Final US Army Letter on Non-Recognition of 1st Batangas Regt, November 1947

The Fil-American Irregular Troops or FAIT was organized by the retired US Army officer Hugh Straughn after the surrender of American forces to the Japanese in 1942. The FAIT would become a large organization with various units operating in many parts of Luzon, including Batangas. The 1^st Batangas Regiment was one of these, supposedly founded by one Major Gutierrez in 1943. Upon the major’s capture by the Japanese, command of the unit was assumed by one Maximo Bool of Pallocan in the then-town of Batangas. In this document¹, one Thomas J. Brown of the Adjutant General’s Office of the Philippines-Ryukyus Command, wrote to Bool to inform the latter of the final non-recognitin of the 1^st Batangas Regiment, FAIT.

[p. 1]

HEADQUARTERS
PHILIPPINES-RYUKYUS COMMAND
OFFICE OF THE COMMANDING GENERAL

GSCPU 091 PI / 2358

APO 707
25 NOV 1947

Mr. Maximo C. Bool
c/o Florentino de la Peña
1113 Vergara, Quiapo
Manila

Dear Mr. Bool:

The Commanding General has directed that you be informed that the 1^st Batangas Regiment, Fil-American Irregular Troops, purporting to be a guerrilla organization under your control, previously not favorably considered for recognition, has been reconsidered at your request.

A thorough review of the supporting papers of this organization, and a detailed examination of the additional evidence submitted with your request for reconsideration, together with a careful analysis of all other available information of the activities of your unit from its inception, scrutinized in relation to the overall resistance movement, has again failed to reveal sufficient material to satisfy the requirements for recognition of your unit as an element of the Philippine Army in the service of the Armed Forces of the United States. The 1^st Batangas Regiment, Fil-American Irregular Troops, unit is therefore not favorably reconsidered for modification of the original decision of non-recognition.

This letter constitutes the final determination of and action upon the claim for recognition of the 1^st Batangas Regiment, Fil-American Irregular Troops, guerrilla unit.

Sincerely,

THOMAS J. BROWN
CWO, USA
ASST ADJ GEN

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Lt Col Wallace M. Hanes:

1. The 1^st Batangas Regiment, Fil-American Irregular Troops, under the command of Maximo Bool, and consisting of 934 men, has not been favorably reconsidered for recognition. No members have been previously recognized.

2. This unit does not fulfill the requierements of the five (5) basic points for recognition. See attached reconsideration report.

3. No casualty report has been submitted. It is recommended that individual casualty cases be unfavorably considered.

4. It is recommended that individual non-casualty cases be unfavorably considered.

5. This report constitutes final action by this Headquarters on the request for recognition of the 1^st Batangas Regiment, Fil-American Irregular Troops

[Sgd.] 2^nd Lt Bruce Bromley Jr.

Concur: Capt S C Buchanan, Chief, Reconsideration Sec

Concur: Maj R V Sloan, Chief, Individual Branch

Concur: Capt E R Curtis, Chief, Unit Branch

Notes and references:
¹ “First Batangas Regt, FAIT,” File No. 110-60, online at the United States National Archives.