1 May 1945
The 130th Regiment, 107th Division, under the command of Major Saturnino R. Silva Sr., with a strength of eighty-nine officers 4nd 1,292 enlisted men, aided by the 111th Provisional Battalion (Bn), launched the Ising, Davao (present day Carmen, Davao del Norte) offensive on 1 May 1945 following orders from Col. Wendell W. Fertig, Commanding Officer, 10th Military District, as instructed by Maj. Gen. Franklin C. Sibert, Commanding General, 10th Corps.
The mission was to dislodge the enemy from Ising proper and clear the National Highway of this isolated garrison – the only Jap unit between Km 30 and the guerrilla troops. The entire operation lasted for twenty nine days and proved costly to the Japs which were driven back to Nanyo and away from the highway.
DEPLOYMENT OF TROOPS
Combat Cos, “G”, “I”, “K” and “M” of the 130th Inf Regt crossed the Tagum River to establish positions between that and the Ising Rivers. “L” Co was ordered to Busaon vicinity for rear and left flank security.
Movement began at 1400 hours on 2 May 1945, supported by an 8lmm mortar from rear positions to cut enemy reinforcements from Km 36. An enemy outpost was contacted about 2500 in advance of new positions by friendly scouts and this outpost opened up with a .50 cal machinegun (MG).
Cos “M” and “I” formed the left flank and made an advance across the Ising River, “A” and “K” Cos formed the right flank and established positions on the north bank of Ising River. At 1700 hours, the 1st Battalion made first contact with the enemy.
HEAVY FIRING
Combat Co and “G” Co also became engaged with the enemy about the same time, at Km 36 and two of our troops were killed, and six wounded in the encounter.
This was on 3 May. On 4 May, Combat Co and “G” Co, contacted a larger force at same location which had approached from Panabo. Co “E” and GSS (General Service School) Bn, which acted as reserve, contacted the enemy at 0630, with heavy exchange of fire towards the evening. One KIA, three WIA and one MIA our side.
5 May, firing began very early in the morning, at 0230 hours. Cos “C” and “D” advanced from their positions, with “D” Co outflanking the Japs and attacking from the rear in hand to hand fighting. One .50 cal MG was captured by the Japs from our troops but it had first been put out of action. This battle lasted until 0430 hours with the enemy pouring in reinforcements and our troops withdrawing.
AMERICAN PLANE SUPPORT
An airstrike by American planes on 5 May, forced the enemy to withdraw to their main line of resistance. Heavy fire was changed after the air strike, with one KIA, three WIA and two MIA. The regiment then changed disposition of troops to counter-attack enemy attempting to push through our lines. Combat Co was recalled to establish its position to left of “H” Co – this was 6 May 1945.
On the 7th air support again helped but with stiff resistance by Japs, one was KIA and five WIA, On 8 May, all fronts closed in on enemy positions, with all heavy weapons in action. The 3rd Battalion with Combat Co was able to cross the Ising River. The lst Battalion affected another crossing at Lucutan River, and both flanks moved forward. The Japs stubbornly held their positions and our units were forced to withdraw to their previous positions – this time due to lack of ammunition. In this encounter, two were KIA and five WIA, as yet no estimate of enemy casualties from the Ising operation.
On 9 May, Japs took offensive and crossed the Ising River but were driven back to their positions.
ENEMY ON OFFENSIVE
13 May, the Japs broke through the left flank of our troops and actually affected encirclement, but the unit was able to break thru to a new defense line along the north bank of Taganay River. Cos “A”, “K” and “M” were newly established on this same river bank. Other units crossed the Tagum River for a third line of defense – should the enemy succeed in crossing the Tuganay River.
On 14 May, the lst Battalion moved to new position along the Tuganay-Anibongan BR with “M” Co going to Km 41. Other units remained on north bank Tagum River and along the road leading from it. The enemy attempted to cross the Taganay River at 1800 hours but were repulsed.
AMERICAN UNITS BRING SUPPORT
For the next several days, guerrilla troops merely held their positions, repulsing every enemy attempt to dislodge the units. Ammunition was low and the food supply inadequate and it was not practical to launch offensives against the Japs at this period.
The 2nd Battalion, 19th Inf Regt of the 2th Division, USA, was in the meantime pushing steadily forward along the highway from Sasa, thus forcing the Japs to make some decision regarding their troops or be cut off from reinforcements.
At this time another airstrike assisted in the operation and the enemy began its withdrawal, offering only a few delaying actions before moving to the west towards Nanyo. A combat patrol joined forces with the American troops, one kilometer south of Ising – and the operation was ended.
MANY CASUALTIES
Our casualties had been rather high for this operation, much more than any previous encounter since the first action against the Japanese in the Davao area in September 1942, The final count was as follows: sixteen KIA; thirty-nine WIA; two MIA; eight IIA and one DIA.
Three Japanese PW were taken in the operation. It would however be impossible to accurately determine the enemy casualties. A great many were wounded and many more killed as a result of the frequent Japanese offensives.
Source: History of the Mindanao Guerrillas by the American Guerrillas of Mindanao (AGOM) Unpublished Manuscript
