Roster of 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment Officers

On December 31, 1943

Obtained from the National Archives by Sean Conejos

This page contains the names of the officers present on the above date. The assignments listed come straight from the original roster. Select officers have links to their biographies at the end of the page.

The officers that have served with the Philippine Scouts before or after WWII have been marked down. Other officers may have served with the Philippine Scouts after the war (several stayed in the U.S. Army after the war), but cannot be determined without conclusive evidence. If you know of an officer who served with the PS after the war or have a biography you’d like to submit, please email the webmaster at info@philippinescouts.org.

Legend: * Served with the Philippine Scouts before WWII, ** Served with the Philippine Scouts after WWII,
^ Commissioned as an officer with the Philippine Scouts, † Did not appear on the 12/31/43 roster but served with the 1st Filipino Regiment

Regimental Headquarters & Headquarters Company

1st Battalion

Company A

Company B

Company C

Company D

2nd Battalion

Company E

Company F

Company G

Company H

3rd Battalion

Company I

Company K

Company L

Company M

Service Company

Cannon Company

Anti-Tank Company

Medical Detachment

Unknown Assignment
2nd Lieutenant Alberto C. Elepano
Platoon Officer

Biographies of Select 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment Officers

Robert Hilton Offley

• May 27, 1897: Born in Oklahoma

• 1918: Graduated from the U.S. Military Academy

• October 9, 1919: Promoted to 1st Lieutenant, Infantry

• April 4, 1921: Commanding Officer, Service Company, 43rd Infantry Regiment (PS), Ft. Wm. McKinley, P.I.

• May 8, 1922: Commanding Officer, Company C, 43rd Infantry Regiment (PS), Camp John Hay, P.I.

• September 30, 1922: Transferred to 45th Infantry Regiment (PS)

• April 6, 1923: En route to Ft. Sam Houston, TX

• June 12, 1941: Promoted to Lt. Colonel, AUS

• April 1942: Named Commanding Officer, 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment

• July 31, 1942: Promoted to Colonel, AUS

• September 2, 1942: Promoted to Lt. Colonel, Infantry

• March 1944: Shipped off for overseas duty with regiment. Awarded Bronze Star Medal.

• April-December 1946: Named Commanding Officer, 45th Infantry Regiment (PS)

• February 1947: Senior Army Instructor, Montana National Guard, Helena, MT

• March 11, 1948: Promoted to Colonel, Infantry

• September 30, 1948: Retired after over 30 years of service

Tirso Gimenez Fajardo

• September 24, 1910: Born in Manila, P.I.

• June 12, 1934: Graduated from the U.S. Military Academy, appointed 2nd Lieutenant, Philippine Scouts

• Married Lilian Elizabeth “Diane” DeVault

• 1934-39: Instructor of History and Tactics, Philippine Military Academy

• 1939: Masters student at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, majoring in Mechanical Engineering

• 1941: Earned a Master of Science

• 1941: Student at the Command and General Staff School, Ft. Leavenworth, KS

• 1942: Named Executive Officer, 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment at Ft. Ord, CA

• March 1944: Shipped off for overseas duty with regiment

• September 1946: Retired from U.S. Army with rank of Colonel. Transferred to Philippine Army.

• 1947: Superintendent of the Philippine Military Academy

• June 12, 1958: Named Commanding General of the Philippine Army

• August 1, 1959: Retired from the Philippine Army with rank of Brigadier General

• May 6, 1986: Passed away in the P.I.

Francisco Paguirigan

• January 29, 1911: Born in Isabella, P.I.

• Taught at the University of the Philippines

• September 19, 1938: Arrived in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. from the P.I. aboard the SS Empress Russia

• September 1938: Arrived in Seattle

• 1940: Student at Stanford University, specializing in geology and meteorology

• May 19, 1942: Enlisted in the U.S. Army, commissioned 1st Lieutenant 

• Trained at Air Force Intelligence School

• Served with the 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment

• March 20, 1944: Sailed from San Francisco for overseas duty

• August 10, 1946: Married Dolores De La Rama

• April 21, 1947: Became a U.S. Citizen

• March 31, 1978: Passed away in San Francisco, CA

Honorato Singco Eschavez

• January 11, 1909: Born in Ginatilan, Cebu, P.I.

• August 1929: Arrived in the U.S. from the P.I. aboard the SS Grant

• 1934: Serving on the U.S.S. Lexington

• November 13, 1934: Became a U.S. Citizen

• Served six years with U.S. Navy and four years with U.S. Merchant Marine

• Flyweight champion of the U.S. Asiatic Fleet

• 1940: Lived in Baltimore, MD, working for Bull Steamship Lines

• December 7, 1943: Joined the U.S. Army, 

• Attended Officer Candidate School at Ft. Benning, GA. Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant

• May 7, 1948: Honorably Discharged from the U.S. Army

• April 9, 1949: Married Joan Marilyn Phillips

• May 22, 1980: Passed away in Los Angeles, CA

Fr. Peter O. Monleon

• April 29: 1892: Born in Boac, Marinduque, P.I.

• 1917: Theological Student, studying at St. John’s Seminary, Boston, MA. Became a Catholic Priest.

• 1923: Came to the U.S. from the PI., lived in Washington DC.

• Before 1940: Moved to Seattle

• June 10, 1943: Joined the U.S. Army, commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant (Chaplain)

• Served with the 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment

• April 30, 1953: Retired from the U.S. Army as a Major

• April 4, 1977: Passed away in Washington, D.C. 

Rev. Maurice B. S. Legare

• September 22, 1899: Born in Cebu, P.I.

• Chaplain (Presbyterian) 

• March 3, 1943: Commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant (Chaplain)

• Served with the 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment

• January 19, 1946: Honorably Discharged from the 30th Infantry, 3rd Infantry Division.

• July 11, 1954: Passed away

Fr. Pedro Anacleto Verceles

• April 12, 1907: Born in Tubao, La Union, 

• June 1940: Arrived in U.S. from Italy

• Attended St. Mary’s College in St. Mary’s, Kansas as a Divinity Student

• Joined the U.S. Army, commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant (Chaplain)

• Served with the 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment

Jaime Camacho Velasquez

• April 4, 1907: Born in the P.I.

• 1931: Graduated from the U.S. Military Academy, commissioned as 3rd Lieutenant, Philippine Constabulary

• 1940-41: Commandant of Cadets, Philippine Military Academy

• 1941-42: Officer with the U.S. Army Forces Far East

• February 20, 1942: Evacuated Corregidor aboard the U.S.S. Swordfish and accompanied President Manuel Quezon to Australia then the U.S.

• 1942: Reassigned to the 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment

• July 6, 1946: Promoted to Colonel

• 1946-47: Executive Officer, Military Police Command

• 1947: Military Attache, Philippine Embassy, Washington D.C. 

Atanacio T. Chavez

• October 9, 1917: Born in P.I.

• 1941: Graduated from the U.S. Military Academy, originally commissioned in Philippine Army

• Assigned to 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment

• 1947: S-3, Engineer Service Battalion, Santolan Barracks, Rizal, P.I.

Venancio Doromal Demandante

• April 1, 1907: Born in Dumaugas, Iloilo

• June 17, 1929: Arrived in U.S. (Seattle) from the P.I. on the SS President Jefferson

• Attended Linfield College, McMinville, OR

• Became a secondary school teacher in Ann Arbor, Michigan

• November 11, 1942: Enlisted in the U.S. Army, commissioned 2nd Lieutenant

• 1982: Became a U.S. Citizen in Minnesota

• November 3, 2004: Passed away

Issac F. Unciano

• June 2, 1908: Born in the P.I.

• July 9, 1934: Arrived in the U.S. (Los Angeles) from the P.I., heading to Chicago, IL

• Earned post-secondary degree

• March 5, 1941: Enlisted with the Illinois National Guard, Corps of Engineers, with rank of Sergeant

• 1942: Served with the 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment

• Continued to serve in the U.S. Army and served in Germany

• June 30, 1961: Retired as a Captain

• Married to Felipa Y. Unciano. Had at least 2 kids: Issac and Catherine

• February 10, 1989: Passed away

Abdon Llorente

• July 30, 1893: Born in Bamban, Tarlac, P.I.

• September 10, 1920: Arrived in the U.S. (Los Angeles) from the P.I. to attend Columbia University In New York

• 1942: Served with the 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment

• January 9, 1943: Became a U.S. Citizen in California

• Retired from the Army as a Major

• September 18, 1957: Died in San Juan, Rizal, P.I.

Fred C. Guerrero

• December 18, 1897: Born in Laoag, Ilocos Norte

• February 23, 1942: Joined U.S. Army, commissioned as Captain

• September 23, 1942: Became a U.S. Citizen at San Luis Obispo, CA

• February 27, 1980: Passed away

Ignacio Ibalio Josue

• February 1, 1911: Born in Aparri, Cagayan

• October 10, 1927: Arrived in the U.S. (Seattle) from the P.I.

• Worked for the Cannery Workers and Farm Labor Union

• November 23, 1942: Enlisted in the U.S. Army, commissioned 2nd Lieutenant

• April 20, 1945: Married Victoria Petell at Angeles, Pampanga, P.I.

• August 26, 1946: Became a U.S. Citizen

• Remained in U.S. Army to at least Captain

• His children: Vivien born in Angeles, Pampanga; Allan born in Ft. McKinley; Eileen born in Camp Stoneman

• December 31, 1962: Retired from U.S. Army

• April 21, 1997: Passed away in Tacoma, WA

Rafael Manio Ileto

• October 20, 1924: Born in the P.I.

• June 1943: Graduated from the U.S. Military Academy

• Assigned to the 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment

• 1948-49: Served as Captain, AUS, with 3rd Battalion, 44th Infantry Regiment (PS)

Pedro Sobrino Balonon

• January 31, 1905: Born in San Jose, Antique

• September 9, 1925: Arrived in U.S. (San Francisco) from the P.I. on the SS President Wilson

• Lawyer in the Philippines

• August 4, 1937: Employed on the U.S. Army Transport Chateau Thierry

• 1940: Lived in New York City, employed by John A.B. Smith

• October 22, 1942: Enlisted in the U.S. Army, commissioned 1st Lieutenant

• Platoon and later Company Commander, 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment

• Post-1946: Legal Assistance Officer, 80th Ordnance Depot Co. (PS)

• August 14, 1948: Retired from Army

• March 17, 1981: Passed away in Manahawkin, NJ

Isidro De Guzman Urbano

• May 15, 1920: Born in Manila, P.I.

• 1926: Entered the U.S. from the Philippines in Seattle

• 1930: Lived in San Francisco, CA

• June 27, 1942: Enlisted in the U.S. Army, commissioned 2nd Lieutenant

• February 20, 1943: Became a U.S. Citizen at Camp Beale, CA

• November 25, 1945: Married Maria Soledad in Manila, P.I.

• His children: Isidro Jr. (1946) and Sandra Dene (1948)

• Korean War: Officer in the 31st Infantry Regiment

• September 18, 1952: KIA in Korea with rank of Captain

Robert Maurice Viale

• March 1941: Enlisted with the National Guard, commissioned 2nd Lieutenant

• Trained in San Luis Obispo with the 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment

• Sent overseas with Company K, 148th Infantry Regiment, 37th Infantry Division

• Fought in Bougainville and the Philippines

• February 5, 1945: KIA in Manila, P.I. Sacrificed himself by smothering a grenade.

• October 25, 1945: Awarded Congressional Medal of Honor

Pedro Roxas Florcruz

• February 22, 1918: Born in the P.I.

• 1942: Graduated from the U.S. Military Academy

• 1942-43: Company Commander, 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment

• 1943-44: 3rd Battalion S-3, 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment

• 1944-45: Regimental S-3, 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment

• January-August 1947: Executive Officer, 3rd Battalion, 57th Infantry Regiment (PS)

• August 1947-May 1948: Regimental S-3, 57th Infantry Regiment (PS)

Eduardo Tolentino Suatengco

• July 20, 1931: Born in the P.I.

• June 1943: Graduated from the U.S. Military Academy

• September 1943: At the Infantry School, Ft. Benning, GA

• September 1943-March 1945: Platoon Leader, 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment

• October 18, 1944: Promoted to 1st Lieutenant, AUS

• April-June 1945: Student at the Command and General Staff School, Ft. Leavenworth, KS

• June 1945-June 1946: Administrative Officer, U.S. Army Training Group, Army Forces Pacific

• June 28, 1946: Promoted to Captain, AUS

• July 1946: Staff Officer, U.S. Advisory Mission to the Philippine Army

Pedro P. Holanda

• April 13, 1906: Born in Leyte, P.I.

• 1926: Arrived in the U.S. from the Philippines

• 1928: Became a U.S. Citizen

• 1930 Census: Soldier with the 30th Infantry, Presidio, San Francisco, CA

• 1940 Census: Soldier at the Presidio, San Francisco, CA

• 1943: Served with the 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment

• March 31, 1949: Retired as Warrant Officer 1

• August 19, 1975: Passed away

Anselmo Pelovello Canapi

• April 21, 1906: Born in Iguig, Cagayan, P.I.

• Lived in New York City, employed by a Mr. Frederick W. Werner

• May 1, 1942: Enlisted in the U.S. Army, commissioned 2nd Lieutenant

• 1943: Served with the 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment

Vincent Velasquez Rosal

• July 6, 1908: Born in P.I.

• 1930 Census: Living in Manhattan, WA as a servant to LaRoo E. Woodman

• 1940 Census: Living in Seattle, WA as a houseboy to Dr. C. L. Templeton

• 1942: Living in Jefferson County, WA

• April 23, 1942: Enlisted in the U.S. Army, commissioned 2nd Lieutenant

• 1943: Served with the 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment

• March 6, 1943: Became a U.S. Citizen

• Served in the Korean War

• October 31, 1963: Retired as 2nd Lieutenant.

• January 15, 1988: Passed away in San Francisco, CA

Tranquilino Eleccion Vergara

• July 9, 1902: Born in San Esteban, Ilocos Sur, P.I

• June 1924: First arrived in the U.S. (Seattle) from the Philippines

• July 31, 1936: Became a U.S. Citizen

• 1942: Lived in New York City, working for Hotel Astor

• November 16, 1942: Enlisted in the U.S. Army, commissioned 2nd Lieutenant

• 1943: Served with the 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment

• September 6, 2001: Passed away

Rafael T. Ruiz

• October 22, 1905: Born in the P.I.

• 1938: Private 1st Class with Battery A, 1st Observation Battalion, Field Artillery, Ft. Bragg NC

• 1942: Assigned to the 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment, commissioned 2nd Lieutenant

• 1943: Served with the 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment

• April 30, 1950: Retired as a 1st Lieutenant

• March 28, 1970: Passed away

Dr. Conrado S. Topacio

• December 1941: Member of the medical staff of the Red Cross ship, S.S. Mactan

• January-June 1942: Remained in Australia

• 1942: Reassigned to the 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment

• 1944: Reassigned to Walter Reed General Hospital

• May 1957: Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, AUS

• December 1, 1962: Retired as Lieutenant Colonel

Dr. Modesto Reyes Paragas

• June 15, 1906: Born in Lingayen, Pangasinan, P.I.

• May 23, 1924: Arrived in the U.S. (Seattle) from the P.I. on the S.S. President Grant

• 1930 Census: Living in Bloomington, IN

• Moved to Hammond, IN

• May 3, 1935: Married Carol M. Romine in Chicago, IL

• Medical Doctor, practiced in Creston, IA

• October 27, 1942: Entered the U.S. Army Medical Corps

• November 10, 1942: Entered into Active Duty

• Served at Avon Park Bombing Range Hospital, 3rd Air Force, Florida

• March 19, 1943: Became a U.S. Citizen

• April 6, 1944: Departed for overseas duty

• Served with 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment; 3rd Filipino Infantry Regiment, PCAU No. 8; MP Command, AFWESPAC

• January 14, 1946: Returned from overseas duty

• April 9, 1946: Honorably Discharged

• November 23, 1966: Passed away

Dr. Francisco A. Rosete

• January 27, 1902: Born in the P.I.

• August 26, 1942: Enlisted in the U.S. Army

• August 26, 1942: Married Geraldine Mougeole in Cook County, IL

• 1943: Served with 1st Filipino Regiment. Awarded Bronze Star Medal

• Served with HQ, Visayan Zone, Military Police Command 

• May 25, 1946: Honorable Discharge as Major

• August 16, 1961: Passed away in Maywood, IL

Dr. Jose A. Willie

• April 10, 1910: Born in Parang, Cotobato, P.I.

• 1937: Graduated Medical School in the Philippines

• February 1, 1939: Joined U.S. Army

• September 17, 1939: Arrived to the U.S. (in Los Angeles en route to New York City) from the P.I. 

• Father was a U.S. Citizen

• 1942: Served with the 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment

• 1943: Served with 1st Filipino Regiment

• August 14, 1949: Promoted to Major, AUS

• August 15, 1950: Promoted to Major, Medical Corps

• May 19, 1955: Retired as Major

• December 1, 1996: Passed away in San Diego, CA

Dr. Benjamin M. Setias

• 1917: Born in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, P.I.

• December 1941: Served as a Red Cross Dentist on the SS Mactan

• October 1942: Sailed from Melbourne, Australia to U.S. aboard the SS Poelau Laut

• 1943: Served with the 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment

Dr. Celestino A. Gomez

• April 3, 1912: Born in Bauang, La Union, P.I.

• June 1930: Arrived in the U.S. (Seattle) from the P.I. aboard the SS President Taft

• April 5, 1943: Joined the U.S. Army

• 1943: Served with the 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment

• October 16, 1953: Retired from the U.S. Air Force with rank of Lt. Colonel

• February 25, 1988: Passed away at Kansas City, MO

Miguel Manresa, Jr.

• December 23, 1915: Born in Romblon, Romblon, P.I.

• Attended the Agriculture College in Laguna, P.I.

• 1940: Post-graduate student at Iowa State College, Ames, IA

• April 19, 1943: Enlisted in the U.S. Army in Camp Dodge, Herrold, IA. Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant.

• Assigned to 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment

• March 1944: Shipped off for overseas duty with regiment

• October 20, 1948: Retired from U.S. Army with rank of Captain

• April 1, 1978: Passed away

Eugene Montoya, Jr.

• November 14, 1914: Born in Santa Fe, NM

• 1940: Worked for the Santa Fe Motor Co.

• June 16, 1942: Enlisted in the U.S. Army at Santa Fe, NM

• Attended Officer’s Candidate School at Ft. Benning, GA. Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant.

• Assigned to the 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment

• Transferred to Company M, 167th Infantry Regiment, 31st Infantry Division as Motor Transport Officer

• April 6, 1944: Departed for overseas duty with regiment

• December 17, 1945: Arrived back in the U.S.

• February 26, 1946: Honorably Discharged

• January 11, 1979: Passed away

Benny D. Cablay

• August 25, 1919: Born in the P.I.

• 1935: Lived in Los Angeles, CA

• 1940: Working for Mrs. Edith Jackson in Sacramento, CA as a “servant”

• March 24, 1942: Enlisted in the U.S. Army at Sacramento, CA. Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant.

• Assigned to 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment

• September 1977: Passed away