History of the Lipa Guerrilla Headquarters Combat Team, Rillo-Neri Unit Part II
PART II
PART I | PART II
[TRANSCRIPTION]
The Rillo-Neri Unit was a guerrilla organization that was allegedly formed in the town of Balayan, and again allegedly by the authority coming from Col. Hugh Straughn, founder of the Fil-American Irregular Troops. It was supposed to have conducted intelligence work, kept peace and order and helped in the evacuation of the citizens of Balayan, Lemery and Tuy. Its combat team was also said to have participated in combat during the liberation of Batangas. While this guerrilla group failed to obtain full recognition from the United States Army, 130 of its members were recognized as a combat team and another 400 gained recognition with another guerrilla outfit, the Blue Eagle Brigade. In this document1 is contained a brief history of the Lipa Guerrilla Headquarters Combat Team, as the Rillo-Neri Unit Combat Team was renamed during the liberation period. This component of the larger Rillo-Neri Unit, unlike its mother organization, obtained official recognition from the United States Army.
[p. 8]
HEADQUARTERS GUERRILLA FORCES
Tagaytay City
Col Rillo –
Your intelligence report of Feb 3 and 4 is very good. It verifies and gives us valuable information that we badly needed. Both Maj Vanderpool and I appreciate it much. Good work like that will bring sure victory so much sooner.
Maj Vanderpool awaits word on what rice you can sell to us (₱7.30) per sack, too. Send your answer to me at Guerrilla Hq.
Your courier tells me they captured a Jap saber you now have that may have a family seal and unit identity on it. Could I see that saber for intelligence information? It may give me good information on what troops are left still fighting us.
Keep up the good work and intelligence reports.
T/ CAPT C SCHOMMER
Hq. RILLO-NERI UNIT
Fil-American Irregular Troops
Southwest Pacific Area
|
Subject To |
: Report of Enemy Casualties
Guerrilla Hq, Nasugbu
|
|
Japs Killed 11 3 3 1 (prisoner) 1 9 8 3 1 5 4 2 16 9 1 _______________ 77 Total Killed up top 28 Feb 45 |
Date 31 Jan 45 2 Feb 45 3 Feb 45 3 Feb 45 4 Feb 45 7 Feb 45 7 Feb 45 7 Feb 45 12 Feb 45 13 Feb 45 26 Feb 45 27 Feb 45 28 Feb 45 28 Feb 45 |
Place Himalas Shore, Balayan Dao, Tuy Taktak, Balayan Taktak, Balayan Magabe, Balayan Balocbaloc, Balayan Sampaga, Balayan Kaybunga, Balayan Baoc, Balayan Balocbaloc, Balayan Pook, Balayan Pitogo, Tuy Dao, Balayan Makukak, Balayan Lukban, Balayan |
t/ S. B. RILLO
[p. 9]
HEADQUARTERS GUERRILLA FORCES
Tagaytay City
MEMO
TO: All Guerrilla Units
1. Purpose: The purpose of this memorandum is to prescribe operation of guerrilla troops within the 11th A/B Division zone of responsibility.
2. Composition: Only those guerrilla units authorized and inducted by this headquarters (through Maj Vanderpool) will be recognized.
3. Organization: Authorized guerrillas will be organized into companies with numerical or alphabetical designations, and to be administered in accordance with pertinent United States Army regulations.
t/ ALEX WILLIAMS JR
CHIEF OF STAFF
Rainbow Regiment – the Staff and one Combat Company
Rillo-Neri Unit – the Staff and one Combat Company
Gagalac Unit – the Staff and one Combat Company
Licopa Unit – the Staff and one Combat Company
2. It was further agreed in the conference that all the rosters of the Combat Companies were begun on or before 3 March 1945. Together with the roster of the Combat Companies, the Unit Commanders were required to submit an alphabetical roster of troops for those members who were disbanded so that every compensation or remuneration the US Government would give in the future, those papers would be used for adjustments.
3. In compliance with this order, the Rillo-Neri formed a Combat Company of 144 EM and 6 Officers and on 2 March 45, the Roster of Troops of [the] Combat Company was submitted to Maj Vanderpool at Tagaytay City together with the disbanded Roster of Troops of 773 EM and Officers.
4. With the Roster of Troops, Col Rillo wrote his letter of regret that only a Combat Company could be of service to the United States Army. In
[p. 10]
reply to this letter of Col Rillo, Capt C Scommer wrote Col Rillo a very nice letter written in his own handwriting, to read:
HEADQUARTERS GUERRILLA FORCES
Tagaytay City
MEMO
TO: Rillo-Neri Guerrilla Forces
1. I wish to express my gratitude to the RILLO-NERI UNIT for the memorial work they, and all guerrilla units of Batangas and Cavite Provinces, have done.
2. I salute you as patriotic civilians turned guerrillas to protect your homes, and work side by side with the U.S. in eliminating the Japs. I gave you my assurance that your vigil yet remains only a matter of hours, before you can again stroll in your fields and cities. Other sectors of your province yet await the joyous time. We are turning our attention now to their needs.
3. As such, the need you had of a strong guerrilla organization to protect your homes now ceases to be a dire necessity. May the Philippine people ever know the sacrifices you have made in time of need, and may God grant you peace for the rest of your lives.
t/ C. SCOMMER
Commanding
SECOND PERIOD
ACTIVITIES UNDER THE 158th REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM APO 70, USA
HEADQUARTERS
158th REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM
APO 70
TO: Commanding Officer, 187th R/C Regiment, 11th A/B APO 463
[p. 11]
t/ ROBERT GLIEDEN
Major, Infantry
1 158th RCT File
(Compliance) Following this order, Maj Ilagan submitted a copy of the Roster of Troops submitted to the 11th A/B Division on 2 March 45. Capt Gregorio Arcalas, Executive Officer of the Combat Company, was sent to contact Maj Glieden on 6 March 45.
I. HIMALAS GARRISON, Balayan, Batangas OPERATION: on 6 March 45, the 158th RCT came to Balayan and attacked the HIMALAS GARRISON. Maj. Ilagan, with his Combat Company, advanced with Company A under Capt Dwight. The attack of the garrison was under the command of COL. SHOEMAKER. Attack commenced at 0800 6 March 45 and the garrison was occupied 2330 6 March 45. 79 Japs killed and 1 prisoner taken.
II. SAN PIRO GARRISON, Balayan, Batangas OPERATION: After the fall of the Himalas Garrison, the Balayan town proper was liberated. But the big gun at the San Piro Garrison always endangered the people of Balayan. With one American platoon for the purpose of artillery support, the capture of the San Piro Garrison was done by the Guerrilla Combat Teams of the area of Balayan. The units which participated in the capture of the San Piro Garrison were: Hunters ROTC, under Maj Sebial and Maj Kasilao; Rainbow Regt under Col Cabarrubias and the Rillo-Neri Unit under the command of Maj H Ilagan. The attack commenced at 0012 10 March 45 and the San Piro Garrison was taken by 1330 11 March 45. Mopping up the area was over at 1900 11 March 45. The advancing party was spearheaded by the Rillo-Neri Unit as the pointer; the main body of attack under Maj Sebial Hunters ROTC; the right flank was taken care [of] by [the] Rainbow Regiment; and the rear guard, 2 American platoons. Over [at] the other side of the mountain was another ROTC company under Maj Kasilao. Japanese killed: 96. Sgt. Arcadio Avena, wounded in action.
III. MT ITEAM GARRISON, Calatagan, Batangas OPERATION: At 0600 12 Mar 45, the Rillo-Neri Unit, with Maj Ilagan, together with the Hunters ROTC under Maj Sebial, crossed the mountains from San Piro to Mt Item, Calatagan. Mt Item was occupied at 1400 12 Mar 45. Japs killed, 16. The two companies continued to liberate Calatagan, Batangas were the American company and the guerrillas met at Calatagan Proper. Calatagan, Batangas liberated on 13 March 45.
IV. PATROL AND MOPPING [UP] OPERATIONS: After the liberation of the towns of Calatagan, Balayan, Lian, Tuy and Calaca of the province of Batangas, the Rillo-Neri Combat Company was assigned to mop up the towns of Balayan and Calaca, Batangas. In two different patrols of the Combat Company, 19 Japs were killed, to wit: 11 Japs killed in Dao, Balayan on 14 Mar 45 and 8 Japs killed at Matipok, Calaca on 15 March 45.
THIRD PERIOD>
ACTIVITIES WITH THE 11th A/B DIVISION, UNDER LT MCDONALD, Hq at TAAL, BATANGAS
[p. 12]
San Jose Proper, 36 Japs were killed on 18 March 45.
On 26 March 45, Maj C Schommer, CO of the Operations at Cuenca, Batangas, ordered Maj Ilagan, Rillo-Neri Unit, to proceed to the Guerrilla Hq of the 11th A/B Div at Taal, Batangas and report to 1st Lt McDonald, CAC, AA USA, Guerrilla Coordinator.
II. RILLO-NERI UNIT OFFICIALLY DESIGNATED AS LIPA GUERRILLA HQ COMBAT TEAM: On 6 May 45, Lt McDonald informed Capt Ilagan (Maj Ilagan rank was reduced to Capt to follow T/O & E of US Army) that Gen Swing desired to have 60 guards for his Hq at Lipa, Batangas. Lt McDonald informed me that he had suggested the Rillo-Neri Unit Combat Team for the job. Thus, on 9 May 45, Lt McDonald received words from the higher Hq from Lipa, Batangas, the Rillo-Neri Unit Combat Team, was officially designated as the LIPA GUERRILLA HQ COMBAT TEAM, to wit:
GUERRILLA HEADQUARTERS
11th Airborne Division
Taal
|
Subject To |
: Official Unit Designation : Capt Horacio L Ilagan
CO Rillo-Neri Unit
|
1. In accordance with instructions from higher Hq, the Rillo-Neri Unit is officially designated as the Lipa Guerrilla Hq Combat Team, effective 1 April 1945.
2. See footnote of the letter of Maj Jack P Barton dated 8 May 1945.
s/ A P MCDONALD
GUERRILLA COORDINATORs
III. ASSIGNED SECTOR OF RESPONSIBILITY – Operating Memo No 28: Two operating memos were issued by the 11th A/B Div assigning Sector of Responsibility for each attached unit to the 11th A/B Div. Memo No 28 assigned sectors of responsibilities for the different units. In my sector of responsibility, the Rillo-Neri Unit killed 42 Japs in its different patrol operations. After clearing the area, the unit was assigned to help the other units mop their respective areas.
IV. MATIPOK (86.7-169.8) Calaca, Batangas OPERATIONS: On 16 April 45, 30 EM of the Rainbow Regt, under Lt V Daguigan; 30 EM of Co “C” Hunters ROTC; 42 EM of the Batangas Fil-Americans under Lt Real; and 50 EM of the Lipa Guerrilla Hq Combat Team, under Lt Baylosis, conducted the Matipok Operation in Calaca, Batangas under the overall command of Capt Ilagan. These different guerrilla units started from different starting points from the town proper passing thru different barrios and merging at one point at Mt Matipok. While the operation did not encounter much enemy opposition, yet the operation was successful for it was the cause for the return of the evacuated farmers to their fields. Operation was for 3 days from 16 to 19 March 45. 11 Japs encountered and killed.
V. BARRAGON (87.4-170.1) Lemery, Batangas OPERATIONS: After 4 days of patrolling with 30 EM, Capt Horacio L Ilagan cornered about 50 Japs on a hill-mole of Baragon, Lemery. There was only one lone trail two feet wide
[p. 13]
to the position of the Japs. The trail was covered by two Jap 30 cal machine guns. After trying the enemy for e [a few?] minutes, Capt Ilagan decided to withdraw 400 yards from the enemy to a good place protected by natural terrain. Capt Ilagan could not penetrate the enemy line, but the Japs, too, could not go out [of] their position. So, Capt Ilagan asked for reinforcement and artillery support. At about 1660, the Reconnaissance Patrol of the 188th Reg A/B Div was directed by cab to where Capt Ilagan was. This American unit had already received 3 false alarms during the day, so that the American Lt and 1st Sgt refused to believe that there were Japs in the area pointed by Capt Ilagan. In spite of Capt Ilagans advice to attack the Japs by that time, the operation would [be] overtaken by darkness, the American Lt ordered the attack. Covered by trench mortar fire and one machine gun, the Americans and 30 EM of Capt Ilagan attacked the Japs’ position. [The] Japs held their fire until we were 20 yards from their position. They opened fire and Sgt Besas, the American 1st Sgt, were terribly wounded. The American Lt was shot in the left arm. Darkness overtook operations. The Cab ordered Capt Ilagan to go back to his former position and to watch the Japs for the whole night. On 21 May 45, the 188th Bat 11th A/B Division under Maj Alexander and the Rillo-Neri Unit of 5 EM under Capt Ilagan, attacked and got every Jap. Japs killed and counted, 39. [The] Operation covered up 4 days from 18 to 21 May 45.
VI. CACAWAN TO CAHEL (85.7-169.4) Calaca, Batangas OPERATIONS: Patrol reports sent by the guerrilla units stationed at Calaca, Batangas verified the reports of the civilians that the Japs [had] driven from Matipok Operation went to contact the Japs covering the area around Cacawan and Cahel, Calaca, covering an area of about a square mile. Lt McDonald sent Capt Ilagan with 30 EM to check the report. After an encounter with the enemy for about 10 mins, Capt Ilagan decided to retreat because the enemy was now in numbers, in a better position, and with better and bigger arms. Lt Conlon, Unit Training Officer, refused to believe Capt Ilagan’s reports. So, on 3 June 45, Capt Ilagan and Lt Conlon with 3 EM, decided to try once again the enemy. This time, Lt Conlon agreed with Capt Ilagan.
On 17 June 45, the entire 188th Bat 11th A/B Div under Maj Alexander together with 80 EM and officers under Capt Ilagan, decided to attack the Japs. The Jap position was shelled for two continuous nights and days with 105 cal guns before the 188th and the Lipa Guerrilla Hq Combat Team could get [to] the Japs’ position. Japs killed and counted 108 with several more which could not be determined because the bodies were scattered into pieces.
VII. SUMMARY OF JAPANESE KILLED AFTER AMERICAN LANDING:
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Japs Killed 75 79 96 16 11 8 36 42 11 39 108 ___ 521 ___ Killed |
Prisoners 1 1 ___ 2 ___ Prisoners |
Date 20 Jan to 28 Feb 7 Mar 10 Mar to 11 Mar 12 Mar 14 Mar 15 Mar 18 Mar 1 to 15 April 16 to 17 April 18 to 21 May 17 to 20 June 45 TOTAL |
Place and Mission Tuy and Balayan - Patrols Himalas, Balayan - Combat San Piro, Balayan - Combat Mt Item, Calatagan - Combat Dao, Balayan - Patrol Matipok, Calaca - Patrol San Jose, Batangas - Combat Assigned Sector Memo 28 - Patrols Matipok, Calaca - Combat Baragon, Lemery - Combat Cacawan to Cahel, Calaca - Combat |
CAPT – INF
COMMANDING
ATTACHED:
ROSTER OF TROOPS
CASUALTIES REPORT
SUPPORTING PAPERS
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