The 81st Infantry Division was a reserve division of the Philippine Army under the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE). It was established in the prewar period and fought 1941–1942.
Organization
81st Infantry Regiment (PA) (commander, Ruperto Kangleon) (transferred to Mindanao but in Agusan sector) 1st Battalion - Capt. Luis Dator 2nd Battalion - Capt Segundo Velasco 3rd Battalion - Capt Tiburcio Bancaras | Maj Joseph Stensland 82nd Infantry Regiment (PA) - (left in Cebu) Col. Emigdio David 1st Battalion - Capt Mariano Rafols 2nd Battalion - Captain Luis Jakosalem | Maj Daniel Iway 3rd Battalion - Captain Olegario Baura 83rd Infantry Regiment (PA) - (left in Cebu) Col. Fortunato Borbon | LCol. Rufus H. Rogers 1st Battalion - LCol. Arthur Grimes, USA (Initially defending Bohol later transferred to Cebu) 2nd Battalion - Maj. Manson Sharp 3rd Battalion - Maj. Edward McClenahan 81st Field Artillery Regiment (PA) (LCol. John P. Woodbridge) (Moved to Mindanao and attached to 102nd Division) HQ Company 1st Bn/81st FA Regt (PA) (75mm guns, 8x) (guns & ammunition never arrived; sunk on the SS Corregidor, 17 Dec 1941) 2nd Bn/81st FA Regt (PA) (3-inch guns, 6x) (guns & ammunition never arrived; sunk on the SS Corregidor, 17 Dec 1941) 3rd Bn/81st FA Regt (PA) 81st Engineer Battalion (PA) - Capt Jose Hidalgo | Capt Alber H. Price 81st Division Units (PA) 81st Division Headquarters & HQ Company (PA) 81st Medical Battalion (PA) 81st Signal Company (PA) 81st Quartermaster Company (Motorized) (PA) 81st QM Transport Company (Truck) (PA)
History
It was active from 1941 to 10 May 1942, whereupon it surrendered after Corregidor fell. It was active in Mindanao. Colonel (later Brigadier General) Guy O. Fort (PA) was the division's commander, and was later tortured and executed by the Japanese, apparently because he would not comply with their frustrated attempts to use him for propaganda in Mindanao.
The 81st Division was known as the Moro Bolo Battalion due to their use of the bolo, a machete-like tool.
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, HQ originally at Cebu City. 81st Field Artillery Regiment's guns didn't reach them as it sunk when SS Corregidor sunk in Manila Bay and had to organize as infantry.
Transfer to Mindanao
General Fort and 81st Division Headquarters was ordered to Mindanao island and assigned in Lanao sector which General Fort assumed as sector commander. 2nd Regular Infantry Regiment under LCol Calixto Duque was absorbed into the division and 61st Infantry Regiment under LCol Eugene Mitchell from Panay and 73rd Infantry Regiment under LCol Robert Vessey from Negros island also attached.. There are no artillery unit in the division so it have to rely on the Field Artillery Detachment of Mindanao Force.
81st Infantry Regiment was transferred to Agusan Sector and commanded by LCol William Van Nostrand as Col Ruperto Kangleon was designated as sector executive officer. 81st Field Artillery Regiment went to Mindanao Force reserve and later attached to 102nd Infantry Division.
Cotabato Landing
Kawaguchi Detachment of 56th Division IJA landed in both Cotabato and Parang towns in Cotabato province. General Fort send 2nd Regular Regiment to oppose landing in Cotabato and 61st Infantry Regiment to oppose landing in Parang. 2nd Regular Regiment gave formidable defense but have to withdraw to avoid being flank units from 101st Division defending Davao-Cotabato road retreated. 61st Infantry in Parang didn't fare to the more experienced and modern weapons of Japanese and have to withdraw. LCol. Eugene Mitchell commander of 61st Infantry tried to mount another defensive lines but his troops are annihilated and have to withdraw and in the chaos he was captured.
Surrender
Division was still giving a good fight in Lanao sector when it was ordered by MGen. Sharp to surrender which BGen. Fort reluctantly complied. General Sharp sent an emissary to ensure General Fort comply in Lanao. It surrendered in Lanao but American and Filipino soldiers who refused to surrender went to the hills and started a guerilla warfare. Among them are LCol. Wendell Fertig in Lanao area and Col. Ruperto Kangleon who went back Leyte after escaping and established his own guerilla unit there.