Memo from Major Vanderpool to the Laurel's Regiment, December 1944
The Laurel Regiment, 45th Division, I Corps of the President Quezon’s Own Guerrillas (PQOG), started as an independently organized unit in Talisay, Alitagtag and Taal under the command of one Amando Laurel of the Municipality of Talisay. Later in the war, this guerrilla unit would become affiliated with the PQOG, a large guerrilla organization that operated in Luzon during the Japanese occupation up to the liberation of Batangas. In this document1, Guerrilla Liaison Officer Major Jay D. Vanderpool from the AFWESPAC office of General Douglas MacArthur wrote to Laurel’s Regiment in his efforts to coordinate all guerrilla activities in parts of southern Luzon.
UNITED STATES PHILIPPINE ISLANDS FORCES
THE HUNTERS or ROTC GUERRILLAS
GENERAL HEADQUARTERS
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SUBJECT TO |
: Letter of Instruction : The C.O., Talisay Guerrilla Unit
(Through the C.O. 49th Regt. Hunters)
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1. This letter will serve to notify all known loyal Guerrilla organizations that the undersigned has arrived in the western part of Central Luzon from General Headquarters, Southwest Pacific Area for the purpose of coordinating the activities of loyal guerrilla organizations and acting as a liaison officer between the loyal Filipino people and General MacArthur.
2. The undersigned desires to establish contact with leaders of all Guerrilla units and with the civilian organizations desiring to cooperate with the incoming forces of General MacArthur.
3. It is desired that all commanders of loyal units receiving this communication accomplish the questionnaire, attached, and forward the same to the Headquarters of the Hunters or ROTC Guerrillas. The undersigned has established a temporary headquarters at this location. This information is necessary in order that an estimate may be made of the capabilities of the various loyal organizations. The information contained in the report will be consolidated and forwarded to the GHQ, SWPA.
4. The undersigned desires to personally meet the leaders of the major organizations. A meeting is contemplated in the near future at a place to be designated. Unit commanders to attend will be notified as to the time and place by a liaison officer from Hunters’ Guerrillas.
Liaison Officer, GHQ, SWPA