Heritage Bn.
« 26th Calvalry Philippine Scouts »

Welcome Guest. Please Login or Register.
Dec 28, 2009, 11:18am

[Home] [Help] [Search] [Login] [Register]



Heritage Bn. :: General :: Bataan :: 26th Calvalry Philippine Scouts
   [Search This Thread][Send Topic To Friend] [Print]
AuthorTopic: 26th Calvalry Philippine Scouts (Read 368 times)
The Phantom
Buff
****
member is offline

[avatar]

Ghost Who Walks!



Joined: Jul 2008
Gender: Male
Posts: 311
Location: TX
26th Calvalry Philippine Scouts
« Thread Started on Jun 29, 2009, 7:43am »
From "THE FALL OF THE PHILIPPINES"

26th Cavalry action, last actual cavalry action in the history of the United States Cavalry?
Japanese heading South towards Manila after their landing to the North.

"The action of December 24th put the Japanese in a position for the final drive towards the Agno River. At 0500, with the 4th tank regiment in the lead, the Japanese made contact with the 26th Cavalry outposts north and west of Binalonan. Although the Scouts had no anti tank guns, they were able to stop the first attack.
The tanks then swung west to bypass the American positions, leaving the Infantry to continue the fight for Binalonan.
By 0700 the 26th Cavalry had blunted the assault and inflicted many casualties on the enemy.
Pursuing their their advantage, the Scouts counterattacked and the Japanese had to send in more tanks to stop the 26th Cavalry.
Even with the aid of the tanks, the Japanese made no progress.
Sometime during the morning the 2D Formosa joined the attack, and the Cavalrymen found themselves in serious trouble.
To heavily engaged to break off the action and retire, they continued to fight on.
At this juncture, General Wainwright arrived at Binalonan to see Sellack. He found neither General Sellack, who had gone to Wainwright's command Post to report, nor any 71st division troops
but he did find the 26th Cavalry, which now numbered 450 men.
He ordered Pierce to get his wounded men and supply train out as quickly as possible and to fight a delaying action before withdrawing Southeast across the Agno to Tayug.

For more than 4 hours the the cavalrymen held their position against overwhelming odds , and at 1530 began to withdraw.
By dusk the last elements had reached Tayug and the 2nd Formosa entered Binalonan.

" Here " said General Wainwright, himself a cavalryman, " Was true cavalry delaying action fit to make a man's heart sing. Pierce, that day, upheld the best tradition of the cavalry service."

If I'm not mistaken you can go to Binalonan today and see the old Church that was there at that time.
The church and courtyard are fenced in and appears to be a time capsule from the past. Huge, stately trees hundreds of years old shade the church courtyard.

(That's where you took me last year right Karl? About and hour from Subic, along the coast towards Manila?)

Good Halo Halo there.............
Worth a visit for many reasons.

What place did the church play in the fight?

When Wainwright says to get the wounded and "Supply Train" out, is the "Supply Train" he is referring to made up of horses?
Link to Post - Back to Top  IP: Logged
victor
Buff
****
member is offline





Joined: Nov 2006
Gender: Male
Posts: 111
Re: 26th Calvalry Philippine Scouts
« Reply #1 on Jun 29, 2009, 11:25am »
This elderly gentleman in the picture discussing the MG with the reenactor is Capt. Felipe Fernandez (ret). He was a corporal with the 26th Cavalry during the war and was right in the middle of that Binalonan fight with the tanks.

(click for bigger)
[image] [image]

[image] [image]

According to his account, four Japanese tanks came up to their road block. They only had .30 cal machineguns guarding it but they opened up anyway. One of the troopers by name of Pvt Juan Soria crept up to tank and threw a molotov cocktail on to it and set it ablaze. But a Japanese popped his head out of the turret and shot him with a pistol wounding him.

They opened up on that tank with their machinegun and the Japanese ducked back inside the turret hatch. While giving that covering fire, other troopers were able to retrieve and rescue Pvt Soria. He was later awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

In the photos above, he was explaining how their machinegun jammed and how he extracted the jammed casing using his combo tool while the gunner held the bolt open. However he let go of the bolt prematurely and caught Felipe Fernandez's thumb, he lost his thumbnail. But he let go prematurely because he saw that the troopers that were out to retrieve Pvt. Soria needed covering fire.

Interesting story.

The photos were taken in May 2009 at the 25th Anniversary reunion of the Philippine Scouts Heritage Society.

Link to Post - Back to Top  IP: Logged
bikbok38
Trainee
member is offline





Joined: Jun 2009
Gender: Male
Posts: 45
Re: 26th Calvalry Philippine Scouts
« Reply #2 on Jul 7, 2009, 3:30pm »
I have ready in one book that the 26th Cavalry men were down to around 300 men from an original force of 900+ before Bataan surrendered. How did their numbers go down? KIA, wounded?

Salamat
Link to Post - Back to Top  IP: Logged
victor
Buff
****
member is offline





Joined: Nov 2006
Gender: Male
Posts: 111
Re: 26th Calvalry Philippine Scouts
« Reply #3 on Jul 7, 2009, 10:34pm »
There was a whole Troop that was cut off in Baguio and never made it to Bataan (Troop A). There were also men who were KIA or MIA during the delaying actions from Lingayen all the way to Bataan, including the Layac fight. Casualties were already bad that Troops E and F were combined. Then there were casualties to fighting and disease in Bataan itself. I would say 300 men sounds about right by the time of surrender. I read that they even had to recruit the civilian bus drivers and service personnel attached to the 26th. They also recruited some of the best Phil. Army enlisted men during the lull in the fighting to bolster their numbers.
Link to Post - Back to Top  IP: Logged
okla
Buff
****
member is offline

[avatar]



Joined: Nov 2006
Gender: Male
Posts: 278
Re: 26th Calvalry Philippine Scouts
« Reply #4 on Jul 8, 2009, 12:12am »
hey vic....to a lot of horse calvary "junkies", custer's 7th cavalry or maybe sheridan's guys, roaming the shenandoah valley, or even sherman's bunch are standard bearers for horse soldiers. even my great grandmother's brother, a member of the 3rd kentucky cavalry, rode with sherman thru georgia, but to me the 26th philippine scout cavalry regiment occupies and will always occupy the top spot. these guys went up against armor with horses. custer couldnt even handle indians mounted on ponies. go 26th.
Link to Post - Back to Top  IP: Logged
okla
Buff
****
member is offline

[avatar]



Joined: Nov 2006
Gender: Male
Posts: 278
Re: 26th Calvalry Philippine Scouts
« Reply #5 on Jul 8, 2009, 12:31am »
hey vic...one more thing. is the author saying the engagement at binalonan was the last combat action of a US cavalry unit fighting as horse cavalry???? i thought ed ramsey's operation at morong was recognized as the last actual cavalry charge in the annals of american horse cavalry history. we all realize that the 26th cavalry personnel fought on till the april surrender of bataan, but not as a mounted cavalry unit. the steeds had been put down and included in the meager rations of the troops. therefore, am i correct in believing the morong fight to technically be the final "charge" of any US horse mounted cavalry in history????
Link to Post - Back to Top  IP: Logged
bikbok38
Trainee
member is offline





Joined: Jun 2009
Gender: Male
Posts: 45
Re: 26th Calvalry Philippine Scouts
« Reply #6 on Jul 8, 2009, 6:01pm »
Salamat for the info and confirming on the numbers of the 26th Cavalry men.
Link to Post - Back to Top  IP: Logged
victor
Buff
****
member is offline





Joined: Nov 2006
Gender: Male
Posts: 111
Re: 26th Calvalry Philippine Scouts
« Reply #7 on Jul 8, 2009, 9:27pm »
Hi Okla, I think the author was just specifically writing about Dec 24th in general.

To Phantom: The supply train could have been a mix of motor vehicles and mules. They used mules for a lot of their supplies.
Link to Post - Back to Top  IP: Logged
rickthelibrarian
member is offline





Joined: Jul 2009
Gender: Male
Posts: 7
Re: 26th Calvalry Philippine Scouts
« Reply #8 on Jul 22, 2009, 10:34pm »
AHA!! Victor, I tracked you down!! :)
Link to Post - Back to Top  IP: Logged
victor
Buff
****
member is offline





Joined: Nov 2006
Gender: Male
Posts: 111
Re: 26th Calvalry Philippine Scouts
« Reply #9 on Jul 23, 2009, 8:24am »
There goes the neighborhood... :) Welcome to the forum Rick!
Link to Post - Back to Top  IP: Logged
The Phantom
Buff
****
member is offline

[avatar]

Ghost Who Walks!



Joined: Jul 2008
Gender: Male
Posts: 311
Location: TX
Re: 26th Calvalry Philippine Scouts
« Reply #10 on Aug 11, 2009, 1:37am »
From the following passage from the aforementioned book it would appear the 26th Cavalry still had some of their horses at this point in the battles on Bataan............

(The book, "The Fall of the Philippines" was written in 1953 by the Center for Military History, U.S. Army, I have the 50th anniversary edition)

"ON THE 15TH OF JANUARY THE TWO ELEMENTS OF THE 122D INFANTRY, (JAPANESE) JOINED, AND BY THE FOLLOWING MORNING THE REGIMENT WAS WITHIN A MILE OF MORON.
WHEN IT CROSSED THE BATALAN RIVER, JUST NORTH OF THE VILLAGE, OPPOSED ONLY BY FIRE FROM AN AMERICAN PATROL, WAINWRIGHT HASTENED TO MORON WHERE HE ORGANINZED AND DIRECTED AN ATTACK BY THE 1ST INFANTRY AND TROOP E AND F OF THE 26TH CAVALRY.
IN THIS FIRST ENGAGEMENT FOR I CORPS, THE HONORS WENT TO FILIPINO'S WHO FORCED THE JAPANESE BACK TO THE RIVER LINE.
UNFORTUNATELY THE CAVALRYMEN SUFFERED HEAVILY IN MEN AND ANIMALS AND HAD TO BE WITHDRAWN."

My question is, what was the terrain like in that area?
Cavalry fighting possible, or it was not, thus all the casualties?
Link to Post - Back to Top  IP: Logged
okla
Buff
****
member is offline

[avatar]



Joined: Nov 2006
Gender: Male
Posts: 278
Re: 26th Calvalry Philippine Scouts
« Reply #11 on Aug 11, 2009, 6:10am »
hey phantom....from what i have read, the terrain involved in this action wasnt exactly ideal for cavalry. this operation sounded more like a wild west shootout in a dodge city like sitting with the mounted horsemen racing thru the streets. they did break up the jap attack and advance as i get it, but werent able to sustain their momentum. you, of course, know that this little fracas is generally recognized as the last official "mounted charge" by US Army horse cavalry. these guys were certainly unique in every way to my way of thinking.
Link to Post - Back to Top  IP: Logged
The Phantom
Buff
****
member is offline

[avatar]

Ghost Who Walks!



Joined: Jul 2008
Gender: Male
Posts: 311
Location: TX
Re: 26th Cavalry Philippine Scouts
« Reply #12 on Oct 5, 2009, 3:37am »
The end of the Cavalry as a mounted unit can be traced to before March 15th, 1942.

"While it lasted fresh meat was issued to the troops at regular intervals, usually every third day.This meat was obtained principally
from the Carabao slaughtered at the recently established abattoir near Lamao and at scattered, small slaughterhouses consisting of little more than platforms over swiftly running fresh water streams.

In the absence of refrigeration the Carabao were kept in enclosures
until a fresh meat issue was due, then quickly slaughtered and issued to the troops.

Towards the end of the campaign about 600 of the butchered Carabao were sent to Corregidor for storage in the refrigeration plant and later returned to Bataan for distribution.

When the forage for animals was exhausted, the 250 horses of the 26th Cavalry and the 48 pack mules, were regretfully slaughtered also.

Maj. Achille C. Tisdelle , a Cavalry officer and aide to General King, wrote on March 15th that the 26th Cavalry and other units had that day finished the last of their horses."
This information from;
"THE FALL OF THE PHILIPPINES"
Link to Post - Back to Top  IP: Logged
okla
Buff
****
member is offline

[avatar]



Joined: Nov 2006
Gender: Male
Posts: 278
Re: 26th Calvalry Philippine Scouts
« Reply #13 on Oct 5, 2009, 6:23am »
hey phantom....i have always heard that the first horse slaughtered was genl wainwright's favorite mount, joseph conrad. "skinny" supposedly said that if the 26th's mounts were to be sacrificed that he wanted the first horse to his own. genl wainwright was a soldier's soldier. in my humble he was the hero of bataan.
Link to Post - Back to Top  IP: Logged
The Phantom
Buff
****
member is offline

[avatar]

Ghost Who Walks!



Joined: Jul 2008
Gender: Male
Posts: 311
Location: TX
Re: 26th Calvalry Philippine Scouts
« Reply #14 on Oct 11, 2009, 9:13pm »
I believe I read that about General Wainwright also. His horse was the first served to the starving soldiers.

He was the hero, did all the dirty work, and was Mac Arthur's fall guy until after the war, when he had him at the surrender signing in Tokyo Bay on the battleship Missouri.
Wainwright and General King had to "endure the unendurable" and surrender American forces.
Link to Post - Back to Top  IP: Logged
okla
Buff
****
member is offline

[avatar]



Joined: Nov 2006
Gender: Male
Posts: 278
Re: 26th Calvalry Philippine Scouts
« Reply #15 on Oct 11, 2009, 11:12pm »
hey phantom...I am sure you are aware of the fact that Genl MacArthur threw up a roadblock on Skinny Wainwright being awardrd the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1942 or 1943, reducing the award to the DSC. Wainwright did finally receive the much deserved medal in 1945. President Truman awarded the honor, saying something like, "i enjoyed presenting the General that medal about as much as i have ever enjoyed anything". In my humble, Genl MacArthur was extremely "petty" in the matter of getting Wainwright the medal in 1942. Mac was a great military stratigist, leader, etc, but he certainly had his personal flaws. Having said all this, i am still glad he was on our side. I especially appreciate the fact that he stuck to his guns in the matter of retaking/liberating the Phillipines instead of going the US Navy's route of focusing on Formosa and the China coast. He could see that the US owed it to the Philippines to get the Japanese off the filipino people's back before we did anything about Formosa, Okinawa,etc. Simply put, it was a matter of honor and duty toward the people who stood by our side during that dismal period back in early 1942.
Link to Post - Back to Top  IP: Logged
   [Search This Thread][Send Topic To Friend] [Print]

Google
Webcorregidor.proboards.com
Click Here To Make This Board Ad-Free


This Board Hosted For FREE By ProBoards
Get Your Own Free Message Boards & Free Forums!