United States Army Forces in the Philippines – Northern Luzon
The United States Army Forces in the Philippines – Northern Luzon or United States Armed Forces in the Philippines – Northern Luzon (USAFIP-NL) (Tagalog: Sandatahang Lakas ng Estados Unidos sa Pilipinas - Hilagang Luzon (SLEUP-HL)/Hukbong Sandatahan ng Estados Unidos sa Pilipinas - Hilagang Luzon (HSEUP-HL) Ilocano: Fuerza Armada ti Estados Unidos iti Filipinas - Amianan ti Luzon (FAEUF-AL)) was the military and guerrilla organization active in the Philippines after the Japanese occupation. It was made up of United States Army and Philippine Army soldiers, reservists and civilian volunteers.
United States Army Forces in the Philippines – Northern Luzon | |
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Active | January 1, 1942 – June 30, 1946 |
Country | United States of America Commonwealth of the Philippines |
Type | light infantry, guerrilla resistance movement |
Size | about 20,000 men in 1945[1] |
Part of | United States Army Philippine Army |
Engagements |
|
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Russell W. Volckmann |
It was active from January 1, 1942 to June 30, 1946 and commanded by Col. Moses, followed by Russell W. Volckmann.[2]: 119–121
Following the Japanese occupation of the Philippines through the campaign to liberate the country, the military and guerrilla operations from the units of USAFIP-NL operated in Northern Luzon, including the some provinces in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Abra, Mountain Province, Cagayan, Isabela and Nueva Vizcaya.
Formations
- 11th Infantry Regiment – Cagayan Valley
- 14th Infantry Regiment – Nueva Vizcaya
- 15th Infantry Regiment – Ilocos Norte
- 66th Infantry Regiment – Baguio and Southern Mountain Province (now. Benguet)
- 121st Infantry Regiment – Ilocos Sur and La Union
- Military battalions
- Field Artillery Battalion
- Engineer Combat Battalion
- Military Police Battalion
- Quartermaster Battalion
- Replacement and Casualty Battalion
From November 1943 the forces were organized as districts.[3]: 182–183
- 1st District – Major Parker Calvert
- 2nd, 3rd Districts – Major George Barnett
- 4th District – Major Ralph Praeger
- 5th District – Major Romulo Manriquez
- 6th District – Capt. Robert Lapham (Lapham did not accept Volckmann's authority and operated the Luzon Guerrilla Army Forces [LGAF] independently.[4])
- 7th District – Volckmann and Blackburn
Reorganization
Following the Japanese surrender, an in preparation for Philippine independence, the USAFIP, NL, was reorganized as a regular division. It was designated the 2nd Division Philippine Army.[5]
References
- Smith, R. R., 2005, Triumph in the Philippines, Honolulu: University Press of the Pacific, ISBN 1410224953
- Volckmann, R., 1954, We Remained, New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., ISBN 9780393350227
- Harkins, P., 1956, Blackburn's Headhunters, London: Cassell & Co. LTD
- Hogan, Jr., David W. (1995). U.S. Army Special Operations in World War II. Washington, D.C.: Center of Military History, Department of the Army. p. 76. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- Bagamaspad, Anavic; Hamada-Pawid, Zenaida (1985). A People's History of Benguet. Baguio Printing & Publishing Company, Inc. pp. 300–301.
External links
- Our Igorot Fathers, The Heroes: The Untold Story of the 66th Infantry Regiment, USAFIP-NL (blog entry about video documentary)