The 101st Infantry Division was one the reserve divisions of the Philippine Army under the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE).
Organization
History
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 simultaneously commanded the Cotabato-Davao sector. Col. Eustaquio S. Baclig (PA), a 1918 U.S. Military Academy graduate, was appointed as division chief of staff.
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 MGen.Sharp after Visayan-Mindanao was split into different commands as reorganized by General MacArthur before his departure to Australia in March 1942.
Opposing the Japanese Landings
101st was tasked to oppose the Japanese invasion in Davao-Cotabato sector one of the five defensive sectors of Mindanao island. 101st Infantry Regiment was posted in Digos road and 102nd Infantry Regiment was posted to Cotabato to Kabacan subsector at the end of Sayre Highway. This preventing Japanese from reaching to Bukidnon. 101st Infantry Division lack of training and low on ammunition are no match to superior force and weapons of Muira and Sugakuchi Detachments of 56th Division of Imperial Japanese Army in Davao and Kawaguchi Detachment landing from Cotabato and moving towards Kabacan, Cotabato. Lacking artillery and air support the 101st Division soldiers resorted to delaying actions.
Surrender
After receiving order from General Wainwright to surrender, General Sharp surrendered his Mindanao Force on May 9,1942.
Order of battle
101st Infantry Regiment (PA) (LCol. John H. McGee) 1st Battalion 2nd Battalion – LCol. Roger Hilsman, USA 102nd Infantry Regiment (PA) – LCol. Roger Hilsman 103rd Infantry Regiment (PA) (Maj. Joseph R. Webb) (transferred to 102nd Division (PA)) 104th Provisional Infantry Regiment (PA) – LCol. Russell J.Nelson, USA 101st Field Artillery Regiment (PA) – LCol. Reed Graves 101st FA Regt HQ Company (PA) 1st Bn/101st FA Regt (PA) (2.95-inch pack howitzers, 4×) (guns & ammo never arrived; sunk on the SS Corregidor, 17 Dec 41) 2nd Bn/101st FA Regt (PA) 3rd Bn/101st FA Regt (PA) 101st Engineer Battalion (PA) 101st Division Units (PA) 101st Division Headquarters & HQ Company (PA) 101st Medical Battalion (PA) 101st Signal Company (PA) 101st Quartermaster Company (Motorized) (PA) 101st QM Transport Company (Truck) (PA)
Sources
Bibliography
Morton, Louis. The Fall of the Philippines (Publication 5-2) . Retrieved on 14 Feb 2017.