January 15-21, 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
January 15
LUZON-In U.S. Sixth Army's XIV Corps area, elements of 40th Div begin probing in Dasol Bay-Balinao Peninsula area, where action is insignificant through 18th. 2nd Bn of 160th Inf takes San Clemente, forcing (Japanese) party back toward Camiling. Elements of 129th Ind and 37th Rcn Tr, 37th Div, intercept the (Japanese) near Camiling and disperse it. In I Corps area, 6th Div, while continuing holding action, extends left flank to Cabanbanan, between Manaog and Urdaneta. Patrols find (Japanese) in possession of Urdaneta and Cabaruan Hills. In 43rd Div zone, 158th Inf, assisted by arty, naval gunfire, and aircraft, begins clearing the defile near Amlang, on road to Rosario; 63rd Inf drives N in effort to make contact with 158th but stops for night well S of Amlang; 172nd Inf clears Hill 665 and reaches Damortis-Rosario road within 1½ miles of Rosario; 169th, unable to take Hill 355 from W and S, prepares to strike from E; 103rd gains most of Hill 200 area.
CAMOTES-Protected by Fifth Air Force planes and PT boats, 7th Div TF lands unopposed on N and S tips of Poson I.
MINDORO-2nd Bn of 21st Inf, driving on Calapan, meets delaying opposition along Gusay Creek. 503rd Para Inf, which has been assisting guerilla forces, terminates operations in Mindoro.
January 16
LUZON-Airstrip in Lingayen Gulf area becomes operational.
In U.S. Sixth Army area, XIV Corps' zone is extended to cover region from Bayambang W into Zambales Mtns. Bridges are to be constructed over the Agno for use of heavy equipment. Regrouping and widespread patrolling ensue. In I Corps area, 25th Div is attached to corps from army reserve to secure line Binalonan-Urdaneta and enters line between 6th and 43rd Divs, whereupon 6th prepares to move on Urdaneta and the and Cabaruan Hills. 43rd Div attempts to take Rosario and junction of Routes 3 and 11 but makes little headway. 103rd Inf, assisted by tanks, virtually finishes clearing Hill 200 area; elements move into Pozorrubio. During night 16-17, (Japanese) make local counterattacks but are driven back with heavy losses.
MINDORO-19th Inf, upon establishing outpost at Bulalacao, finds that the area is infested with (Japanese).
January 17
LUZON-In U.S. Sixth Army area, Gen MacArthur directs Gen Krueger to speed drive on Manila and Clark Field. XIV Corps continues preparations for offensive. In I Corps area, 6th Div begins push on Cabaruan Hills with 20th Inf and on Urdaneta with 1st Inf. 25th Div attacks in center of corps with 27th Inf on right and 161st on left; 27th reaches Binalonan-Urdaneta road; 161st pushes to Binalonan, where (Japanese) is offering lively opposition. 103d Inf, 43rd Div, takes Pozorrubio, from which most (Japanese) have withdrawn. 63rd Inf is attached to 158th Inf to help clear heights commanding Damortis-Rosario road in Amlang-Cataguintingan region. 158th takes ridge about 1,000 yards NE of Damortis.
January 18
LUZON-U.S. Sixth Army orders XIV Corps to drive S beyond the Agno in force from current general line Bayambang-Urbiztondo-Bogtong. In I Corps area, 1st Inf of 6th Div takes Urdaneta while 20th continues to probe into Cabaruan Hills without making contact with main (Japanese) forces. 161st Inf, 25th Div, clears Binalonan. From Palacpalac, 2nd Bn of 169th Inf, 43rd Div, attacks through Bobonan to road junction near Sison; maintains roadblock there under strong (Japanese) pressure. 158th and 63rd Regts begin attack on ridge called Blue Ridge, near Amlang; although progress is slow the assault regts gain contact with each other.
CAMOTES-From Ponson I, 7th Div TF (3rd Bn of 184th Inf, reinf) moves by sea to Poro I, and establishes beachhead.
January 19
LUZON-In U.S. Sixth Army Area, XIV Corps begins advance toward Clark Field, gaining line Camiling-Paniqui-Anao 24 hours ahead of schedule. On right, 160th Inf of 40th Div drives down Route 13 to Nambalan. One column of 129th Inf, 37th Div, drives to Carmen and patrols as afar as San Manuel without incident; another advances to Moncada, where (Japanese) are driven off, a third reaches Paniqui. 148th Inf moves into positions along Camiling-Paniqui road-Route 55. In I Corps area, 169th Inf of 43rd Div moves reinforcements to 2nd Bn at road junction near Sison, but (Japanese) regain the position. 103rd Inf begins two-bn assault on Hill 600, E of Pozorrubio road.
CAMOTES-7th Div TF on Poro is clearing the island and making few contacts with the (Japanese).
MINDORO-21st Inf troops overcome (Japanese) opposition along Gusay Creek.
January 20
SWPA-Gen Eicheberger recommends to Gen MacArthur that 11th A/B Div makes a single landing on Luzon, at Nasugbu Bay, instead of the two (Nasugbu Bay and Tayabas or Balayan Bays) originally contemplated. This would solve problems of air and naval support.
LUZON-In U.S. Sixth Army area, Gen Krueger asks Allied Air Forces not to bomb bridges S of the Agno since they are needed to speed drive on Manila. In XIV Corps area, 160th Inf of 40th Div gets forward elements to within four miles of Tarlac; 108th begins to follow 160th southward. Forward elements of 37th Div reach Victoria, which is undefended, and patrol beyond there. In I Corps area, 25th Div, with 27th Inf on right and 161st on left, opens drives on Asingan and San Manuel. 169th Inf (less 2nd Bn) of 43rd Div attacks Mt Alava and gets elements to crest. 103rd gains positions on S part of Hill 600.
CAMOTES-7th Div TF is reconnoitering Pacijan I. without incident.
MINDORO-Bulk of 2nd Bn, 19th Inf, moves to Bulalacao to destroy (Japanese) in that region in patrol actions.
January 21
LUZON-In U.S. Sixth Army area, XIV Corps drive beyond day's objective, line Tarlac-Victoria, and is ordered to continue toward Clark Field, although its E flank is expected for over 20 miles. 160th Inf, 40th Div, takes Tarlac without opposition; elements push on to San Miguel. Advance elements of 37th Div reach vicinity of La Paz. I Corps is to seize line Victoria-Guimba in strength while protecting left flank of XIV Corps. 103d Inf of 43d Div, continuing assault on Hill 600, gains military crest. 158th and 63rd Regts finish clearing Blue Ridge, near Amlang. 63rd Inf is then withdrawn into corps reserve. 172nd Inf, clearing heights commanding Rosario, is reinf by Philippine 2d Bn, 121st Inf.
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