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Location Lubang Island is the largest of the seven islands in the Lubang Island Group (Lubang Islands) in Occidental Mindoro in the Mimaropa Region (Southwestern Tagalog Region, Region IV-B) in the Philippines. To the northeast 93 miles away is Manila and northwest of Mindoro Island. Lubang Island is divided into two municipalities: Lubang covers the western half of Lubang Island and Cabra Island, while Looc covers the remaining half of Lubang Island plus Ambil, Golo and the other islands in the group. Wartime History During late February 1945, as the U.S. Army liberation of Luzon and capture of Verde Island Passage, Balayan Bay and Batangas Bay, fleeing Japanese forces including members of the Japanese Army 158th Infantry on southern Luzon escaped to islands in the Verde Island Passage and Lubang Islands. None of the other islands in the Lubang Island group were occupied by the Japanese. On February 28, 1945 during the night a task force from the U.S. Navy (USN) 7th Fleet including support section of destroyers USS Saufley (DD-465) and USS Hass (DE-424) escort flagship LCI(L) 780 plus transport section LCI(L) 960, LCI(L) 747, LCI(L) 749, LCI(L) 750, LCI(L) 958, LCI(L) 959 and LCM 36 plus a rocket support group of LCI(R) 340, LCI(R) 225, LCI(R) 226 and LCI(R) 341 arrived off Lubang and landed a small reconassiance force without opposition. On March 1, 1945 the U.S. Army 21st Infantry, 1st Battalion that landed unopposed. They made a reconnaissance of the island as the defending Japanese flee into the rugged interior. On March 9, 1945 19th Infantry, Company E, relieved them. In total, the U.S. Army suffered 10 KIA and 20 WIA on Lubang and the Japanese lost 230 killed. By the end of March 1945 further mopping up operations were assigned to local guerrillas. Postwar On Lubang Island, four Japanese Army soldiers survived as holdouts in the interior. Led by 2nd Lt. Hiroo Onoda, Private Yuichi Akatsu (surrendered 1950), Corporal Shoichi Shimada (died 1954), Private Kinshichi Kozuka (died 1972) managed to hide in the jungle. Together, they continued guerrilla warfare against the Americans, guerrillas and later Philippine Police. Over the years, the group of holdouts died in combat and disease. By 1974 only Onoda was the last surviving holdout and remained on the island alone. During March 1974 after being officially relieved of duty, he surrendered and is considered one of the last Japanese holdouts of World War II and the Pacific War. PT-73 Ran aground and scuttled January 15, 1945 Lubang Town Located on the northwest tip of Lubang Island. Port Tilik Located on the north central coat of Lubang Island. Prewar, the Spanish built San Vicente Bastion, a fort on the western point at the entrance to Port Tilig. References The Imperial Japanese Army in World War II "Philippines Operations Record (November 1944 - April 1945) U.S. Army in the Philippines Securing the Visayan Passages page 429, 437-438, footnote 29 USN 7th Fleet Task Organization Lubang Operation No Surrender: My Thirty Year War by Hiroo Onoda Contribute
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