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Today in Philippine History:
JULY 5, 1945
Gen. Douglas MacArthur in a GHQ communiqué announced that “the Philippines had been liberated and all operations ended.” This was announced even though Japanese Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita, the Tiger of Malaya was still held out in northern Luzon. The fighting went on as the Japanese continued to resist until Yamashita surrendered in Ifugao on the same day Gen. Yoshijiru Umezu formally surrendered for Japan on September 2, 1945 onboard the USS Missouri. MacArthur was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for defending the Philippines.
Photo credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/
JUNE 14, 1945
Bessang Pass in Cervantes, Ilocos Sur, the last stronghold of the Japanese forces under Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita fell after 20,000 Filipino guerrilla fighters of the United States Army Forces in the Philippines (USAFIP-NL) under the command of Col. Russell Volckmann showed extra-ordinary valor. The Battle of Bessang Pass was a victory for the 121st, 15th, 66th and the Provisional Infantry Regiments of the USAFIP-NIL. The battle took four months and ended on June 14 with the successful planting of a symbolic flag made of a dirty green face towel by the 121st.
Photo credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/
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