Philippine Division (United States)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=Philippine Division / 12th Infantry Division


caption=Philippine Division Shoulder Sleeve Insignia
dates=June 8, 1921 - April 30, 1947
country=USA
allegiance=
branch=Regular Army
type=Square Division
role=
size=
command_structure=
current_commander=
garrison=Fort William McKinley
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=
notable_commanders=MG Jonathan M. Wainwright
BG Mason S. Lough
anniversaries=US Infantry
previous=11th Airborne Division
next=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 nullified implementation of the plan.

The division was carried on the rolls of the U.S. Army after its destruction in 1942, and was officially redesignated as the 12th Infantry Division in 1946.

Organization

*Philippine Division Headquarters (181)
**Fort William McKinley

*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)

Combat Chronicle

cite web
last = Fabros
first = Alex
title = California's Filipino Infantry
publisher = The California State Military Museum
url = http://www.militarymuseum.org/Filipino.html
accessdate = 2008-02-27] [cite book
last = Cove
first = Dorothy
title = Beyond Courage: One Regiment Against Japan, 1941-1945
publisher = sunstone press
date = 2006
pages = 91
url = http://books.google.com/books?id=uvP0jo8rURMC&pg=PA91&lpg=PA91&dq=%22uss+mactan%22&source=web&ots=zmNNsgMVor&sig=A18KeUwa8H10DrRZqRlI18UAdy0&hl=en
isbn = 0865345597] The division was stationed at Fort William McKinley, Luzon, Philippines, as part of the US Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) Reserve. Units of the Philippine Division were on security missions at Manila, Fort McKinley,Bamban-Arayat, and Bataan prior to the declaration of war in the Pacific, 1941-12-08. After undergoing two days of bombings, the Division moved to Clark Field in response to a false report that Japanese Paratroopers had landed there, and then 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. The Division Command Post was moved to Abucay on 1941-12-14 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 Regiment 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 on 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, 1942-04-10. As of that date, the Philippine Division entered captivity. 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 transfered to a subordinate unit under this division.

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

Miscellaneous

The Regimental Colors of the 12th Quartermaster Regiment (PS) were given to an Army nurse by the Regimental Commander. She told the Japanese that they were "only a shawl" and kept them safe throughout her captivity. Today, the colors are on display at the U.S. Army Quartermaster Museum, Fort Lee, Virginia. [Citation
url=http://www.qmmuseum.lee.army.mil/history/vignettes/honor2.html
title=Honor Preserved at Corriegedor
publisher=The U.S. Army Quartermaster Museum
accessdate=2008-05-22]

Honors

Campaigns:

# Philippine Islands.

Decorations

# Distinguished Unit Citations: 1 (all units).
# Medals of Honor-3.

Commanders:

# Maj. Gen. Jonathan M. Wainwright (November 1940-December 1941),
# Brig. Gen. Maxon S. Lough (December 1941-May 1942).

References

ee also

*Military History of the Philippines
*Military History of the United States

External links

* [http://www.qmmuseum.lee.army.mil/ The United States Army Quartermaster Museum]