Luansing's Memo Requesting for Recognition of Two Companies, November 1945 - Batangas History, Culture and Folklore

The Luansing Unit Fil-American Batangas Guerrillas were commanded by one Galicano Luansing and known loosely as the “Luansing’s Unit.” This guerrilla outfit was at one time or the other during the Japanese occupation affiliated with the Fil-American Irregular Troops and also the President Quezon’s Own Guerrillas. By the time the Allied forces return to the Philippines, it was operating independently. This unit assisted the United States Army in campaigns against the Japanese forces from Balayan, Batangas Town, Lipa, Rosario and San Juan. In this document¹, Luansing wrote a memorandum to the Chief of the Guerrilla Affairs Section of the United States Army formally requesting for recognition of two companies of his outfit. [p. 1]

LUANSING’S UNIT
Fil-American Batangas Guerrillas

15 November ’45

SUBJECT TO

: RECOGNITION, Request for : Chief, Guerrilla Affairs Section    AFPAG   APO   501

1. Per verbal instruction received from Major Otti, Guerrilla Affairs Section, AFPAC, I submit herewith roster for two (2) companies of this unit for recognition of services rendered from the date of induction up to 27 March 45.

2. Recognition is requested for the abovementioned period only, inasmuch as the date of our attachment with the various units of the 11^th A/B Division under Gen Swing, one (1) company of men only served. Such had been the case as only that number of men were required by the Guerrilla Coordinator Major William Schloth, although in our early attachment with such Guerrilla Coordinators as Major Jay D. Vanderpool and Maj. C. N. Schoommer, every service rendered was for/by the whole organization.

3. When this Unit cooperated in the capture of the town of Batangas and immediate vicinity of 11 March 45, every man was utilized and served in various capacities. While one (1) company was stationed at Batangas, Batangas, another company was sent to Rosario, another to Ibaan and another to San Jose, all municipalities in the province of Batangas. All these men sent to the abovementioned areas of responsibility at the time, occupied them prior to the penetration of any American Unit. These were all carried out with the permission of Major Boysie E. Day, Commanding Officer of the 2^nd Bn. 158^th RCT, the first unit to which we were attached.

4. Upon our attachment with the 11^th A/B Division, however, these men were inactivated and only one (1) company continually served and consequently got recognized, in spite of the willingness and great desire of the less fortunate ones to continue rendering services.

5. In the light of the above-detailed facts relative to the services rendered prior to the landing of the “LIBERATION FORCE,” I sincerely hope that their services will not be overlooked but, instead, be aptly remembered.

[Sgd.] GALICANO M. LUANSING JR. Lt. Col
Commanding Officer

Inclosures:

Letter of Commendationof Maj. Boysie E. Day
Roster

Notes and references:

¹ “Luansing Unit, Fil-American Batangas Guerrillas,” File No. 63, downloaded from PVAO.