Marinduque WW2 Homepage
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Here you will find the links to U.S. Army reports about Marinduque both before
and after the war. The U.S. bombing of Japanese ships in Balanacan harbor is
covered in detail as well as eye witness reports. Newspaper headlines and
reports about Marinduque are also listed as well as some details of servicemen
that were stationed on or visited Marinduque during the war.
and after the war. The U.S. bombing of Japanese ships in Balanacan harbor is
covered in detail as well as eye witness reports. Newspaper headlines and
reports about Marinduque are also listed as well as some details of servicemen
that were stationed on or visited Marinduque during the war.
24 Division, 21st Infantry Regiment received a very important mission on New Year's
Eve of 1945: to establish a beachhead at the island of Marinduque. They arrived on PT
boats, but used an eight-man rubber raft to reach the beach quietly. They found out
from some Filipinos that the Japanese were being housed in a big building in the small
downtown of Buena Vista. With the helpful news, the U.S. troops surrounded the
building. It wasn't until they found out about the Battle of Luzon that they were
ordered to get the Japanese out of the building. With the use of 3.5-inch bazookas, the
U.S. began shooting at the building. The Japanese never surrendered; instead, they
died for their country.
On 3 January 1945 Company K, 21st Infantry liberated Marinduque Island located
twenty miles east of Mindoro and only eleven miles from Luzon in part to facilitate
contacts and support of Filipino guerillas operating in southern Luzon.
A company of the 19th infantry landed on Marinduque Island to the northeast and
cleared a small pocket of resistance on the 11th, most of the Japanese had previously
been destoyed by guerrillas. The remaining Japanese evacuated on the 21st.
It was not long after the surrender of Bataan and Corregidor when radio contact by with
AFPAC headquarters in Australia was established. Through planetary U.S. submarine
landings in strategic points in the archipelago. MacArthur supplied guerillas with radios
to maintain continuous contact, and arms and war materials in preparation for the
possible return of MacArthur and allied liberation forces to the Philippines. Morale of
the guerrillas were all-time high. These Intel-radio nets grew wider and wider as the
liberation forces surges inch-by-inch toward the Philippines. The Callsign JI was for
Untalan in Marinduque.
As the first step in the tactical deception effort, one company of the 21st
Infantry of the 24th Division moved on Bongabong along Mindoro's east
coast on 1 January. Other troops of the same regiment then advanced by
shore-to-shore movement to Calapan, the main town on northeastern
Mindoro, while enemy-held villages on the northwestern side were also
cleared. In all of these actions substantial assistance was rendered by
organized guerrilla forces. Occupation of Marinduque Island, situated close
to southern Luzon's Bicol Peninsula, was the next operation undertaken. On
3 January, a small force of the 21st Infantry landed unopposed at
Buenavista, on the island's southwestern shore, and consolidated positions
for the establishment of radar installations.
also see 8th Army Report on the Mindoro - Marindque Operation
Infantry of the 24th Division moved on Bongabong along Mindoro's east
coast on 1 January. Other troops of the same regiment then advanced by
shore-to-shore movement to Calapan, the main town on northeastern
Mindoro, while enemy-held villages on the northwestern side were also
cleared. In all of these actions substantial assistance was rendered by
organized guerrilla forces. Occupation of Marinduque Island, situated close
to southern Luzon's Bicol Peninsula, was the next operation undertaken. On
3 January, a small force of the 21st Infantry landed unopposed at
Buenavista, on the island's southwestern shore, and consolidated positions
for the establishment of radar installations.
also see 8th Army Report on the Mindoro - Marindque Operation