33rd's Introduction to Luzon Made at San Fabian

Golden Cross riflemen wade ashore at San Fabian from LCVPs.

10 February 1945 - (Sixty years!) Debarcation began one day after arriving offshore. Troops were told they'd remain aboard overnight on the 9th while landing plans were coordinated.

To the south lay the Central Plain of Luzon. While 33rd troops were trained in jungle warfare, they preferred engaging the enemy on the plain.

Their confidence was borne out - not by the 33rd but by Sixth Army forces that had driven south from their January landing. And, by 9 February, Jap resistance had been pushed back to Manila.

That left one area for the 33rd to be tactically committed: the towering, tree-covered mountains that rose quickly from the Central Plain and stretched as far as the eye could see. The peaks were covered by eddies of mist and fog.

Men of the 33rd knew that before they left the island, they would be walking and fighting over most of those mountains. It was Morotai again, but this time with 7,000 foot mountains.

Division was attached to I Corps on 12 February, receiving its initial commitment orders at the same time.

Troops of the 123 rd Infantry were the first into the front line. Leaving the San Fabian assembly area, Colonel Serff's men took over positions on the high ground north of the Damortis-Rosario road held by the 158th RCT. They accomplished the relief on the afternoon of the 13th. The 3rd Battalion, under Major Sanford Wolf, anchored the left flank, holding high ground a thousand yards north of Damortis while Major James Gregg's 2nd Battalion commanded terrain midway between the two barrios. The right flank of the regimental line was held by LTC Charles Coates 1st Battalion. A day later the 130th Infantry assumed positions on the 123rd's right.

Col. Collie's 130th Infantry Regiment relieved the 172nd Infantry of the 43rd Division on a horseshoe shaped line running from Rosario to Sison. LTC Ernest Jessup, Major Richard Askern and LTC Orville Minton commanded the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions, respectively.

Last to leave the San Fabian assembly area was the 136th Infantry commanded by COL Cavanee. 15 February two of his battalions relieved four 43rd Division battalions on positions east of the Sison-Pozorrubio road. LTC Sauser's 2nd Battalion, shock troops on Morotai, was given another hot spot at Hill 600 that ran from the center of the regimental zone of action to the Pozorrubio flank.

Three 136th Companies secured the sector formed by the Division's right flank. They were B Co., commanded by Captain Kissel, Cannon under Capt. Duchala, and Anti-Tank led by Capt. Garland. The 3rd battalion, led by Major Farnell, assumed responsibility for the area southward from Sison to the edge of Hill 600. Major Ehrlich's 1st Battalion remained in bivouac near Sison, designated as Division reserve.

The 122nd, 124th and 210th Field Artillery Battalions, all with 105mm howitzers, were emplaced to best support their combat team complements.

Medics and engineers filled out the combat teams. Each of its battalions went to the three infantry regiments. Collecting companies, A, B and C of the 108th medical Battalion also were attached to infantry elements.

Opposing the 33rd were the Japanese 23rd Division and the 58th Independent Mixed Brigade, veterans of the China campaigns. Mainstays of Yamashita's 14th Area Army, they were sworn to prevent a repetition of the Leyte fiasco.

A captured document written by one of Yamashita's Division commanders shortly before the D-day landing read in part...if the battle situation develops unfavorably for us and we find ourselves under continuous enemy pressure, we must be able to hold a route of withdrawal to the mountainous terrain around Baguio. To hold on and await plans of later years it is necessary. .. to be able to establish permanent installations which can hold out for months and years. The mountains around Baguio are suitable for this purpose.