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.
Aside from Colonel Baclig the division was made up of Filipino and American staffs, Captain Hernando Corvera became division operations officer G3 and Lieutenant Ross Miller became division officer.
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
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.
Muira detachment entering Davao City after Colonel Hilsman troops retreated towards Bukidnon.
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]
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.
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 to Bukidnon. 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 (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 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
101st Infantry Regiment (PA) (LCol. Howard Frissell | LCol. Howard R. Perry)
1st Battalion - Maj. John H. McGee | John R. Major Richardson
2nd Battalion – Capt. Gabutina | LCol. Roger Hilsman Sr.| Maj. Frank McGee
3rd Battalion - Maj. Howard Frissell | Maj. Arlie Higgins, USA
102nd Infantry Regiment (PA) – LCol. Russell Nelson, USA | LCol. Alvin T. Wilson[9]
1st Battalion (Transferred to Zamboanga sector) - Capt. Aniano Tolentino
2nd Battalion - Major William Baldwin, USA
3rd Battalion - Maj. Alvin T. Wilson | Captain Johnson
103rd Infantry Regiment (PA) (Maj. Joseph R. Webb) (transferred to 102nd Division (PA) in Cagayan sector in February 1942)
1st Battalion - Maj Frandsen (transferred to Cagayan sector)
Calixto Duque, AFP Vice Chief of Staff 1949 to 1951 and Chief of Staff 1951 to 1953.
Claro Laureta, Commanded 107th Division, Guerilla forces within Davao until end of war.
Sources
Morton, Louis (1953). United States Army in World War II, The War in the Pacific: The Fall of the Philippines. Washington, D.C.: Center of Military History, United States Army.
Whitman, John W. (1990). Bataan: Our Last Ditch: The Bataan Campaign, 1942. Hippocrene Books. ISBN0-87052-877-7.
^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.
^Tarkington, Hiram (2007). There were others (Unpublished ed.). WestPoint, New York. p. 122.((cite book)): CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^Morton, Louis (1953). The Fall of the Philippines. Washington, D.C: US Government Printing Office. pp. 507–508.
^Morton, Louis (1953). The Fall of the Philippines. Washington, D.C: US Government Printing Office. pp. 509–513.
Commonwealth of the Philippines
