64th Provisional Infantry Regiment (PA)

64th Infantry (Provisional) Regiment (PA)
64th Infantry (Provisional) Regiment (PA)
Active	January 1942 - May 1942
Disbanded	May 12, 1942
Country	Commonwealth of the Philippines
Allegiance	United States Army ; Philippine Commonwealth Army
Branch	Army
Type	Infantry
Role	Territorial Defense
Size	1,500
Part of	61st Infantry Division
Garrison/HQ	Dingle, Iloilo
Equipment	M1917 Enfield .30 Caliber Bolt Action Rifle; Bolo; Arrow
Engagements	Japanese Invasion of Panay
Commanders
Notable; commanders	LCol. Macario Peralta Jr., ; LCol. Crispin Gorriceta ; LCol. Cesar Hechanova ; LCol Lyle Fritzpatrick ; LCol. James Bickerton ; LCol. Amos Francia

Last updated September 04, 2024

64th Infantry Regiment, is a provisional unit of Philippine Commonwealth Army under 61st Infantry Division activated and organized in Panay Island. It fought the Japanese invaders in the island from April 18, 1942, to May 12, 1942, after ordered to surrender by Visayas-Mindanao Force commander Major General William F. Sharp.

Background

After General Sharp moved his headquarters in Mindanao, he ordered bulked of his units to Mindanao as well.^[1] 61st Division units was ordered to released 61st Infantry under Colonel Mitchell based in Negros, 62nd Infantry under Colonel Thayer, and 61st Field Artillery under Colonel Tarkington and transfer to Mindanao via Negros. This leaving only one regiment in the island, General Bradford Chynoweth commander of 61st Division without delay, organized 2 new regiments out from trainees and new recruits in the island.^[2]

Initially it was named 61st Provisional Infantry and 62nd Provisional Infantry to replace the previous regiments who left the island. However, in order not to create confusion it was renamed to 64th Infantry (Provisional) initially under Lieutenant Colonel Amos Francia, but later replaced by Lieutenant Colonel James Bickerton. After reorganization of the division staff Lieutenant Colonel Lyle Fritzpatrick replaced Colonel Bickerton who was transferred as division staff.

The regiment participated in the Operation Baus Au initiated by General Chynoweth before he was ordered to assumed command of the new Visayas Force base in Cebu.^[1] The command of the island was passed on to Colonel Albert Christie as commander of Panay Force and 61st Infantry Division.^[1]

Japanese Invasion

On April 18, 1942, two days after the Kawaguchi Detachment invaded Cebu, the Kawamura detachment invaded Panay in three 3 different landing zones. The 64th Infantry was assigned to Capiz Province to thwart any Japanese landings but Naval and Air bombardment prevented them to do so due to absence of a single artillery gun in the Island.^[3] They retreated inland and resorted to ambuscades and raids to Japanese warehouses inflicting heavy casualties to the Japanese. However, this did not prevent Kawamura Detachment turnover Panay to 10th Independent Garrison to leave for Mindanao.

On May 11, 1942, order came from Mindanao to surrender at daybreak, Lieutenant Colonel Allen Thayer a representative from General Sharp from Visayas-Mindanao Force Headquarters in Mindanao to enforce the order. On May 12, 1942, Colonel Christie surrendered his Division to the Japanese forces in Cabatuan, Iloilo. However, some officers and men did not obeyed his ordered and continue to fight on as guerilla led by former Division G3 Operations Officer and now commander of the regiment Lieutenant Colonel Macario Peralta Jr., of the Philippine Army.^[3]

Related Research Articles

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65th Infantry (Provisional) Regiment, is a reserve unit of Philippine Commonwealth Army under 61st Infantry Division to cover Panay Island. It was organized entirely with trainees and recruits from Panay Island. It fought during the Invasion of the Japanese of Panay Island and resorted to guerilla warfare after the 61st Division surrendered on May 16, 1942.

References

1 2 3 Morton, Louis (1953). The Fall of the Philippines, November 1941 – May 1942 (1st ed.). Washington, D.C: US Government Printing Press (published June 26, 1953). pp. 502–503.
↑ Tarkington, Hiram. There Were Others (PDF). pp. 52–55.
1 2 "The Blood and Mud in the Philippines: Anti-Guerrilla Warfare on Panay Island, by Toshimi Kumai". cabatuan.com. Retrieved 2024-09-01.

External links

There Were Others, Unpublished Papers of Colonel Hiram Tarkington, CO 61st Field Artillery
The Fall of the Philippines, by Louis Morton

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[:0-1] 1 2 3 Morton, Louis (1953). The Fall of the Philippines, November 1941 – May 1942 (1st ed.). Washington, D.C: US Government Printing Press (published June 26, 1953). pp. 502–503.

[2] Tarkington, Hiram. There Were Others (PDF). pp. 52–55.

[:1-3] 1 2 "The Blood and Mud in the Philippines: Anti-Guerrilla Warfare on Panay Island, by Toshimi Kumai". cabatuan.com. Retrieved 2024-09-01.

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