US Army's Philippine Scouts Options

[flipcombatmedic]

The History of the Philippine Scouts
by Col. John E. Olson, USA (Ret.)


"Stand aside, the Scouts are coming." These simple words contained in a poem written by an American officer in a Japanese POW camp shortly after the fall of Bataan reflect a sincere and respectful tribute to some of the finest soldiers ever to serve in the U.S. Army. In the desperate resistance Gen. Douglas MacArthur's beleaguered forces on Bataan and Corregidor put up against the Japanese invaders in early 1942, when units of the Philippine Scouts moved up to bolster hard pressed units or to attack the many landings made by the Japanese troops behind the main line of resistance, morale of other Filipino and American troops rose markedly.

Who were the Philippine Scouts? Little known outside the Philippines and largely forgotten by the U.S. Army of which they were a proud part, the Scouts were soldiers par excellence. How did the Philippine Scouts come into the U.S. Army and what contribution did they make to this country's military heritage?

The Scouts were the first and last of what some might call American colonial troops. But they were not colonials. The first Scout organizations were created in 1901 during the early days of the American occupation of the Philippine Islands by the induction of Filipinos into the service of the U. S. Armed Forces. Their mission was to help restore order and peace to a troubled area. In the ensuing two decades, the Philippine Scouts took part in subduing the fierce and warlike Moro tribes on the island of Mindanao and in the Jolo Archipelago and in establishing tranquility throughout the islands.
Following WWI, Congress approved induction of the Philippine Scouts into the Regular U.S. Army. A strength of 6000 was authorized and tactical units were created with designations of the regular military establishment, but with the suffix (PS) indicating "Philippine Scout." The Philippine Division was activated with two infantry regiments, the 45th (PS) and the 57th (PS) subordinate to the 23rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Scouts. The supporting artillery, engineers, quartermaster, medical, and other divisional elements were manned by Filipino enlisted men officered by Americans and a few Filipinos. For the defense of Manila Bay, two Philippine Scout artillery regiments, the 91st and the 92nd were created. Last but not least, the 26th Cavalry Regiment (PS) was formed. They were stationed on Luzon at Forts William McKinley and Stotsenburg, Camp John Hay, the Harbor of Defenses of Manila, and Petit Barracks on Mindanao.

When war came in 1941, the Scouts were trained and ready. The 26th Cavalry Regiment (PS) supported by the 23rd and 24th FA Battalions, distinguished itself in the first days after the initial Japanese landings at Lingayen Gulf in late December by attacking the assault forces. During the stubbornly contested withdrawal of the Northern Luzon Force, commanded by Lt. Gen. Jonathan Wainwright to the Bataan Peninsula, the 26th Cavalry (PS) was the rear guard. Mounted on horses or riding in personnel carriers with thin armor and only light machine guns, the Scouts continually and aggressively counter-attacked the Japanese tanks and sacrificed their lives to protect the Filipino and American troops as they fell back.

On Bataan, the 14th Engineers (PS) labored to prepare defensive positions. Once Bataan was reached, the 57th Infantry (PS) was charged with holding the line astride the one major road into the peninsula. At the Battle of Abucay from Jan. 11 until Jan. 15, 1942, the 57th Infantry (PS) withstood the onslaught of the best elements Gen. Masaharu Homma, Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese Expeditionary Forces, could hurl against it. After four days of bitter hand-to-hand combat, the Japanese ceased their attempts to penetrate the Scouts' line. They shifted their weight westward into the jungle-covered mountains. From there, they outflanked the Scouts and forced them to fall back.

But the Japanese had gained a Pyrrhic victory. So heavy had been their causalities, that they gave up the attempt to break the Filipino and American line on the eastern side of the peninsula. Instead, they launched a series of amphibious assaults against the rear of the western flank of General MacArthur's battered troops. Again, they found themselves opposed by Philippine Scouts. Not only was their nemesis the 57th Infantry (PS), but also two battalions of the 57th's sister regiment, the 45th Infantry (PS) and the 86th and 88th Field Artillery Battalions (PS). In a series of bloody actions waged in the jungle at the southwestern end of the peninsula, two enemy infantry battalions of about 1,200 men were annihilated. Again, the Scouts proved their superiority.

After two months of regrouping and reinforcing their troops with new units from the successful campaign in Malaya, the Japanese launched their final offensive. Unfortunately, the front was too broad for such a small number of Scouts. In addition, the enemy were too numerous and too strongly supported by artillery and close-support aircraft. Though Scout Artillery out shot the enemy and infantry units inflicted more casualties than they took, the odds were too great. Even so, when the order came to surrender on April 9, 1942, the Scouts' units were still fighting and were determined to carry on.

From Corregidor, the 91st and 92nd Coast Artillery Regiments (PS) fired up to the last minute in spite of heavy bombing and shelling. On the island of Mindanao, Companies E and F, 43rd Infantry (PS) fought the last battle of the Philippine Campaign. Companies A and B, 43rd Infantry (PS) who were cut off by the initial Japanese landings, withdrew into the mountain provinces of Luzon and became guerillas.

While the majority of the Scouts obeyed the order to surrender, their spirits were not subdued. Of those who survived the Death March and the starvation and sufferings at the Camp O'Donnell POW camp, many went out to form or join guerrilla bands to carry on the fight after their release. They harassed the enemy for three years and provided vital intelligence to General MacArthur's headquarters. During the bleak years of 1942-1944, they strove to establish contact with General MacArthur's headquarters in Australia and to contest the Japanese control of the Philippines. When the long awaited return of American forces to the Philippines took place in October 1944, they were met at the beaches by survivors of the Philippine Scouts. In the months of intense fighting to subdue the Japanese forces in the Philippines, these Scouts played a major role.

The author of this article, Col. John E. Olson, USA (Ret.), was adjutant of the 57th Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Scouts. He won the Silver Star for gallantry in action against the Japanese on Bataan. Surviving the "Death March," he was a POW from 1942-45.

[Ek-ek]

These were a big help to the people even during time of calamities

[RL33]

So were they the ones that fought against Auginaldo in the P.i U.S war???

This post has been edited by RL33: Jan 25 2005, 06:25 PM

[flipcombatmedic]

^probably, but I've read they were made in 1901 around time period. but probably not for the most part, cuz aguinaldo's struggle was started like in 1898-99, but he was caught 1900-01.

NOTE: most Scouts are not American/Caucasian, but enlisted wise Filipinos. I've read that most of the units were enlisted Filipinos, who have American officers.

When I was in the Ft. S. Houston, I've read an article, and seen pictures of early Scouts. The cool thing is they were actually Cavalry'd out, or fully made cavalrymen of the US Army, rather than ragtag militia. they actually wore the US Army cavalry uniform (if you've watched the Last Samurai it's the uniform of Cruise).

I heard that many Pinoys in america are descended and got there because of their Philippine Scout enlisted forefather. eg. the highest ranking Asian American in the US Army, his father was a Philippine Scout.

[RL33]

I see...i have questions though. Those people that did fight against Aug. and crew, would u consider them to be traitors? Though Auginaldo was treated well and was shown respect.

[flipcombatmedic]

^are our ancestors considered traitors because they lived under American rule? even fighting with Americans against the Japanese against WW2.

the answer is no. imo. not that i'm telling you what to believe.

but imo:
the 1st Philippine Repub, first in Asia and made by Asians, would have been doomed anyway. I mean I'm for sure that it would have resulted in majority oppression and back corruption. (I mean that is their first try at governing themselves and even as hard a government structure did they pick as a Democratic Republic)

so i think the willingness of Americans to rule, and teaching us in a way was greatly accepted because in a way we were guaranteed protectionism while learning the trade.

so i believe filipino alliance, forced or voluntary, was a smart idea. and for these soldiers, i think that it was in their part to say hey, the americans are here, there's no way for us to really defeat them, while there's a government that are not fully reliable, maybe even doomed. so why not just do our part to quell the violence, stop the killing by keeping order, American is here let's make it use for us.

[RL33]

Yes i thought so too ...sort of. What i just dont like is how this war is almost almost forgetten. The number is debated but ive heard close to or even a million ppl (mostly civilans) were killed.

[flipcombatmedic]

Yes i thought so too ...sort of. What i just dont like is how this war is almost almost forgetten. The number is debated but ive heard close to or even a million ppl (mostly civilans) were killed.

yup. it was america's first vietnam, but worse (well ethically). cuz in vietnam, they were only helping out in phils, and nowhere else wad america in this situation, conquering them