Memo on Capture of Q-Boat and Supply of Labor Battalions, April 1945

The Fil-American Irregular Troops or FAIT was a guerrilla organization founded in 1942 by the retired American Colonel Hugh Straughn, who would unfortunately be captured and executed by the Japanese. The FAIT had many units operating in Batangas, including Nasugbu, where its 1^st Regiment would be attached to the 11^th Airborne Division of the United States Army after the Nasugbu Landing of 31 January 1945. In this April 1945 document¹, Lt. Colonel Joseph M. Pensack of the 11^th Airborne Division certified the capture and turnover of a Japanese Q-Boat to the 11^th Airborne as well as the supply of the labor battalion by the Nasugbu FAIT.

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11^th AIRBORNE DIVISION
DIVSCOM U. S. A.

April 20, 1945

SUBJECT TO

: Guerrilla Cooperation, Nasugbu Fil-Americans : WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

1. This is to certify that Captain Tomas Fernandez, commander of “F” Company, 2^nd Bn., First Regiment, Nasugbu Fil-American Irregular Troops, and his men, captured the Japanese Q-Boat IV while on patrol duty along Punta Cawayan beach on or about 25 February 1945.

2. That the said Q-Boat was delivered on the same date to Captain Keneth M. Mackaig, BSR, Co. C, of the landing barges who was then stationed in Wawa, Nasugbu, Batangas.

3. I hereby further certify that Captain Tomas Fernandez supplied the labor battalions which worked in the loading and unloading of war materials and supplies in Nasugbu, with fish.

(Sgd.) JOSEPH M. PENSACK
Lt. Col. CWS
Commanding

I, Lt. Col. Juan M. Villegas, Commander of the 1^st Infantry Regiment of the Nasugbu Fil-American Troops, after having been sworn in accordance with law, depose and say that the above is a true and exact copy of the original therof.

[p. 2]

Note:

Aside from the statement of Roxas Y Cia regarding the support of the Nasugbu Fil-American Irregular Troops, the organization had another source of support, that is, from Major Jose Samaniego, Regimental S-4. Copy of his statement could not be filed with the papers herein for the reason that the same was misplaced. Reference may, however, be made to the papers that this organization has filed with the Secretary of the National Defense, Malacañan Palace, regarding the said statement of Major Samaniego of the material support that he gave to the organization.

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Notes and references:
¹ “1^st Regiment, Nasugbu, Fait” File No. 110-52, downloaded from PVAO.

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