Record of Activities of the Vulcan Regiment
[TRANSCRIPTION]
RECORD OF ACTIVITIES, SUPPLEMENT TO
I. Prior to 6 March 1945 (arrival of 158th RCT in Taal).
II. In support and by direction of the 158th RCT and the 11th Airborne.
Notes and references:
1 “Vulcan Infantry Regiment,” File No. 213-12, online at the United States National Archives.
The Vulcan Infantry Regiment was purportedly a guerrilla organization under the command of one Major Amando D. Ylagan and was supposed to have operated in the Taal-Lemery area. Many of the alleged documented activities of this unit overlapped with those claimed by other guerrilla outfits operating in the said area. In this page is a transcription1 of the record of activities of the Vulcan Regiment as submitted to the United States Army in the latter’s attempt to obtain official recognition.
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1. The (a) officers and men listed in the attached supplementary roster, (b) elements of the Canluran Battalion, Blue Eagle Combat Regiment (recognized 6 March 1945), (c) some of the officers and men of the Blue Eagle Brigade (recognized 9 January 1945) were originally components of the VULCAN INFANTRY REGIMENT. Inasmuch as the VULCAN INFANTRY REGIMENT was incorporated in its entirety to the Blue Eagle Command on 28 December 1944, and renamed Canluran Infantry Regiment, so therefore, the activities of the Canluran Battalion, Blue Eagle Combat Regiment and the Battalion in the 1st Regiment, Blue Eagle Brigade (particularly the Battalion under Lt. Colonel Jose Catibog) which have been duly submitted with their requests for recognition, are in actuality the activities of the VULCAN INFANTRY REGIMENT (later known as the Canluran Infantry Regiment). Said record of activities are now on file at AFWESPAC Headquarters.
2. For the same reason that the men in the attached supplementary roster were inadvertently omitted in the rosters submitted by the Blue Eagle Combat Regiment and the Blue Eagle Brigade, the following activities were not reported. The following activities, which to the best of our knowledge have not been previously reported, are hereby submitted as a supplement to the records of activities mentioned above:
(1) From the time the American forces in Leyte landed, the officers and men of the VULCAN INFANTRY REGIMENT were ordered to restrict their movements and maintain close and constant contact with their respective commands so that they may be readily available in any eventuality. Each company periodically assembled at their respective CP’s for inspection and disciplinary duties. Officers and key men were likewise periodically assembled and instructed at the Regimental CP.
(2) On 14 February 1945, Pfc Emiliano Orlanes, Pfc Ben Barrion and Pvt Simplicio Tenorio were detailed to conceal confidential papers at the Regimental Headquarters at barrio Munlawin, Taal, Batangas in anticipation of a Jap “zoning.” But, instead of mere zoning, the Japs burned all the houses of the said barrio and all the adjacent barrios and massacred innocent people including helpless women and children therein. The three men detailed in said barrio Munlawin were all killed.
(3) On 17 February 1945, Pvt Pantaleon Ilagan, while on his way from the Regimental CP, met some Japs who bayoneted him and left him for dead. He survived but is now partially disabled.
(4) On 18 February 1945, Sgt Fernando Adriano was, on account of his familiarity with the place, dispatched to the vicinity of Mt. Macolod on [an] intelligence mission. He was apprehended and killed.
(1) Upon arrival of the 158th RCT in Taal, guides were furnished to the reconnaissance patrols going to San Luis, Alitagtag, Cuenca and other Jap fortifications.
(2) On 6 March 1945, Cpl Cesar Benitez was wounded by shrapnel while performing his duties as guide to Lt. Shirkey and some American soldiers. Lt. Shirkey died as a result of the wound he received from the same explosion which was fired from Durungao, San Luis, Batangas.
(3) On 1 April 1945, a party of twenty-five men under Captain Martin F. Malaluan was dispatched to Sulo, Mabini for reconnaissance. Upon arrival thereat, the patrol, in collaboration with the civilians, cleared up places
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infested with Japs. Two Japs, both officers, were killed and seven (7) rifles, one (1) revolver, two (2) sabers, four (4) boxes of ammunition and various equipment were captured. Barrios Sulo, Bagalangit, Mainit and Malunggay were patrolled and subsequently declared clear.
(4) Lt. Juan Zagala and Sgt. Honesto Alvarez were attached as guides to Maj. Day’s headquarters from 6 March up to 28 April 1945.
(5) Twelve (12) Filipinos, believed to be spies, were apprehended by the 1st Bn. HQ Troops and turned over to Agent Anthony Greybos of the CIC Detachment stationed at Taal attached to [the] 158th RCT.
(6) Due to the insufficient number of arms, practically men of the regiment served on rotation basis with the regimental HQ, 1st Bn. HQ Troops and the Detachment of the 2nd Bn at Lemery under Maj. Ireneo Cabrera.
(7) Since the recognition of the Canluran Battalion, Blue Eagle Combat Regiment, officers and enlisted men who were not included in this initial and token recognition, have maintained contact with the Regimental Staff of the original Vulcan Regiment, persistently hoping that their services shall not pass unnoticed and unrecognized.
Notes and references:
1 “Vulcan Infantry Regiment,” File No. 213-12, online at the United States National Archives.