S-E-C-R-E-T OrtiASSIFED HEADQUARTERS

503D REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM Office of the 8-3

APO 715

28 June 1945.

SUBJECT: Historical Report (Operations). Operation lA - NEGROS (Occidental).

TO : Commanding General, Eighth Army, APO 545.

MAPS : Negros 1:50,000, Negros 1:25 0 000, Negros 1:250,000.

MISSION: To seize and occupy NortherA NEGROS (Occidental); to destroy hostile forces and reestablish civial government.

The 503d Regimental Combat Team was alerted on 25 March 1945 for a probable jump mission vicinity Alicante Airfield, Negros Island, advance to the West and seize and secure Saravia (town), then advance rapidly to the South to effect a junction with the 185th Regimental Combat Team in the vicinity Imbang River Bridge (17.2-10.2)

Preparations began immediately, which included checking, replacing combat equipment and detailed planning for the movement and mission. Plans for the operation were com-pleted and Field Order #10 was distributed to the lower units 5 April 1945. Later in the day orders were received from Head-quarters, Eighth Army, cancelling the jump mission on the recommendation of the Commanding General, 40th Division to the effect that the target area was clear of enemy. Instead, orders were issued for an airborne movement to Panay Island with subse-quent waterborne movement to Negros Island for a mission to be designated by the Commanding General, 40th Division. Applying that portion of Field Order #10 as pertained to an airborne movement, the move of the Regimental Combat Team (less one bat-talion, reenforced) began on 6 April and was completed on 8 April with a landing at Pulupandan, Negros Island. The First Battalion, 503d Parachute Infantry, C Battery and elements of D Battery, 462d Parachute Field Artillery remained on Mindoro Island as Eighth Army reserve. The Regimental Combat Team then entrucked for motorized movement to assembly area as assigned to by Commanding General, 40th Infantry Division. Primary mission and zone of action was assigned to the Regimental Combat Team and issued on 8 April. (Operations overlay to accompany Field Order #17 1 dated 8 April 1945, Headquarters, 40th Infantry Division). The mission assigned to the Regimental Combat Team was to seize Division Objective within its zone, destroy all hostile forces encountered and protect the left (N) flank of the

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division. The Second Platoon, Company C, 716th Tank Battalion was attached to the Regimental Combat Team to assist in accom-plishing this mission. Leading elements of our assault forces crossed the initial point at 090800 April. Included in these elements were demolition sections to disarm the many mines (converted 100 and 250 pound air corps bombs) planted along our approach route. Our approach route followed a series of narrow parallel ridges that sloped upward to our objective. Contact with enemy was made at 091000 April and was never lost during our approach to the objective. Employing rifles, knee mortars, machine guns of all the familiar calibres, including converted air corps types, and occasional dual-purpose anti-aircraft guns, the enemy made his usual fanatical defense from innumerable mutually supporting caves, bunkers, and inter-communicatinz trenches. The terrain was ideally suited to this type of defense. Formerly cultivated fields afforded little cover or concealment of our movements and our up-hill attack afforded enemy observation points to observe our progress minutely. The pattern of our attack was to locate enemy strong-points, concentrate supporting artillery, tank, and mortar fire on them and then close with the enemy. Night Interdictory and harrassing fire by the artillery and mortars effectively prevented concentration of sizeable enemy forces for night attacks and the relatively few small attacks were effectively disrupted. Initially, though steady progress was made, it was slowed for several reasons. Lacking the First Battalion Combat Team protecting our left flank demanded troops that would otherwise have been employed in the assault or as reserves. This coupled with a rather wide front thinned our assault forces. However, on the 25th of April the First Battalion Combat Team joined the Regimental Combat Team and our advance accelerated. Coupled with the Impetus of fresh troops was the previously unobserved devestating effect the artillery was having on the enemy. Having nothing to combat this the enemy began retreating into the heavy rain forest and mountains to his rear, leaving only delaying forces. These were quickly overrun and the Regimental Combat Team reached Its initial objective 29 April. As the advance to the Initial objective had progressed, left flank patrols encountered in-creasing enemy activity to the North. On 30 April a division order included in its directive to continue along the original line of advance, and an order to send sufficient forces to the North to destroy any enemy encountered in the TYAP area. This latter mission was assigned to the First Battalion Combat Team and the Third Battalion Combat Team continued forward. The Second Battalion Combat Team remained in position to guard the rear and patrol laterally. The first battalion met some resistance in the TYAP area; however, the concentration of air-strikes, artillery, 4.2 chemical mortar fire coordinated with the ground attack forced the enemy to abandon his positions and scatter into the mountains. Intelligence information indicated

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the enemy to be withdrawing the bulk of his forces to the South away from the regimental combat team zone of action. Consequent-ly, on 11 May the 40th division issued orders relocating the regimental combat team (less one battalion), on the division right flank. The third battalion was attached to the 185th Regimental Combat Team and continued its advance on the division left flank. The new regimental combat team mission was to advance to the North and cut the enemy supply and evacuation route to the Southeast; thus containing the balance of the enemy forces in the PATOG HILL 4055 area which the 160th Regimental Combat Team and 185th Regimental Combat Team closed in from the North. Fighting up-hill through heavy rain forest, ravines and steep mountainous areas our forces, supported by aerial and artillery action, succeeded in their mission by emIlacing strong forces across the en's evacuation route on 26 May. Extensive combat patrolling from this position effectively broke up all organized resistance and forced , the remainder to flee deep into the mountains. (On 4 June all infantry elements of the 40th Division, inclUdink the 503d Regimental Combat Team, were relieved from the objective area by the 7th Philippine Military District Forces. The mission of the latter was to pursue and destroy the enemy that could be found and contain the remainder in the mountains, denying it access to food or supplies.

At 2400 hour, 9 June, operational control on Negros Island passed to the 503d Regimental Combat Team. Its mission being to garrison the island maintaining its security, and completing the destruction of the large number of enemy remain-ing. At the official close of the operation on 20 June, the 503d Regimental Combat Team with attached service troops, and forces of the 7th Philippine Military District consisting roughly of four thousand troops having two combat regiments and one combat battalion, were busy in the accomplishment of the assigned mission.

ERNEST C. CLARK JR, Major, 503d Prcht Inf.,

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