|  |
|
| |
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
 US Army Feb 6, 1945  Justin Taylan 2005 |
Location The Villa Verde Trail is a prewar walking trail located in the foothills of the Caraballo Mountains in central Luzon in the Philippines. The western edge starts near Santa Maria in Pangasinan Province and spans 27 miles atop ridge lines to an elevation of 5,000' into the mountains and ends near Santa Fe in Nueva Vizcaya Province at the junction with Highway 5 (Route 5) in the Cagayan Valley. Named Villa Verde Trail after a Spanish missionaries who used the trail to reach the mountainous interior of northern Luzon. The trail was large enough for only foot traffic, horses or mules but not motor vehicles. During the Battle of Villa Verde Trail, U.S. Army engineers widened the trail into a road and today is is a paved two lane highway. Wartime History After the January 9, 1945 American landing at Lingayen Gulf the Japanese Army was defeated in the open ground of central Luzon, and the 14th Army "Shobu Group" under General Yamashita withdrew into the mountains to fight a delaying action for the remainder of the Pacific War. By late January 1945, the defense of the Villa Verde Trail under the command of Major General Konuma at Bambang who intended to delay any American advance as long as possible using the rugged terrain against what they expected would be only a U.S. diversionary attack. Battle of Villa Verde Trail On February 5, 1945 after a heavy barrage of mortar and artillery fire, the U.S. Army, 32nd Infantry Division (32nd ID), 127th Infantry Regiment (127th IR), 2nd Battalion begin advancing from Santa Maria and seized the first outpost positions at the start of the Villa Verde Trail. On February 6, 1945 they suspend attack and consolidating positions about 1,500 yards north of Santa Maria. On February 7, 1945 they renew their drive up the trail into a bowl-shaped depression exposed to enemy fire from higher ground. On February 8, 1945 in the evening and into the early hours of the next day the Japanese counterattacked. On February 10, 1945 they were relieved by the 3rd Battalion from reserve and for the next two days probed enemy defenses. The Japanese initially defended the trail with approximately 250 soldiers from 10th Reconnaissance Regiment under the command of Major Suzuki that had approximately 2-3 weeks to dig in north of Santa Maria and fought a delaying action to Salacsac Pass and were reinforced but unable to hold back the Americans and were defeated with only 80 survivors. Meanwhile, the remaining personnel from 2nd Tank Division (understrength) under the command of Lieutenant General Iwanaka that regrouped at Dupax and were mostly non-combat personnel that were hastily retrained as infantry. When the U.S. advanced rapidly, they had only a month of training before they were ordered to defend Villa Verde Trail to establish up defensive on the trail and hills. Most of these soldiers were service personnel but amply equipped with machine guns and ammunition. They established strong points and defense in depth using the terrain to their favor including tunnels that interconnected and mutually supporting fields of fire. They also conducted limited counterattacks, suicide charges and infiltration missions. On March 22, 1945 the 127th Infantry Regiment is relieved by the 128th Infantry Regiment. During the battle, the rough terrain required American supplies and wounded to be carried by foot. The U.S. Army employed local Igorot people as laborers to carry supplies and evacuate wounded. On May 24, 1945, the surviving Japanese were ordered to withdraw northward along the Imugan River to Bambang. On May 28, 1945 the U.S. entered Imugan without opposition ending the battle. The Americans never reached Santa Fe. On May 30, 1945 the 32nd Division began withdrawing with only the 126th Infantry Division, under the control of the 25th Division continued to patrol west of Santa Fe and up the Imugan River for another two weeks. Yamashita Ridge Area to the north of the Villa Verde Trail and south of Mount Imugan. Includes Maleco (Malico) surrounded by hills. The Bowl The Bowl was the U.S. Army nickname for the bowl shaped area between Hill 124, Hill 123 and Hill 133 near a switchback road curve on the western portion of the Villa Verde Trail. On February 23, 1945 a platoon from 127th Infantry Regiment advanced across the grass ridge towards Hill 133 when stopped by heavy fire from Japanese machine guns, mortars and small arms and withdrew. Afterwards, Hill 124 and Hill 133 were subjected to harassing fire. On February 24, 1945 in the morning both hills were subjected to preparation fire before counter attack. Kongo Fortress The Kongo Fortress was located four miles north of Imugan. By February 23, the Americans reached the high ground. In early March 1945, the Kongo Fortress was reached and was the site of a three week battle that resulted in 1,000 Japanese killed. Salacsac Pass No. 2 Salacsac Pass No. 2 is an area of steep slopes and curves at the center of the Villa Verde Trail in the Caraballo Mountains in central Luzon in the Philippines. Along the trail to the east is Salacsac Pass No. 1. To the north is Hill 504 and beyond Yamashita Ridge and Mt. Imugan. To the southeast is Hill 505. To the east is Salacsac Pass No. 1. To the west is Darawin. On April 10, 1945 Salacsac Pass No. 2 falls to the 128th Infantry Regiment at the end of a prolonged and costly battle. In the vicinity of Salacsac Pass No. 2, the Japanese lost roughly 2,300 from the 2nd Tank Division and 3,400 from other units. Salacsac Pass No. 1 Salacsac Pass No. 1 is an area of steep slopes and curves at an elevation of 4,800' on the eastern Villa Verde Trail in the Caraballo Mountains in central Luzon in the Philippines. Along the trail to the west is Salacsac Pass No. 2. To the southeast is Hill 508. Beyond to the north is Yamashita Ridge and Mt. Imugan. To the northwest is Hill 515. To the northeast is Hill 525. To defend the Salacsac Passes, the 2nd Tank Division emplaced eight tank turrets as fixed pillboxes until the last was overrun on May 24, 1945. Imugan Located on the Villa Verde Trail between Salacsac Pass No. 1 to the west and Santa Fe to the east. On May 28, 1945 occupied without resistance, ending the Battle of Villa Verde Trail. Solvec Cove On April 7, 1945 a total of 130+ sorties were flown by American fighters against Solvec Cove in support of advancing ground forces on the Villa Verde Trail. The 128th Infantry Regiment, that continued to fight along the eastern Villa Verde Trail until May 28, 1945 when the battle ended, without reaching their objective of Santa Fe. Outcome The Battle of Villa Verde Trail lasted a total of 119 days. The Japanese suffered 8,900 killed in the vicinity with only 52 Japanese captured as Prisoners Of War (POW) who were extremely ill or severely wounded. The Americans suffered 2,985 combat casualties and 6,000 non-combat casualties. Afterwards, the 32nd Infantry Division was essentially combat ineffective and no longer able to assume a major role in the campaign. References U.S. Army in World War II Triumph in the Philippines Chapter XXVI The Bambang Front--I The Villa Verde Trail pages 491, 492, Map XI, 493, 494, 495, 497, 498, 499, 500-511 U.S. Army in World War II Triumph in the Philippines Chapter XXVII The Bambang Front--II The 25th Division on Route 5 pages 512, 514, 516, 517, 518, Map 22, 525, 532, 533, 535, 536, 537, 538, 539 Battle Analysis, Villa Verde Trail, Luzon Deliberate Assault, Mountain, Jungle, February-May 1945 by Combat Studies Institute (CSI) Staff Group D, Section 14 (1984) Contribute
Information Last Updated
|
 Map Jan 30–May 28, 1945 Map Feb 21–Mar 10, 1945 Map Mar 7–Mar 28, 1945  Photo Archive |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
