17 January 1945
Mina-ano in Agusan Province, lies between Cabadbaran and Butuan towns. The Mina-ano encounter was noteworthy because it was a valiant though futile stand of the guerrillas to prevent the Japanese from Surigao in reaching Butuan.
The Division Special Troops, upon learning of the enemy move to proceed to Butuan, acted swiftly transferring from Tagabaca to Mina-ano where dug-in positions were hastily made. The defensive line extended to three hundred yards on the right side of the road (towards Cabadbaran) occupied by the Combat and “A” Companies, and one hundred fifty yards on the left side of the road occupied by “B” Co. Lt LUIS P. DONGALLO, new CO, Division Special Troops, directed the operations.
ENEMY SURPRISED
On 17 Jan 1945, at 6:30 AM, contact was made with the enemy force of 200 to 250 men which marched along the national highway from Cabadbaran to Butuan.
The advance element was but 200 yards from the established defense positions and the main body only 150 yards immediately behind. The .50 cal machinegun of the 2nd Bn of the 113th Inf Regt emplaced on the road cutting the Division Special Troops defense line, the bazookas and two automatic rifles which supported the .50 cal MG, simultaneously fired at the advanced Jap troops. Fifty to sixty Japs fe1l from this fusillade. The survivors fought desperately, pulling away their dead. Exchange of fire lasted three hours. More Japs fell; none on the guerrilla side for they were well protected and had the advantage of prepared positions. Overwhelmed by superior fire, the Japs were forced to retreat. But at thirty minutes past noon, enemy reinforcements of almost the same number as the first group arrived and reorganized at the rear.
A REAL FIGHT
The guerrilla observers noted the enemy making flanking movements, Flank guards immediately attacked to thwart their plans. What followed was a stirring spectacle of heroism against heroism, the only dividing space between the fighting units being the fifty-yard wide Mina-ano Creek.
Three times, the enemy drove for an assault; three times the guerrillas stopped them holding their ground. But at 6:30 o’clock that evening, the ammunition supply of the guerrillas could not possibly be replenished, so an order for withdrawal was given. Eleven rockets of the bazookas were fired to cover the withdraw al to Damognay, a sitio two kilometers away.
ENEMY SUFFERS HEAVILY
The strength of the participating guerrilla units were as follows: Combat CO under Lt CRISANTO SALVALEON, had fifty nine men; “A” Co under the direct command of Lt LUIS DONGALLO, CO, DST, had thirty eight men; and “B” Co under the command of Lt AVELINO S. PAJO, Adjutant, DST, had twenty nine men. Attacked was one .50 caliber MG squad of the 2nd Bn, 113th Infantry.
Casualties of the enemy was estimated to be from 110 to 160 killed and wounded. One soldier of the Combat Co, Corp ABUNDIO QUIRAO, was wounded.
Source: History of the Mindanao Guerrillas by the American Guerrillas of Mindanao (AGOM) Unpublished Manuscript
