May 12 – June 14, 1945By: Jommel P. Tactaquin

Head, Research and Documentation SectionVeterans Memorial and Historical DivisionPhilippine Veterans Affairs Office

The Battle of Bessang Pass

June 14 every year is Bessang Pass Dayby virtue of Proclamation No. 515 ofPresident Carlos P. Garcia in 1958. Theday was designated to impress upon allFilipinos, particularly the young, thesignificance of Bessang Pass inPhilippine history.

The capture of Bessang Pass on June14, 1945, was one of the gloriousachievements of the Filipino andAmerican officers and men of the U.S.Army Forces in the Philippines, NorthLuzon (USAFIP, NL), a force of over20,000 officers and men under theoverall command of Colonel Russell W.Volckmann, a graduate of the U.S.Military Academy and a veteran of theBattle of Bataan.

The Battle of Bessang Pass

All the five (5) infantry regiments of the USAFIP,NL - the 121st, 15th, 66th, 11th and 14th - andtheir supporting engineer, signal, quartermaster,ordinance, and medical units contributed to thevictory in Bessang Pass.

It was the 121st Infantry however, which had themost number of troops engaged in theoperation. One of its units, the "L" companyunder the command of Lt. Emilio Narcise,continuously operated around the Bessang Passarea from January to June 14, 1945. Afterparticipating in the battle which resulted in theliberation of San Fernando, the capital town ofLa Union, on March 23, 1945. All the threebattalions of the 121st were employed in theoperations to capture Bessang Pass.

The Battle of Bessang Pass

The Japanese Imperial Forces thatdefended Bessang Pass and its vicinitytotaled about 4,000 officers and men. Theybelonged to the Tora or Tiger Division ofLtGen. Yosiharu Ozaki under the overallcommand of General Tomoyuki Yamashita.The "Tiger of Malaya" retreated withthousands of Japanese troops to themountains surrounding the Loo valley inthe heart of Mountain Province even beforethe landing of General DouglasMacArthur's liberation forces, particularlythe U.S. Sixth Army under the command ofLtGen. Walter Krueger, in Lingayen gulf onJanuary 9, 1945.

The Battle of Bessang Pass

From Suya, lIocos Sur, the road to BessangPass is characterized by narrow sharpcurves or turns flanked by deep gorges andthick vegetation of pines and other jungleplants. During rainy weather, the road isknee-deep in mud and often blocked bylandslides rendering it impassable for days.On account of the terrain, only small combatgroups of USAFIP NL soldiers could operateon the mountain rests and ridges.

According to General Krueger, the battle ofBessang Pass was "one whose magnitudeand decisiveness far surpassed the U.S.Anny's 32nd and 25th Infantry division'sbattles for Villa Verde trail and Balete Pass,respectively." Indeed, the capture or this vitalpass split wide open the backdoor of GeneralYamashita's final defense line and therebysealed the fate of Japanese forces in NorthLuzon two months before Japan offered tosurrender in August, 1945.

The Battle of Bessang Pass

Strategically located on a highcommanding terrain surrounded byscraggy and mountain peaks towering over5,000 fl. high, Bessang Pass was well-organized and manned by the Japanese.Col. Sotomu Terau, chief of staff of the19th Japanese division who surrendered tothe USAFIP, NL after Japan surrendered onSeptember 2, 1945, declared that the 73rdInfantry of his division with a strength ofabout 2,000 officers and men were chargedwith the defense of Bessang Pass.

The Battle of Bessang Pass

This unit emplaced mountain guns and other artillery pieces in all commanding grounds around thepass. The Japanese 79th Brigade and the 357th Independent unit also had around 4,000 troops atthe Bessang area at the lime.

Three days before D-Day on Luzon (January 9,1945), the five regiments of the USAFIP, NLengaged their guerrilla troops in the destructionof bridges, enemy air fields and wirecommunication and enemy ammunition dumps.They blocked all highways and roads andambushed Japanese convoys throughout LaUnion, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, Abra, Mt.Province, Nueva Vizcaya, Isabela and Cagayan.

On January 21 and 24, its "L” Co., under Lt.Emilio Narcise attacked the Japanese garrisonat barrio Bitalag, Tagudin, Ilocos Sur and killedall the fleeing enemy at barrio Beques. After thisoperation the company went up Highway 4 andattacked the enemy at Suyo, midway betweenTagudin and Bessang Pass. Suyo fell onFebruary 5 and three days later, pushing farthertowards Bessang the officers and men of "L" Co.captured Butac, a sitio just west of the pass.

The Battle of Bessang Pass

Companies " K" and " M" joined Co. "L" in acoordinated attack and dislodged theJapanese at Mt. Kimposa, T. Tapao andSuyo along Highway 4 toward Cervantes.However, before the battalion couldcontinue up to Bessang, Major Barnettordered companies "K" and "M" to reinforcethe 1st and 2nd Battalions of the regimentin the battle for San Fernando, La Union.

From captured Filipino constabularysoldiers Lt. Narcise learned that 150Japanese with mortars and mountain gunshad fortified Bessang Pass into aformidable defensive position. With hiswhole Company "L" he proceeded toCervantes on February 20 and successfullyattacked the Japanese garrison thereatkilling over 50 Japanese.

The Battle of Bessang Pass

A platoon ambushed the enemy that camefrom Bessang Pass. Lt. Domingo Cadiogan'splatoon also attacked another enemy positionat Mt. Magun while Sgt. .Daniel Garcia'splatoon attacked Mt. Mauting, capturing bothpositions on March 7. Two days later,however, the Japanese counterattacked andrecaptured the two peaks.

Realizing the increased enemy activity,Colonel Volckmann created a provisionalbattalion composed of "A" Co., 11th Infantrycommanded by Lt. Francisco Balamban and"O " Co, 66th Infantry commanded by Lt.Domingo Prudencio, Capt. Serarin Elizondo asbattalion commander. According to Lt.Tancredo M. Guray, battalion adjutant, thisunit tried to stop the enemy's movementsfrom Cervantes to Bessang Pass. Thebattalion engaged a strong enemy force atbarrio Dain, west north-west of Cervantes,holding and Bessang Pass on Highway 4.

The Battle of Bessang Pass

The 1st battalion under Major Eduardo Borge drovesoutheastward from Butac to encircle the enemy'ssouthern flank, while the 2nd battalion under MajorDiego Sipin pushed eastward generally along theaxis of Highway 4. The 3rd battalion under MajorConrado B. Rigor, was held in reserve, while theprovisional battalion under Capt. Elizondo remainedin position in the Cervantes alley northeast ofBessang Pass. Encountering the enemy on March 29at Lamagan ridge, a high ground west of Bessang,the 1st Battalion, sustained its first casualties. The2nd battalion moved with

The Battle of Bessang Pass

Commanded by Major George M. Barnett AUS, and later by Major Eulogio Bulao, the 121st Infantry was committed to the Bessang area on March 27, 1945.

great caution as therewere enemy outpostguards at every bend ofthe road leading toBessang Pass.

Reference:

Cal, Ben. Victory at Bessang Pass (2012).Quezon City: Art Angel PrintshopCommercial Quests Inc.

The Battle of Bessang Pass