74th Provisional Infantry Regiment (PA)

74th Provisional Infantry Regiment (PA)
74th Provisional Infantry Regiment (PA)
Active	January 1942 - May 1942
Disbanded	May 12, 1942
Country	Philippines
Allegiance	United States Army
Branch	Army
Type	Infantry
Role	Reserve Troops
Size	1,500
Part of	Negros Force
Garrison/HQ	La Carlota, Negros Occidental
Commanders
Notable; commanders	Major Sam Jones, USA

74th Infantry Regiment is a provisional unit activated and organized in Negros during World War II after all units of 71st Infantry Division was transferred to Luzon and Mindanao. It was comprised mostly of reserve out of ROTC cadets and recruits within Negros Island. It was activated after Headquarters, Philippine Army authorized in December 1941.^[1]

Organization

The regiment was organized in Magallon, Negros Occidental (now Moises Padilla) to garrison Negros Occidental as the war progressed. Major Sam Jones was appointed to be the commander with staffs and officers coming from ROSS, commissions from ROTC, and SRC. He established his headquarters at Hacienda San Jos in La Castillana, Negros Occidental. The regiment is composed of headquarters Battalion, and 3 Infantry Battalions.^[2]

Staffs

Major Jose Culig was appointed as Executive Officer; Other officers 1Lieutenant Reyes as Adjutant & S1, Major Angel Okol, became commander of 1st Battalion, Major Francisco Gomez, CO, 2nd Battalion; and Major Ernesto S. Mata, CO, 3rd Battalion.

Defense Plan and Preparation

After Mt. Canlaon was selected as the site for defensive stand, preparations were started and engineering works started to make Canlaon as "Little Bataan" named after successful defense in Bataan peninsula by combined Filipino and American forces. 74th Infantry was assigned to defend the northern side of the volcano on Negros Occidental side and 75th Infantry on the south in Negros Oriental side.

Surrender

After the surrender of Luzon Force in Bataan and Mindanao Force on verge of defeat, Negros was the only on island not yet invaded by the Japanese. Lieutenant Colonel Jesse Traywick of USFIP Headquarters who came from Mindanao, arrived in Negros to enforced order of surrender by Major General Sharp and General Wainwright.^[3] On May 13, 1942, Colonel Hilsman surrendered all forces in Negros but not all officers and men surrendered and established guerilla unit under Majors Salvador Abcede and Ernesto S. Mata.^[4]

References

^ Catalan, Primitivo (1973). Brief History of 71st Infantry Division, Philippine Army (1st ed.). Quezon City, Philippines: Cintoner Printing press. pp. 118–120.
^ Tarkington, Hiram. There Were Others (PDF). pp. 111–113.
^ Morton, Louis (June 26, 1953). The Fall of the Philippines (1st ed.). Washington, D.C: US Government Printing Press. pp. 577–558.
^ Catalan, Primitivo (June 1, 1973). The Brief History of 71st Infantry Division, Philippine Army (1st ed.). Quezon City, Philippines: Cintoner Printing Press. pp. 126–127.

External links

There were others, unpublished papers of Colonel Hiram Tarkington, CO 61st Field Artillery Regiment

[1] Catalan, Primitivo (1973). Brief History of 71st Infantry Division, Philippine Army (1st ed.). Quezon City, Philippines: Cintoner Printing press. pp. 118–120.

[2] Tarkington, Hiram. There Were Others (PDF). pp. 111–113.

[3] Morton, Louis (June 26, 1953). The Fall of the Philippines (1st ed.). Washington, D.C: US Government Printing Press. pp. 577–558.

[4] Catalan, Primitivo (June 1, 1973). The Brief History of 71st Infantry Division, Philippine Army (1st ed.). Quezon City, Philippines: Cintoner Printing Press. pp. 126–127.

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