became Hilsman's executive officer. On December 12, 2nd Battalion 82nd Infantry under Major Alvin T. Wilson arrived to reinforce Hilsman. They were posted in southern side of the city covering Daliao-Talomo-Matina road.

On December 20, 1941 Japanese landed in Davao with the support of Davao Attack Force (Naval Fleet) under Vice Admiral , Muiradetachment 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. [4]

Digos Subsector

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. [5] 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. [6] A battery of QF 2.95inch Mountain Guns under Captain Manuel Acosta arrived in Digos sector giving some psychological uplift of the defending force.

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. Lieutenant Colonel Howard Perry relieved Colonel Howard Frissell who was transferred to Puntian sector to serve as commander of reserve force. Major John McGee who served as Perry's XO was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and took over the command in March 1942. He was also later replaced by Lieutenant Colonel Reed Graves as commander of Digos Sector in April 1942.

Cotabato subsector

While no landings sighting in Cotabato subsector General Vachon sent 2nd Battalion (Less Company F & G), 102nd Infantry and 3rd Battalion 101st Infantry under Lieutenant Colonel Russell Nelson and was posted to Cotabato to Kabacan road at the southern end of Sayre Highway. This preventing Japanese from reaching Bukidnon and link with Muira and Kawamura detachments. 101st Infantry Division soldiers lack of trainings, weapons and low on ammunition still defended the Cotabato-Davao sector. [7]

Carmen Ferry subsector

This subsector was setup to defend Kabacan, where Japanese objective is for its drive north to Bukidnon. It is commanded by Major Shamfiner with troops from 1st Battalion 101st Infantry (Less Company A), Ground crews of 28th Bombardment Squadron (Ground echelon, fighting as infantry), 1st Provisional Battalion 104th Infantry, Company F 102nd Infantry, 101st Field Artillery Regiment (less 2 Battalions), 101st Signal, 101st Quartermasters, 101st Medical, 101st Engineer, 101st Motor Transport, 101st Special Troops, and 101st Service Troops. [3]

Japanese landing in Zamboanga

In January 1942, 1st Battalion, 102nd Infantry under Captain Arsenio Tolentino with newly promoted Lieutenant Colonel Alvin T. Wilson as Senior Instructor. The Battalion was sent there for training, however the Sector commander Colonel Dalton was ordered to shift to Bukidnon to setup a training school for infantry and artillery. Along with Provisional Battalion, 43rd Infantry (PS) under Major Allen Peck, they transferred to Bukidnon on February 26, 1942 [6] . Zamboanga is now under Lieutenant Colonel Wilson with only one infantry battalion and PC units in his force. 1st Battalion, 106th Infantry under Major Jose D. Garcia, is now activated from High School and College boys in Zamboanga Peninsula [6] .

Japanese reinforcements

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 2nd Battalion 102nd Infantry, 2nd Battalion of 104th Infantry, and 3rd Battalion 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 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. [8]

Surrender

After receiving order from General Wainwright to surrender, General Sharp surrendered his Visayas-Mindanao Force on May 9,1942.

Order of battle October 1941 - February 1942

Post War

101st was reactivated in late 1990s under the Philippine Army Reserve Command as Standby Reserve division, based in Camp Evangelista, Cagayan de Oro City in Misamis Oriental, Mindanao island. [10]

Notable Soldiers

Sources

Bibliography

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After Davao Force was dispersed on December 24, 1941, they went missing and no contact, General Joseph Vachon sent Lieutenant Colonel Howard Frissell to Digos, Davao and setup defense of Digos Junction area to prevent Japanese drive towards Digos-Pikit road and reaching Kabacan the southern terminus of Sayre Highway.

References

  1. ↑ Alcaraz, Ramon A. (November 17, 1941). Personal Diary. Philippine Diary Project. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  2. ↑ "International Graduates (through Class of 2020)" (PDF). West Point Association of Graduates. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  3. 1 2 "Papers of Lieutenant General Richard K. Sutherland" (PDF).
  4. ↑ "World: Push on the Islands". Time. 1941-12-29. ISSN   0040-781X . Retrieved 2024-02-01.
  5. ↑ 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.
  6. 1 2 3 Tarkington, Hiram (2007). There were others (Unpublished ed.). WestPoint, New York. p. 122.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  7. ↑ Morton, Louis (1953). The Fall of the Philippines. Washington, D.C: US Government Printing Office. pp. 507–508.
  8. ↑ Morton, Louis (1953). The Fall of the Philippines. Washington, D.C: US Government Printing Office. pp. 509–513.
  9. ↑ "Lieut. Colonel Alvin T. Wilson Killed Off Luzon". The Morning Call. 1945-07-25. p. 6. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
  10. ↑ Philippine Army Reserve Command


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