12 July 1943
On 12 Jul 1943, the Combat Co, 114th Inf Regt led by Lts THOMAS R. BAXTER and ALBERT McCARTHY, was ambushed by the enemy near KM 4 of the Surigao National Road.
Lt. McCARTHY was killed while Lt. BAXTER suffered from bullet wounds. He then proceeded to kill four Jap soldiers by actual count, with his .45 automatic while in a prone position.
Sgt. POTUGUES and PVT ALBERTO CATUBIGAN were also killed, and Pfc SILVINO TENEBRE and Pvt SANTCS SANTIAGO, wounded.
The enemy suffered eighteen dead and six wounded.
Source: History of the Mindanao Guerrillas by the American Guerrillas of Mindanao (AGOM) (Unpublished Manuscript)
From Thomas Richard Baxter’s Obituary:
He served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. During World War II, Tom was stationed in the Philippines Islands where he served as a combat liaison officer. During his service during the liberation of the Philippines, the islanders called him “Long Tom Baxter”.
Throughout his life Tom has earned the Silver Star, Bronze Star, three Purple Hearts, Victoria Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Ribbon and the Philippines Defense Ribbon. As a result of his service during the liberation of the Philippines Tom earned the highest medal, without benefits, that could be awarded by both the Australian and Philippine governments.
During the Vietnam War, Tom served as a military adviser to the forces from Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam for the United States State Department. Tom was a member of the American Legion Post 115. He was a charter member of the American Guerrillas of Mindanao, being the third member inducted into the organization.
Reader’s Digest featured a article about his exploits during World War II in the Philippines. Tom was also featured in the book, “An American Guerrilla in the Philippines”. Tom’s expertise in guerrilla warfare was published in the tactical training manual “Americans, Partisans and Guerrillas.”
Tom enjoyed raising and training horses, collecting guns, doing beadwork in the American Indian style, reading and spending time with his family.
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