‘The Allied optimism was warranted, given that British-Belgian forces would win the Battle of Bure…’
GOING soon: The Platinum Anniversary of the Lingayen Landing.
Given the successful Allied landing on Mindoro and the liberation of Capiz in December 1944, the Nipponese high official was too heady in his assessment but correct in identifying Rizal’s Archipelago as the critical zone: “At the opening of the 86th Diet, His Majesty the Emperor presented us with a message in which he stated that the war had entered into a critical stage and that now was the time in which the 100,000,000 people of the Empire must truly and wholeheartedly devote their entire efforts to the task of crushing the enemy…At present, our soldiers at the front, who wholeheartedly bear the responsibility of the fortunes of our nation on their shoulders, are fighting courageously to annihilate the foe. Particularly on the Philippine fronts, which will decide the trend of the war, our Army and Navy Special Attack Units, in carrying out their assaults day and night and giving their precious lives for their Fatherland…” [Premier Kuniashi Koiso, New Year’s Address, January 1, 1945]
“Koiso ate his words yesterday or perhaps took a bigger mouthful. In a New Year’s Day radiocast he proclaimed that Leyte was no longer decisive.” [Leon Ma. Guerrero, Philippine embassy in Tokyo under Jorge B. Vargas, 02 January 1945]
Meanwhile, in the Philippines itself, particularly in the liberated areas, the Fighting Filipinos were truly hopeful, knowing that the momentum is on the side of the United Nations: “I have just eaten a hearty breakfast of thick rice soup with broiled fresh fish—the first really fresh fish I have tasted for the last three years. Despite delays in the trip our crowd remains jolly and cheerful … The war situation in Europe is in a critical stage—the German counter-offensive is still raging, though contained … The Philippine war situation is moving closely to suit us.” [Tomas Confesor, January 1 and 4, 1945]
The Allied optimism was warranted, given that British-Belgian forces would win the Battle of Bure (03-05 January 1945), the British would secure Akyab Island (Burma, January 4, 1945), and the American Office of Strategic Services would conduct its first mission of Operation Cornflakes on January 5, 1945, among others: “I have reasons to believe that 1945 will bring slow but constant progress. In particular, next spring will see the return to our ports of a considerable number of ships which will be loaded more exclusively with troops, armaments, ammunition and military food supplies.” [General Charles De Gaulle, Leader of the Provisional French Government, “The Voice of France Will Be Heard: A Power In Victory, World Organization Or Peace,” New Year’s Address to the French People, Paris, January 1, 1945]
“As a result of the combined effort of the Allied forces, great military victories were achieved in 1944: the liberation of France, Belgium, Greece and parts of the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia, the surrender of Rumania and Bulgaria, the invasion of Germany itself and Hungary, the steady march through the Pacific islands to the Philippines, Guam and Saipan and the beginnings of a mighty air offensive against the Japanese islands…Japanese forces in the Philippines have been cut in two. There is still hard fighting ahead-costly fighting. But the liberation of the Philippines will mean that Japan has been largely cut off from her conquest in the East Indies.” [President Roosevelt, Message To Congress On The State Of The Nation, January 6, 1945]
The big play would, of course, be the Amphibious Landings in Pangasinan (Luzon): “On schedule, at 0930, the first wave of LVT’s hit the Lingayen beaches.” [https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/a/amphibious-landings-lingayen-gulf.html]
“I Corps under Maj. Gen. Innis P. Swift, consisting of the 6th and 43rd Divisions, landed on the left flank near San Fabian. XIV Corps, under Maj. Gen. Oscar W. Griswold and made up of the 37th and 40th Divisions, went ashore on the right, in front of Lingayen and Dagupan towns. The scheduled landing hour was 0930 and by 0940 all landing waves had hit the beach. Initial opposition on the beaches was limited to mortar fire from the hills in the San Fabian region which damaged some of the landing craft. By late afternoon, the four division commanders had assumed control ashore.” [Chapter IX: “The Mindoro And Luzon Operations,” Reports of General MacArthur: The Campaigns Of Macarthur In The Pacific. Volume I. CMH Pub 13-3]
The effects of the Lingayen Landing were palpable: “We are sure our troops have landed up north. Heavy bombing of Port Area and of the Maraquina Valley. Large fires and explosions.” [Carl E. Rice, internee, University of Santo Tomas, January 9, 1945] “In Tacloban. General MacArthur landed at 10:30 a.m. in Lingayen.” [Basilio J. Valdes, M.D., January 9, 1945 — Tuesday] “Forty seven of our B-24’s came over this morning. They done their bombing and as far as we know, none of them was hit. So glad. Earlier in the morning our dive bombers were operating over near Caloocan…Another bunch did some bombing way out in San Francisco del Monte. Still later 15 of our planes came in from the direction of the Bay. They flew very low over Grace Park and San Francisco del Monte barely missing the tree tops. When they reached Marikina Valley they gave them the works. The Jap anti-aircraft batteries cut loose but to no avail. They were caught napping with another Yankee trick.” [Raymond Leyerly, Santo Tomas, January 9, 1945] “Eichelberger promised action on serial targets for us and I advised that Surigao and Agusan are primary targets…Peralta reports he has only 3500 Nips on Panay. He will be lucky fortunate again and will earn credit as the first guerrilla chief to clear his island. The Gods have smiled on him.” [Wendell Fertig, Mindanao, January 5 and 8, 1945] “By 10 January, the Japanese navy and army air forces in the Philippines had been essentially eliminated, but a few kamikaze still got through. At 0711 on 10 January, the destroyer escort LeRay Wilson (DE-414) shot down a twin-engine bomber.” [Samuel J. Cox, Director NHHC, “H-040-3: The Invasion of Luzon—Battle of Lingayen Gulf, January 1945”]
Coming soon: “The Chinese People’s Liberation Army in 2025” [Roy Kamphausen and David Lai, US Army War College Press]
