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| Location Lat 15° 52' 37N Long 120° 53' 57E Lupao is a town surrounded by rice paddies in Nueva Ecija Province on Luzon in the Philippines. Located on Highway 8 (Route 8). To the northwest a mile away is San Roque and beyond Umingan. To the southeast is San Ishidro and San Jose. During the 1940s, connected by Route 99, a third-class road that spanned from Lupao southward to Munoz. Wartime History During 1942, occupied by the Japanese Army. After the January 9, 1945 U.S. Army landing at Lingayen Gulf, Lupao was part of the Japanese Army defense of central Luzon. To defend the area, General Yamashita intended the 2nd Tank Division and supporting infantry to concentrate their defenses at Lupao and Munoz. Instead, the defenders split their forces among eight strongpoints that formed a triangular area spanning San Jose, Munoz and Lupao that the Americans dubbed the Licab-Lupao line. At Lupao, defended by tanks of the 7th Tank Regiment and 10th Tank Regiment, less one company was dug into the dry rice paddies around town. They were supported by two companies of the 2d Mobile Infantry, a three-gun 75mm artillery platoon and 2d Tank Division engineer and ordnance troops. On January 30, 1945 the U.S. Army, 25th Infantry Division (25th ID) "Tropic Lightning", 25th Reconnaissance Troop patrolled toward Lupao as the rest of the division moved into position for an attack on Umingan. On February 1, 1945 part of the 35th Infantry Regmient advanced to the south to bypasss Umingan and moved cross country across dirt roads and met no opposition and one battalion occupied San Roque a mile to the north. On February 2, 1945 the 35th Infantry Regmient, 1st Battalion advanced towards Lupao until the afternoon when the lead elements reached within 750 yards of the town and were haulted by Japanese artillery, mortar, and machine gun fire and attempts to outflank the defenses in open ground of surrounding dry rice paddies proved impossible and at dusk withdrew 500 yars to the west as supporting artillery and mortar fire targeted the town. On February 3, 1945 in the morning the assualt resumed but advancing across open ground made no significant progress. To bypass Lupao, General Mullins ordered the 161st Infantry Regiment to move cross country and across Route 99 south of Lupao to Route 8 to cut the road and began to establish a roadbock isolate the town. Meanwhile, the 35th Infantry Regiment, 3d Battalion advanced to the northeast and reached Route 8 by the afternoon and swung around to approach from the southeast. On February 4, 1945 they reached the southern edge of town in the face of heavy opposition while the soliders to the north and west made no progress. Over the next three days, the Americans focusing on the south side began to compress the defenders. On February 7, 1945 at night, the remaining Japanese attempted a breakout with ten or eleven tanks. Five tanks manage to flee to the east towards the foothills until abandoned by their crews. On February 8, 1945 by noon the 35th Infantry Regiment secured Lupao against negligible opposition. On February 4, 1945 they Battle of Lupao On February 2, 1945 the town was assaulted by the U.S. Army 6th Infantry Division, 35th Infantry Regiment. Outside of town, the American force came under fire from the defenders that halted their attack. The Americans were reinforced by the 161st Infantry Regiment that setup a road block to prevent the defenders from escaping. During the defense, the 10th Tank Regiment lost 33 tanks, 26 trucks, three 75mm guns suffered 300 casualties in the Lupao area. References U.S. Army in World War II Triumph in the Philippines Chapter XI Protecting XIV Corps' Rear and Flanks pages 187-190, 191 (map), Taki Home Page - The History of Battles of the Imperial Japanese Tanks, Part II Contribute Information Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated December 29, 2025 |
 Map Feb 1-8, 1945 Map Fallingrain |
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