23rd Infantry Brigade, Philippine Scouts
Constituted
October 15, 1921 [1]
Organized
January 5, 1922
Organization Day
October 15
Redesignated
March 23, 1925 as HHC, 23rd Brigade (PS)
August 24, 1936 as HHC, 23rd Infantry Brigade (PS)
Inactivated
April 19, 1941
Disbanded
November 11, 1944
Brigadier General Stanley Hammer Ford (right), commanding general of the 23rd Infantry Brigade (PS), congratulates Philippine Scouts upon their retirement from the Army during ceremonies at Ft. Wm. McKinley, April 30, 1934. (Signal Corps Photograph #331395, National Archives)
The 23rd Infantry Brigade, Philippine Scouts, was an element of the Philippine Division, U.S. Army, based at Ft. McKinley. Constituted in 1921 and organized in 1922, it was the parent organization of the 45th and 57th Infantry Regiments (PS) from 1921 until its inactivation in 1941.
History
Formation and the Interwar Period
The Army constituted the 23rd Infantry Brigade on October 15, 1921 and assigned to the Philippine Division. It was organized on January 5, 1922 at Ft. William McKinley, Philippines. It was then redesignated Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 23rd Brigade (PS) on March 23, 1925. It was redesignated again as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 23rd Infantry Brigade (PS) August 24, 1936.
The subordinate units of the brigade were the 45th Infantry Regiment (PS) and the 57th Infantry Regiment (PS), and took part in the annual maneuvers of the Philippine Division. During the 1920s and 1930s, the commander usually held the rank of Brigadier General. Many of them moved on to command the Philippine Division and even the Philippine Department, including General Douglas MacArthur.
With the transition of the Philippine Division from a Square Division structure to a Triangular one, the Army inactivated the 23rd Infantry Brigade (PS) on April 19, 1941 and disbanded it all together on November 11, 1944.
June 1923 roster of the 23rd Infantry Brigade, Philippine Scouts, showing that Brig. Gen. Douglas MacArthur took command on June 29, 1923. (National Archives, compliments of Sean Conejos)
Brigadier General Casper H. Conrad, Jr. in front of the 23rd Brigade (PS) Headquarters, May 19, 1931. (Signal Corps Photograph #330993, National Archives)
Brigadier General Evan H. Humphrey with the 23rd Infantry Brigade (PS) staff, January 18, 1937. (Signal Corps Photograph #331531, National Archives)
Brigadier General James K. Parsons with the 23rd Brigade (PS) staff mounted at Ft. Wm. McKinley, February 10, 1933 (Signal Corps Photograph #331357, National Archives)
Brigadier General John L. DeWitt with 23rd Brigade (PS) staff, February 21, 1936. (Signal Corps Photograph #331458, National Archives)
Brigade Commanders [1]
Col. Charles H. Barth
January 5, 1922 – October 12, 1922
Col. Henry E. Eames
October 12, 1922 – June 29, 1923
Brig. Gen. Douglas MacArthur*^
June 29, 1923 – January 17, 1925
Brig. Gen. Henry E. Eames
January 17, 1925 – January 31, 1925
Col. George L. Byroade
February 1, 1925 – April 20, 1925
Brig. Gen. Thomas Q. Donaldson
April 20, 1925 – February 16, 1927
Col. Earle W. Tanner
February 16, 1927 – April 25, 1927
Brig. Gen. Henry G. Learnard
April 25, 1927 – April 10, 1929
Col. Harry A. Eaton
April 10, 1929 – June 15, 1929
Brig. Gen. Edgar T. Collins
June 15, 1929 – October 2, 1930
Brig. Gen. Caspar H. Conrad Jr.*
October 2, 1930 – June 23, 1931
* Later served as Commanding General, Philippine Division
Brig. Gen. James K. Parsons
June 23, 1931 – June 1, 1933
Col. Ralph McCoy
June 1, 1933 – June 29, 1933
Brig. Gen. Stanley H. Ford*^
June 29, 1933 – May 27, 1935
Col. Ralph Leavitt*
May 27, 1935 – June 28, 1935
Brig. Gen. John L. DeWitt*
June 28, 1935 – April 27, 1936
Col. Charles W. Martin
April 27, 1936 – May 2, 1936
Brig. Gen. Evan H. Humphrey*
May 2, 1936 – January 21, 1937
Col. Reginald H. Kelley
January 21, 1937 – January 24, 1937
Brig. Gen. George Grunert*^
January 24, 1937 – October 6, 1938
Col. Melvin C. Faris
October 6, 1938 – October 24, 1938
Brig. Gen. Henry C. Pratt*
October 24, 1938 – April 19, 1941
^ Later served as Commanding General, Philippine Department
Bibliography
[1] “HHC, 23d Infantry Brigade (PS) (Philippine Division).” US Army Order of Battle, 1919-1941, by Steven E. Clay, vol. 1, Combat Studies Institute Press, 2010, p. 307.