Location
Lat 15° 58' 34N Long 120° 34' 16E Urdaneta is an Inland town in the 5th District of Pangasinan Province on Luzon in the Philippines. To the northwest 13.3 miles is Mangaldan. Urdaneta is located at the intersection between the north-south MacArthur Highway and east-west road junction making it an important crossroad town.
Wartime History
On January 2, 1945 the Japanese Army 2nd Tank Division ordered a detachment from the 7th Tank Regiment to Urdaneta in anticipation of the U.S. landing at Lingayen Gulf. After the landing on January 9, 1945 General Yamashita ordered them to counterattack with one tank company and one motorized infantry battalion in Urdaneta to attack the American beachhead. During the night of January 16, 1945 they advanced towards the beachhead but they were ambushed by American anti-tank guns and suffered heavy losses.
Battle of Urdaneta
On January 17, 1945 at dawn the 7th Tank Regiment "Omori Detachment" of nine tanks and 100 men were at Binalonan as an outpost position and rear guard. That same morning, the U.S. Army 6th Division, 1st Infantry Regiment attacked their positions supported by M4 Sherman tanks. One platoon of 3rd Company ambushed the Sherman tanks on the road to Urdaneta and destroyed two with flank fire. But, the platoon was destroyed by other Sherman tanks. Other tanks of 3rd Company swung around towards the flank of the Sherman tanks and attacked them. The company commander's tank was destroyed by the fire from the Shermans and the Japanese lost all nine of their tanks and most infantry. The Americans suffered 5 Killed In Action (KIA) and 15 Wounded In Action (WIA).
Urdaneta Museum (Museo de Urdaneta)
Located in the town's cultural an sports center, across from the library. This museum includes a small display of WWII era artifacts - helmets, guns and mess tins. Outside, a Japanese Jukie heavy machine gun is displayed along with Spanish era cannons.
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Last Updated
October 23, 2019
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