U.S. Army Letter to Medrano on Request for Reconsideration, May 1947 - Batangas History, Culture and Folklore

The Fil-American Irregular Troops (FAIT) was a large guerrilla organization that operated in Luzon during the Japanese occupation during World War II up to the liberation of the Philippines. The organization was founded by the retired American Army officer Hugh Straughn and had units in many localities in Luzon, including Batangas. The GHQ Batangas Force, purportedly founded by one Jorge Espina, who was subsequently killed by the Japanese, was one of the units who sought recognition as an element of the Philippine Army in the service of the United States Armed Forces. In this document¹, the United States Army responded to one I. R. Medrano, supposedly the commanding officer of the GHQ Batangas Force FAIT, on the latter’s request for reconsideration.

HEADQUARTERS
PHILIPPINES-RYUKYUS COMMAND
OFFICE OF THE COMMANDING GENERAL

GSCPU 091 PI

APO 707 7 MAY 1947

Lieutenant I. R. Medrano
Headquarters, Military Police Command (AP)
B B B Manila North Road
Philippines

Dear Lieutenant Medrano:

This will acknowledge receipt of your letter, dated 24 April 1947, in which you request reconsideration of the unfavorable decision rendered by this headquarters on 3 March 1947 with regard to the recognition of the General Headquarters, Batangas Force, FAIT.

It is the desire of this headquarters to avoid all appearance of arbitrary decisions in the case of claimant guerrilla units. Your request for reconsideration is, therefore, accepted. It must be emphasized, however, that it would be extremely helpful if you were to forward as quickly as possible such additional documentary evidence as has not been submitted previously and which, you feel, reflects favorably upon your claim. Such additional data should be original documents, or photostatic copies of the original documents, or true copies of the original documents, certified by United States Army officers of field grade on duty with the Guerrilla Affairs Division, G-3 Section, of this headquarters.

Your request for reconsideration will be placed on file in this headquarters to await appropriate action at the earliest practicable time. However, a considerable delay is to be expected before a final decision can be reached on your organization since many claimant guerrilla units remain to be investigated initially and review of rejected units must necessarily follow them.

The additional evidence submitted with your letter of 24 April 1947 will be placed in the file of your unit to await proper evaluation of such time as the unit is restudied.

Sincerely,
[Name of signatory not provided.]

Col Gerald F Lillard:

Basic, ltr fr Lt I R Medrano to CG, PHILRYCOM, DTD 24 April 1947. “Request for Reconsideration,” requesting reconsideration of the General Headquarters, Batangas Force, FAIT.

1^st Lt George E Kemper

Concur: Lt Col S J Palos, Chief, Unit Branch

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Notes and references:

¹ “GHQ, Batangas Force, FAIT,” File No. 110-3, downloaded from PVAO.

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