Philippine Division (United States)
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(Redirected from U.S. Philippine Division)
"12th Infantry Division (United States)" redirects here. For the disambiguation page, see 12th Division (United States).
| Philippine Division 12th Infantry Division |
|
|---|---|
 Shoulder Sleeve Insignia |
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| Active | 1921-06-08—1947-04-30 |
| Country | United States |
| Allegiance | Regular Army |
| Branch | Infantry |
| Type | Square Division |
| Division Headquarters | Fort William McKinley |
| Engagements | *World War II # Philippine Islands |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
MG Jonathan M. Wainwright BG Mason S. Lough |
| Insignia | |
| Distinctive Unit Insignia | None Authorized |
| U.S. Infantry Divisions (1939–present) | |
|---|---|
| Previous | Next |
| 11th Airborne Division | 13th Division (Inactive) |
The Philippine Division, originally a named rather than numbered U.S. Infantry Division of World War II, was the core of the US Army's Philippine Department. On July 31, 1941, the division consisted of 10,473 troops, mostly enlisted Filipinos, known as the Philippine Scouts. All of the division's enlisted men, with the exception of the 31st Infantry Regiment, and various military police and headquarters troops, were Philippine Scouts.
In October 1941, as part of the US Army Forces Far East, plans were made to "triangularize" the division. The 34th Infantry was detached from the 8th Infantry Division and moved to a port of embarkation in December 1941, along with two battalions of 105mm field artillery. The Philippine Division was to have two complete U.S. regimental combat teams in place by January 1942 to provide General Douglas MacArthur with a modern, trained mobile reaction force, while freeing up Philippine Scouts for rounding out other units. The outbreak of war in December 1941, however, isolated the Philippines and prevented implementation of the plan.
Contents |
[edit] Heraldic Items
[edit] Shoulder Sleeve Insignia
- Description: On a scarlet spade-shaped shield, a yellow carabao's head caboshed.
- Symbolism: The carabao is suggestive of the Philippines, and the colors red and gold represent the Spanish heritage of the islands.
[edit] Distinctive Unit Insignia
- None approved.
[edit] Organization
- Philippine Division Headquarters (181)
- Philippine Division (10,473)
- 31st Infantry Regiment (2,131)
- 43d Infantry Regiment (PS) (329)
- 45th Infantry Regiment (PS) (2,265)
- 57th Infantry Regiment (PS) (2,279)
- 23d Field Artillery Regiment (PS) (401) (2.95in)
- 24th Field Artillery Regiment (PS) (843) (75mm)
- 14th Engineering Regiment (PS) (870)
- 12th Ordnance Company (PS) (142)
- 12th Signal Regiment (PS) (227)
- 12th Military Police Company (PS) (136)
- 12th Medical Regiment (PS) (421)
- 12th Quartermaster Regiment (PS) (592)
- 4th Veteran Company (11)
- Special Troops (5)
[edit] Lineage
- Constituted 1921-04-29 in the Regular Army as Headquarters, Philippine Division.
- Organized 1921-06-08 in the Philippine Islands, with Regular Army and Philippine Scout personnel. *Surrendered 1942-04-09 to the Japanese 14th Army.
- Redesignated 1946-04-06 as the 12th Infantry Division.
- Inactivated 1947-04-30 in the Philippine Islands.
- Disbanded 1953-03-23.
[edit] Combat Chronicle[1]
- Units of the Philippine Division were on security missions at Manila, Fort McKinley, and Bataan prior to the declaration of war in the Pacific, 1941-12-08. 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 1941-12-11 to 1941-12-23, positions were organized and strengthened and on 1941-12-23 the Division was assigned to the Bataan Defense Forces. While the 31st Infantry Regiment moved to the vicinity of Zig-Zag to cover the flanks of troops withdrawing from central and southern Luzon, 1941-12-30, the rest of the Division organized the main and reserve positions on Bataan. The 31st Infantry Regiment moved to a defensive position on the west side of the Olongapo Road near Layac Junction, 1942-01-05. This junction was lost on 1942-01-06, but the withdrawal to Bataan had been successfully concluded.
- The Division was placed in reserve from 1942-01-07 to 1942-01-14. 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 on 1942-01-10 – 1942-01-12, and other elements of the Division counterattacked on the 1942-01-16. 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, 1942-02-02. 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, 1942-03-24, did not undertake any serious activity on this front until 1942-03-28. 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 1942-04-08, the 57th Infantry Regiment and the 31st Infantry Regiment were lost near the Alangan River, and the 45th Infantry Regiment surrendered, 1942-04-10.
- The victory over Japan ended the misery of Japanese prison camps for the survivors of the Philippine Division.
- The Division was briefly reconstituted as the 12th Infantry Division in 1944-45 as the US & Filipino army liberated the Philippines, but was disbanded after the war. However, prior to being disbanded some subordinate units were tasked with Occupation duties on Saipan, Okinawa, and elsewhere. Furthermore, members of the 1st and 2nd Filipino Infantry Regiments who wished to remain in the Philippines upon being discharged were transferred to a subordinate unit under this division.
[edit] Wartime Assignments
- U.S. Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) - 1941-12-08 - 1941-12-24.
- Bataan Defense Force - 1941-12-24 - 1942-01-06.
- U.S. Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) - 1942-01-06 - 1942-01-26.
- II Philippine Corps - 1942-01-26 - 1942-04-07.
- I Philippine Corps - 1942-04-07 - 1942-04-10.
- Prisoner Of War Captivity - 1942-04-10 - 1945
[edit] Miscellaneous
The Regimental Colors of the 12th Quartermaster Regiment (PS) were given to an Army nurse (one of the "Angels of Bataan and Corregidor")by the Regimental Commander. Upon her capture she told the Japanese that they were "only a shawl" and kept them safe throughout more than three years of captivity[2]. Today, the colors are on display at the U.S. Army Quartermaster Museum, Fort Lee, Virginia.[3]
[edit] Commanders
MG. Jonathan M. Wainwright (November 1940-December 1941) BG. Mason S. Lough (December 1941-May 1942).
[edit] Honors
[edit] Campaign Participation Credit
[edit] Decorations
[edit] Unit Awards
- Presidential Unit Citation (Army)
[edit] Personal Awards
- Medals of Honor: 3.
[edit] Bibliography
- Drake, Charles C. (1926-06-28). Philippine maneuvers. Infantry #625. pp. 31.
- Morton, Louis (1953). The Fall of the Philippines: United States in World War II Series. Washington, D.C.: United States Army Center of Military History.
[edit] References
- ^ (Nota Bene: These combat chronicles, current as of October 1948, are reproduced from The Army Almanac: A Book of Facts Concerning the Army of the United States, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1950, pp. 510-592.)
- ^ Dr. Steven E. Anders, Heritage and Values: FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE: Building Great Quartermaster Soldiers
- ^ Honor Preserved at Corriegedor, The U.S. Army Quartermaster Museum, http://www.qmmuseum.lee.army.mil/history/vignettes/honor2.html, retrieved 2008-05-22
- ^ (North Luzon Force, United States Army Forces in the Far East. Cited; War Department General Order # 14, 1942).
- ^ (Army Troops, United States Army Forces in the Far East. Cited; War Department General Order #32, 1942.)
- ^ (Military and naval forces of the United States and Philippine Governments. Cited; War Department General Order #22, 1942, as amended by Department of the Army General Order #46, 1948).
- ^ All Units.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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