18 June 1945
Combined American and guerrilla operations in the area of the 106th Division forced the remains of the enemy, as elsewhere, to flee to the mountains. 300 to 400 Jap troops sought refuge in the Mt Blik area, Cotabato (present day Talayan, Maguindanao), but hot on their trail were the combined American and guerrilla forces.
STRATEGY PLANNED
On the night of 17 Jun 1945, Capt DEMPSTER D. DROWLEY of the American Troops of “B” Battery, 222-AAA, S/L Battalion, presided over a conference of officers at the Sibutu Schoolhouse where the disposition of troops, plans of attack and enemy positions were studied, planned and decided upon.
Accordingly, lst Lt MORTON with thirty American troops together with 2nd Lt FORTUNATO CABALES, Inf (PA), 3rd Lt PRIMETIVO TORRES, Inf (PA) and the “F” Co, were assigned
Southeast of Mt Blik to attack the enemy on the right flank.
They started out for their position at 2:00 AM on 1§ Jun 1945, 2nd Lt VICENTE VALDEZ, Inf (PC) with twenty-five enlisted men of “G” Co and ten American troops left Sibutu soon after the conference to occupy their position about 200 yards east of the Mt Blik base from where they were to attack the enemy’s left flank.
Sgt VENANCIO DIMLA, Inf (PC) with ten guerrillas of “C” Co together with Sgt SINGLETON and four other American troops were assigned to the back trails south of the enemy’s positions in the afternoon of 17 Jun 1945, their mission being to pick up enemy stragglers retreating that way. The Combat Co remained in its previous post guarding the Corporan~Litengan-Ranao Pilayan trails to prevent the enemy from going to Ranao Pilayan where food stuffs were plentiful.
Lastly, Capt DEMPSTER with Capt MACARIO CUBALIA, Inf (PC) and 2nd Lt BENJAMIN ENERIO, Inf (PA) together with fifty Americans and ten guerrillas of “G” Co were to carry on the frontal attack. They left Sibuto at h:00 AM on 18 Jun 1945.
Action started at 9:00 AM, 18 Jun 1945, and lasted till 2:00 PM.
The group of Lt VALDEZ attacked the enemy’s left flank and Sgt DIMLA with Sgt SINGLETON ambushed and killed eleven retreating Japs.
But there was a hitch in the plans. Lt MORTON’s group and Lt CABALES’ “F” Co lost their trail which caused them much delay. The enemy occupied three strategic positions of vantage on high ground and they easily gained fire superiority from their entrenchment over our troops.
TWO AMERICANS KILLED – THREE GUERRILLAS WOUNDED
Tao American soldiers were killed, namely: Sgt ALBERT G. MOSIER and Sgt. ROBERT L. MILLER.
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, presented with pride the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Sergeant Robert L. Miller (ASN: 17068190), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Battery B, 222d Anti-Aircraft Battalion (Searchlight Battalion) in the Southwest Pacific Area, on 18 June 1945.
During military operations which culminated in the clearing of Japanese forces from Mindanao, Philippine Islands, friendly troops were advancing on an enemy-held objective when devastating fire emanating from a machine gun nest located on a hill dominating the approach halted the attack. Sergeant Miller volunteered to lead a squad in a diversionary action on the flank of the enemy position in order to facilitate the withdrawal of forces which were pinned to the ground by hostile resistance. He had maneuvered his squad to a position within 50 yards of the stronghold when the enemy opened fire with such intensity that further progress became impossible.
Armed with only a carbine, Sergeant Miller, completely disregarding his own safety, crept through the brush and cogon grass to within 20 yards of the emplacement. Leaping to his feet in full view of the enemy, he charged the position, deliberately exposing himself to draw the enemy’s fire so that his squad could assault the objective. He was struck immediately and mortally wounded, but, still attempting to advance, he fell to the ground within a few yards of the stronghold. His heroic action distracted the enemy long enough for his squad to eliminate the machine gun nest, thus relieving hostile pressure and enabling a withdrawal to a more favorable location from which to resume the attack.
Through his indomitable fighting spirit and unremitting determination in the face of overwhelming odds, Sergeant Miller made possible the successful completion of an important mission and his brilliant performance of duty was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.
Two others were missing for a number of days, namely: Corp CARROL F. JONES and T/ METRO A SCHURESKO. These two showed up during the last week of June 1945 at Dalican, haggard, ragged and hungry after wandering in the jungles of Mt. Blik. A native Tiruray found and guided them home and they were hospitalized in Cotabato.
Of the 119th Inf unit, three enlisted men from “C” Co, 2nd Bn, were casualties, namely: Pvts MELCHOR SALVADOR and CARLOS MODOC, wounded; while Corp ALFREDO CAOILI sustained a right knee dislocation from a bad jump during the confused retreat. There were also four civilian bearers (native Tiruray cargadors) wounded who were given medical treatment at Cotabato, while six were missing.
On the enemy’s side, twenty one were verified killed and an undetermined number of wounded.
The enemy’s arms consisted of one 90mm mortar, machine guns, BARs, 25 cal rifles and hand grenades. The American and guerrilla weapons consisted of two 60 mm mortar, six bazookas, BARs, TSMCs, carbines and a good number of old Enfield rifles.
Source: History of the Mindanao Guerrillas by the American Guerrillas of Mindanao (AGOM) Unpublished Manuscript
