18 APRIL 1945
The Combat Battalion (Bn), 113th Infantry Regiment, 110th Division, stationed at Butuan, Agusan, with a total strength of 363 officers and men, aided by the 3rd Battalion (Bn), 113th Inf Regt and supported by Navy Task Group No. 70.4, two LCIs Nos. 363 and 249 escorted by two LC’s Nos. 9 and 10, conducted an amphibious operation in Nasipit as per authority from Col. Wendell W. Fertig, CO, Tenth Military District, on a mission to eliminate the Japanese garrison at Nasipit, Agusan (now Agusan del Norte).
ENEMY POSITIONS SHELLED
On 18 April 1945 at 0300 hours, the Combat Battalion, a special unit organized to operate against Nasipit from the sea, left its embarkation point, Tinigbasan, just across Butuan Bay, for its objective. Two LCIs, Nos 363 and 249, escorted by two US gunboats Nos. 9 and 10 were utilized to bring the unit to its destination.
According to the account of this action by the of Commander Task Group 70.4 Lt. Albert C. Eldridge included in the summary report of thirteen missions to supply guerrilla forces on various enemy held islands in the Philippine area by units of task group 70.4 with participating vessels LCI(L) 361, LCI(L) 363, LCS 9, LCS 10, LCI 429 (temporary), the Nasipit Operation was part of its Mission No. 10 which started from the port of destination at Iligan, Lanao.
The LCI 361 split her shaft off the tip of Leyte island and had to be towed back to port by LCS 9, but before returning transferred part of her cargo to the LCI 363. The LCS 10 and LCI 363 then proceeded to Iligan and discharged part of her cargo and proceeded to Gingoog where the remainder of her cargo was discharged.
At Gingoog the LCS 10 and LCI 363 rendezvoused with the LCS 9 returning with the LCI 429 discharged part of her cargo at Gingoog in order to take on 220 of guerrilla Division Special Troops. The LCS 9 and LCI 429 then left and disembarked the troops at Diwata Point, Mindanao, to move southward and prevent Jap movements to the west from Nasipit.
The LCS 9 and LCI 429 took on 200 troops at Tinigbasan and waited for the LCS 10 and LCI 363 which were bringing the division chief of staff to command the landing guerrillas. The LCI 363 upon arriving at Tinigbasan, embarked 100 guerrillas and the four ships proceeded to Nasipit, arriving before dawn.
On the pre-dawn darkness of 18 April 1945, when the targets were visible, the gunboats No. 9 and 10 shelled Nasipit, particularly Punta and Talisay areas, the designated place of debarkation. The shelling was terrific. Shells and rockets were hurled into the enemy positions, with intense machinegun (MG) fire.
The task group bombarded the town from within and without the harbor for approximately one hour after which the LCIs bearing the troops then headed for the beaches with barking guns. Finally at 0730 hours, 18 April 1945, the troops landed, wading through sea water to the beach.
RESISTANCE LIGHT
“A” Co supported by “C” Co, landed at Punta. A beachhead was immediately established and “A” Co under the command of 1st Lieut JUAN CALO, swept the whole area to Kinabjangan bridge on the National Highway from the beach killing fourteen Nips on the way. At 0900 hours, Kinabjangan bridge and vicinity were in the hands of the invading forces.
The bombardment killed eight Japs and the guerrillas killed 54 Japs between the town and Buenavista, five miles east of Nasipit. The holding force previously put ashore at Diwata Point prevented the Japs from retreating westward. Only three Japs retreated in this direction and all were killed.
While “A” Co and “C” were establishing a beachhead at Punta on the North side of Nasipit, “B” Co under the command of 2nd Lieut ALEJANDRO MONTILLA effected a landing at Talisay of Nasipit proper from CCI No. 363. Immediately upon gaining the beachhead, “B” Co operated towards the junction of Nasipit-Carmen road, portion of the National Highway.
The 1st and 2nd platoons operating West of Nasipit proper met slight resistance which was immediately crushed. The 3rd platoon followed the National Highway to Nasipit proper. At O800 hours, Nasipit proper fell and the 3rd platoon continued its movement towards the road junction to the rest of the company at 0830 hours when the road junction fell, after clearing the place of Jap snipers. “A” and “B” Cos made junction at Kinabjangan bridge.
“C” Co immediately took over and occupied Punta, Nasipit proper and Talisay areas and mopped up the area for stragglers and supplies. The objective was gained and taken, and ground was organized from Kinabjangan area to road junction Nasipit-Carmen on the National Highway for any counter-attack.
From the 19th until the morning of the 20th, the Japanese launched a heavy counter attack which was repulsed. The remnants of the Nips garrison at Nasipit were killed in the mopping up operation although a few succeeded in reaching Kiagta, another Jap garrison in Buenavista. Guerrilla forces killed twenty-four Japs in this operation.
Considerable Jap equipment and supplies were captured at Nasipit, including 3 machine guns, 20 rifles, 2 class A barges, ammunition, 20 drums of gasoline, food and fuel oil. The ammunition loot amounted to the largest yet found on the north coast and consisted of 105 mm and 70 mm howitzer shells, 60 mm projectiles and fuses, 37 mm anti-tank shells and .25 and .30 caliber rifle rounds. Also captured were one truck and one sedan in fair condition. The Navy machinist mates attached to the group had them repaired and transporting captured ammunition in the afternoon.
The LCS 9 and LCI 363 then stayed behind to furnish fire power if needed to prevent the Japs from returning to the town. The LCS 10 and LCI 429 discharged cargo at lligan the following morning and returned to Leyte. The LCS 9 and LCI 363 proceeded to Gingoog on the following day where the LCI 363 became stranded on the beach and had to wait until high tide to depart and return to Leyte.
Source: History of the Mindanao Guerrillas by the American Guerrillas of Mindanao (AGOM) Unpublished Manuscript, and Summary report of thirteen missions to supply guerrilla forces on various enemy held islands in the Philippine area by units of Task Group 70.4 under command of Lt. Albert C. Eldridge, Commander Task Group 70.4.
