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 | |
|---|---|
| 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][page needed] |
| 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 edit
- 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 edit
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]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b Smith, R. R., 2005, Triumph in the Philippines, Honolulu: University Press of the Pacific, ISBN 1410224953
- ^ a b 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 edit
- Our Igorot Fathers, The Heroes: The Untold Story of the 66th Infantry Regiment, USAFIP-NL (blog entry about video documentary)