Editorial Warning: I grew up in Maywood, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago. On one end of my paper route was a M-5 light tank next to the public library, and at the other was a small monument at what had been the local National Guard Armory. The 3rd Saturday in September was Bataan Day, complete with a parade, speeches and memorial service. When a new street was built as part of the construction of the Eisenhower Expressway through the town, it was named Bataan Drive. The reason for this remembrance of a American defeat was simple. In 1940, Maywood's own, the 33rd Tank Company, Illinois National Guard, was called into federal service. On December 20th, 1940, it became Company B, 192nd GHQ Light Tank Battalion and as such, was shipped to the Philippines in November of 1941. It served on Bataan, with the survivors of the battles there taking part in the Death March. The monument at the armory site reminded people that of the 128 Maywood boys called into service in 1940, only 43 came home in 1945. Douglas MacArthur was never granted sainthood in Maywood, and I gained an interest, in battles lost, as well as battle won. This article reflects the editor's personal beliefs. When the United States started to prepare for what all Americans hoped would not happen, our entry into World War II, the Philippines presented a major problem. In 1934, the United States had passed the Tydings-McDuffie Act, which provided full independence for the Philippines as of July 4th, 1946. Over the 12-year period prior to that date, the newly formed Filipino Commonwealth was take over additional duties on a year by year basis, until in 1946, it would be running the entire country. In 1935, to help build up a Filipino Defense Force the President- elect of the Philippines, Manuel Quezon, asked the outgoing Army Chief of Staff, Douglas MacArthur to serve as Military Advisor to the Commonwealth Government. MacArthur had served in the Philippines before, and from 1928 to 1930 had been commander of the Philippine Department. During that time he had formed a friendship with Quezon, and accepting the post, he sailed for Manila. For his staff, he was allowed to call upon the services of a small number of serving Army officers to help him in his task. (Among those that served with MacArthur at this time was one Major Dwight David Eisenhower.) When MacArthur retired from the U.S. Army at the end of 1937, Quezon promoted him the rank of Field Marshal of the Philippine Army. From 1936-37 MacArthur and his staff planned a complete defensive strategy for the Islands. There was to be a small regular army of one division. It would be supported by a large reserve force raised by a system of universe military service which would be able to raise 10 divisions of 7,50 men at first, and up to a total of 30 divisions by 1946. To help defend the islands, an offshore patrol element of the Army would man a fleet of 36 British motor torpedo boats, and a Philippine Air Force would operate a small but powerful fleet of some 300 planes. A Filipine Military Academy would be set up to produce the officers needed and other officers would be sent to the United States for schooling as needed. The time line for bringing this force up to strength was that of independence. Thus, each year from 1936 on, additional regular troops would be raised, more recruits would be trained, an more equipment acquired, with the goal of being ready to take over on July 4, 1946. The plan was never fully carried out. To start with, the Commonwealth Government was unable to afford to pay for the plan. Training was cut back, fewer men were called up for their training, equipment was lacking. The outbreak of WWII in 1939 meant that the motor torpedo boats being built in Britain were taken over by the Royal Navy. Yet, at the same time, the system was slowly growing into being, bearing in mind that it was not to be ready until 1946. While the Filipino Army was being organized, the defense of the Philippines rested with the elements of the United States Army stationed there. The Philippine Department had two major commands under its control, as well as assets directly under its command. On July 31, 1941 the Philippine Department had the following elements: Harbor Defences of Manila and Subic Bay: Fort Mills (Corregidor Island) Fort Drum (El Fraile Island) Fort Frank (Carabao Island) Fort Hughes (Caballo Island) Fort Wint (Grande Island in Subic Bay) 59th Coast Artillery Regiment 60th Coast Artillery Regiment (AA) 91st Coast Artillery Regiment (Philippine Scouts) 92nd Coast Artillery Regiment (Philippine Scouts) Philippine Division: Headquarters Headquarters Company 31st Infantry Regiment 45th Infantry Regiment (Philippine Scouts) 57th Infantry Regiment (Philippine Scouts) 12th Artillery Brigade Headquarters Battery 23rd Artillery Regiment (Philippine Scouts) (1 Battalion-2.95 mountain howitzers) 24th Artillery Regiment (Philippine Scouts) (2 Battalions-75 guns) 12th Quartermaster Regiment (Philippine Scouts) 12th Signal Company (Philippine Scouts) 14th Engineer Regiment (Philippine Scouts) (2 Battalions) 12th Ordnance Company (Philippine Scouts) 12th Military Police Company (Philippine Scouts) 12th Medical Regiment (Philippine Scouts) 4th Veterinary Company (Philippine Scouts) Departmental Assets: 26th Cavalry Regiment (Philippine Scouts) 43rd Infantry Regiment (Philippine Scouts) (1 Battalion) 86th Artillery Regiment (Philippine Scouts) (1 Battalion-155 guns) 88th Artillery Regiment (Philippine Scouts) (2 Battalions-75 guns) 808th Military Police Company More United States Army Forces in the Far East 1941 Introduction Post WWI and Proposed 1942 TO&E Actual 1941 TO&E MacArthur Restructuring Artillery and Tanks Back to Table of Contents -- Command Post Quarterly #1 To Command Post Quarterly List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1993 by Greg Novak. 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