February 8-14, 1945
Source: Compilation done by Mary H. Williams of the Office of the Chief of Military History, Department of the Army, Washington D.C. in 1960
February 8
LUZON - In U.S. sixth Army's XIV Corps area, while 1st Cav Div forces are clearing E suburbs of Manila, 37th Div expands and strengthens its bridgehead S of the Pasig, crossing 1st and 2nd Bns. Of 129th Inf into it. On right flank of corps. 40th Div's 185th Inf continues attack toward snake Hill North; 160th gains most of McSevney Pt and hold positions against series of counterattacks; 108th attacks W from Top of the World toward series of hills about 1,500-2,000 yards distant, numbered 5,3,4, and 6, from N to S, and takes Hill 5. I Corps, with capture of Lupao by 35th Inf of 25th Div, finishes clearing central plain. On Villa Verde Trail, 2d Bn of 127th Inf, 32 Div, pauses to consolidate and patrol. In XI Corps area, 38th Div continues 2 pronged attack against Zigzag Pass but is still stubbornly opposed. 149th Inf is running into strong opposition.
In U.S. Eighth Army area, 511th and 188th Regts of 11th A/B Div make slow progress against Nichols Filed and gain contact near SW corner.
February 9
LUZON - U.S. Sixth Army releases 112th Cav RCT to 1st Cav Div. In XIV Corps area, 37th Div units fighting S of the Pasig in Manila make very small gains against tenacious resistance. 1st Cav Div forces clearing E suburbs reach the Pasig and begin crossing. In 40th Div zone, 185th Inf gets into position for assault on Snake Hill North; 160th continues to hold on McSevney Pt; 108th takes Hills 3 and 4 and pushes toward Hill 6. In I corps area, after repelling predawn counterattack, 2nd Bn of 127th Inf, 32nd Div, continues attack to clear Villa Verde Trail but is soon checked by (Japanese) fire. In XI Corps area, 38th Div continues to eliminate (Japanese) positions in the Zigzag.
In U.S. Eighth Army area, 11th A/B is meeting intense opposition at Nichols Field.
February 10
P.I. - Samar Task force (consisting largely of 1st Bn of 182d Inf, americal Div. And guerillas) is formed under Brig. Gen L.H. Slocum, Americal Div CG. GHQ SWPA establishes boundary between U.S. Sixth and eight Armies. Sixth Army is responsible for Luzon and eight for all Islands to S - about two thirds of land area of the Philippines.
LUZON - 33rd Div arrives from Morotai. In U.S. Sixth Army's XIV Corps area, opposition in S Manila is to stubborn and losses to 37th Div are so great that it is decided to increase volume of arty bombardment. 129th and 148th Regts, 37th Div, reach line Estero de Tongue-Estero de Paco. 1st Cav Div regroups, committing 112th Cav RCT along line of communications to permit 12th Cav to move into Rosario Heights. Div expands positions S of the Pasig and makes patrol contact with 37th Div near Paco Station. In center of 40th Div zone, 160th Inf finds that (Japanese) have abandoned McSevney Pt and pushes on toward final objective, Object Hill, gaining positions on Snake Hill West and scattered Trees Ridge. In I Corps area, 3rd Bn of 127th Inf, 32nd Div, relives 2nd Bn on Villa Verde Trail. In U.S. Eighth Army area, as 11th A/B Div continues to clear (Japanese) positions around Nichols Field it is transferred to command of XIV Corps, Sixth Army, and directed to maintain pressure on the airfield and determine location of (Japanese) positions near the feild and at Cavite.
LEYTE - X Corps takes command of tactical operations on Leyte and Samar, 92nd Div (P) is attached to Americal Div to help mop up. XXIV Corps closes in staging areas on E coast of Leyte.
February 11
LUZON - In U.S. Sixth Army's XIV Corps area, 11th A/B Div presses northward toward Manila against decreasing resistance, reaching Pasay, a suburb, and clearing part of Nichols field; makes patrol contact with 8th Cav outpost. To N, 37th Div and 1st Cav Div continue to clear Manila. In 1 corps area, 161st Inf of 25th Div is ordered to advance from San Isidro area toward Puncan. 1st Bn is to move to Balaho and establish observation posts commanding Highway 5. 3rd Bn of 127th Inf, 32nd Div, begins drive up Villa Verde Trail but is forced back to starting point. For next few days, action in that region is confined to probing by both sides. XI Corps has advanced sufficiently against the Zigzag for 151st Inf to be released.
February 12
LUZON - In U.S. Sixth Army's XXIV Corps area, (Japanese) remaining in Manila are isolated as 5th Cav and 12th Cav, latter replacing 8th Cav, drive W to shore of Manila Bay, overrunning Neilson Field. In coordinated assault by 188th Regt and part of 187th, 11th A/B Div, Nichols Field is largely cleared of (Japanese). 40th Div, advances its flanks, 108th Inf taking Hill 6 and 185th taking Snake Hill North, but is stubbornly opposed in center, where progress is slow. In I Corps area, 33rd Div, comes under corps control to relieve 43rd Div, and RCT 158. Corps is regrouping for drive N into Caraballo Mts. 27th Inf, 25th Div, relieves 1st Inf, 6th Div, at San Jose and improves positions along Highway 5. 35th Inf, moves to Rizal and proves northward with patrols toward Pantangan. 6th Div, occupies positions along E coast, bisecting (Japanese) forces on the island. In XI Corps area, RCT 1 of 6th Div starts S from Dinalupihan for operation to clear Bataan.
VISAYAN PASSAGE- Gen Eichelberger issues basic plan for Eighth Army's part in clearing Visayan Passage.
February 13
LUZON- In U.S. Sixth Army's XIV Corps area, 37th Div, and 1st Cav Div are clearing stubborn strongpoints on approaches to Intramuros in Manila. 11th A/B Div, completes mop-up of Nichols Field are. In 40th Div, zone 108th Inf takes Hill 7, another of the numbered series, but is driven off. I Corps continues to regroup. 33rd Div relieves RCT 158 in Damortis - Rosario - Pozorrubio sector. 25th Div relieves 6th Div on line San Jose - Rizal - Bongabon - Cebu. In XI Corps area Mine sweeping and naval gunfire bombardment of Corregidor is begun in preparation for landings. 38th Div finishes clearing Zigzag defenses except for a final strongpoint between 152nd and 149th Regts
February 14
LUZON- In U.S. Sixth Army area, XIV Corps continues to battle strong points in Manila. In I Corps area, 33rd Div relieves 43rd Div and patrols actively, 25th Div, less 161st Inf, is redeploying for drive on Balete Pass. 6th Div, less 1st Inf, assembles in preparation for movement S of Pampanga R. In XI Corps area, while 38th Div is concluding action againts the Zigzag, where firm contact is made between 149th and 152nd Regts, corps begins operation to clear Bataan Peninsula, the first a series of operations to reopen Manila Bay. East Force (RTC 1 of 6th Div, reinf) begins drive S along E cost of the peninsula from Orani, reaching Pilar. South Force (RCT 151, 38th Div), after loading at Subic and Olongapo, sails from Subic Bay for Mariveles.
LEYTE - In U.S. Eighth Army area, X Corps forms provisional TF (1st Philippine Inf (less 1st and 2nd Bns) and 1st Bn of 182nd Inf, reinf) to clear NW coast of Samar and islands in San Bernardino Strait.
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