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San Francisco Sorsogon Province | Luzon Philippines

Location
San Francisco is located in Sorsogon Province in the Bicol Region (Region V) of Luzon in the Philippines. Low hills are to the east and west. To the southwest is Bulan.

Wartime History
By April 1945, roughly 500 Japanese including about 175 Formosan laborers and some stragglers from Samar, were on the Sorsogon Peninsula. The Japanese garrison concentrated in low hills near San Francisco.

On April 8, 1945 patrols from the U.S. Army, 158th Regimental Combat Team (158th RCT) "Bushmasters" Anti-Tank Company reach Bulan and patrols indicate the Japanese are defending the hills around San Francisco.

On April 12, 1945 the 2nd Battalion arrives in Bulan to attack San Francisco. On April 13, 1945 2d Battalion and Anti-Tank Company advances toward San Francisco and encounter heavy fire from the nearby low hills. On April 14, 1945 the 2d Battalion continues their attack toward San Francisco with support from 105mm howitzers from 147th Field Artillery plus 5th Air Force (5th AF) planes but makes little headway. On April 15, 1945 the 2d Battalion makes two-pronged assault on San Francisco and liberates the town. On April 16, 1945 the 2d Battalion repulses a determined counterattack, then attacks and clears the entire area ending organized resistance in the southern tip of Bicol Peninsula. During the operation, the Americans suffered only six wounded. The Japanese lost at least 150 killed with 155 Formosan laborers taken prisoner. On April 18, 1945 the Americans turn over mopping up the rest of Sorsogon Province to guerrillas and depart the area.

References
U.S. Army in World War II Triumph in the Philippines Chapter XXIII Securing the Visayan Passages pages 443

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Last Updated
October 9, 2026

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