45th Infantry Regiment, Philippine Scouts
Organized
June 4, 1917 at Ft. Benjamin Harrison, Indiana, from the personnel of the 10th Infantry [1]
Reorganized
December 3, 1920 as the 45th Infantry Regiment, Philippine Scouts, from the personnel and equipment of the 1st Philippine Infantry Regiment (Provisional)
Reorganized again on March 26, 1946 (less 1st Bn., redesignated as the 77th Infantry (PS))
Inactivated
December 20, 1948 at Camp O’Donnell
Disbanded
October 10, 1951
Campaigns
Luzon 1900
Luzon 1901
Luzon 1902
Philippine Islands 1941-1942
Citations
(3) Distinguished Unit Citations
Philippine Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation [3]
Col. Ralph McCoy, commanding officer of the 45th Infantry Regiment (PS) inspects Company C, 45th Infantry (PS), 1932. (Photo colored by Sean Conejos)
The 45th Infantry Regiment, Philippine Scouts, was an element of the Philippine Division, U.S. Army, based at Ft. McKinley. Originally organized in the continental U.S. in 1917, this organization sailed to the Philippines with all of its records and colors. It arrived on December 2, 1920 and redesignated as a Philippine Scout regiment the next day. Personnel from the inactive 1st Philippine Infantry Regiment (Provisional) were transferred to the 45th Infantry (PS). [1] The 1st Philippine Infantry (Prov.) can trace its lineage back 1899 with the 2nd Company, Macabebe Scouts. [2]
In World War II, the 45th Infantry (PS) pushed the Japanese back all throughout the Bataan Peninsula in numerous battles, such as the Battle of the Pockets and the Battle of the Points. The regiment earned three Distinguished Unit Citations and one Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. The Army awarded 45 decorations for valor to the officers and enlistedmen of the regiment, including 1 Congressional Medal of Honor, 6 Distinguished Service Crosses, 27 Silver Star Medals, and 11 Bronze Star Medals. The regiment surrendered on April 9, 1942 to the Japanese.
The Army reorganized the regiment in 1946 (less the 1st Battalion, which was redesignated as the 77th Infantry (PS)), inactivated in December 1948, and disbanded completely in 1951.
History
Lineage [2]
| 1899 Designation |
1900 |
Early 1901 |
Late 1901 |
1914 |
Early 1918 |
Late 1918 |
Early 1920 |
Late 1920 |
| 45th Infantry Regt. | → |
45th Infantry Regt. (PS) |
||||||
| 1st Bn,, 1st Phil. Inf. (PS) |
→ | 1st Bn., 45th Inf. (PS) |
||||||
| A Troop, 1st Phil. Cav. (PS) | → |
1st Co. (PS) | → |
→ | A Co. 1st Phil. Inf. (PS) | → | A Co., 45th Inf. (PS) | |
| B Troop, 1st Phil. Cav. (PS) | → |
2nd Co. (PS) | → |
→ | B Co. 1st Phil. Inf. (PS) | → | B Co., 45th Inf. (PS) | |
| C Troop, 1st Phil. Cav. (PS) | → |
3rd Co. (PS) | → |
→ | C Co. 1st Phil. Inf. (PS) | → | C Co., 45th Inf. (PS) | |
| 2nd Co., Macabebe Scouts |
→ |
→ |
6th Co. (PS) |
4th Co. (PS) | → | D Co. 1st Phil. Inf. (PS) | → | D Co., 45th Inf. (PS)) |
| 2nd Bn,, 3rd Phil. Inf. (PS) | 2nd Bn,, 1st Phil. Inf. (PS) | 2nd Bn., 45th Inf. (PS) | ||||||
| 1st Co., Cagayan Scouts |
25th Co. (PS) |
→ |
→ | E Co. 3rd Phil. Inf. (PS) | E Co. 1st Phil. Inf. (PS) | E Co., 45th Inf. (PS) | ||
| 2nd Co., Cagayan Scouts | 26th Co. (PS) | → |
→ | F Co. 3rd Phil. Inf. (PS) | F Co. 1st Phil. Inf. (PS) | F Co., 45th Inf. (PS) | ||
| 3rd Co., Cagayan Scouts | 27th Co. (PS) | → |
→ | G Co. 3rd Phil. Inf. (PS) | G Co. 1st Phil. Inf. (PS) | G Co., 45th Inf. (PS) | ||
| 4th Co., Cagayan Scouts | 28th Co. (PS) | → | → | H Co. 3rd Phil. Inf. (PS) | H Co. 1st Phil. Inf. (PS) | H Co., 45th Inf. (PS) | ||
| 3rd Bn,, 1st Phil. Inf. (PS) | 3rd Bn., 45th Inf. (PS) | |||||||
| 53rd Co. (PS) | I Co. 1st Phil. Inf. (PS) | I Co., 45th Inf. (PS) | ||||||
| 54th Co. (PS) | K Co. 1st Phil. Inf. (PS) | K Co., 45th Inf. (PS) | ||||||
| 55th Co. (PS) | L Co. 1st Phil. Inf. (PS) | L Co., 45th Inf. (PS) | ||||||
| 56th Co. (PS) | M Co. 1st Phil. Inf. (PS) | M Co., 45th Inf. (PS) |
Interwar
Governor General of the Philippines, Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., inspects the 45th Infantry (PS) in 1932. To the far left is Capt. (later Brig. Gen.) Mateo Capinpin at the head of Company I. He would lead the 21st Division, Philippine Army during WWII.
A company of men from the 45th Infantry (PS) at the Pettit Barracks, Zamboanga, Mindanao, Philippines, 1933.
1933 National Archives Video: "TRAINING FILM-20: A battalion of the 45th Infantry Regiment demonstrates use of organic equipment for preparing floats for a river crossing.
This photo of Sgt. Agapito Gayanilo and the other bachelors of Company E, 45th Infantry (PS) was taken sometime prior to the outbreak of WWII. (The Sgt. is marked with an X.) (Provided by his grandson, Rey Archide, who would welcome further information on his grandfather and Company E.) During WWII, Sgt. Gayanilo was awarded the Silver Star and Bronze Star medals.
High Commissioner of the Philippines, Paul McNutt, inspects C Company, 45th Infantry (PS), 1937.
Non-commissioned officers of F Company, 45th Infantry (PS), prepare to march, 1941.
Lt. George Moore leads Company I on a march, 1941. (U.S. Signal Corps Photograph)
Members of the 45th Infantry (PS) provide machine gun training to Philippine Army recruits, 1940.
A corporal from the 45th Infantry (PS) trains soldiers of the Philippine Army on how to use a mortar.
World War II
Officers of the 45th Infantry (PS) (-1st Battalion), 11 November 1941
Front Row (L-R): Harold Wallace, John F. Breslin M.D., Carl W. Lyle, Edgar Wright Jr., Thomas W. Doyle, Calvin Ellsworth Chunn, Unknown
Second Row (L-R): William F. Matson, William H. Traeger, John William Long, Basil B. Dulin M.D., Arthur C. Biedenstein, Dudley G. Strickler, Clifton A. Croom, Alvin J. Bethard, George B. Moore, Ralph C. Berkelhamer M.D., Robert E. Conn,
Back Row (L-R): Alan B. Grimes, Unknown, Louis F. Murphy, Robley D. Evans, Robert B. Lapham, Louis Benjamin Besbeck, Henry Jones Pierce, Ralph Amato Jr., Paul H. Krauss, Frederick H. Freund, Unknown, Jerry G. Toth
1st Lieutenant Willibald Bianchi, 45th Infantry (PS), earned the Congressional Medal of Honor for Valor for his actions on February 3, 1942.
Post-WWII
Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 45th Infantry (PS) in 1948. Capt. (later Col.) Robert Aycock is seated in the 2nd row, 4th person from the left. (Courtesy of the Col. Aycock Collection)
Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 45th Infantry (PS) holding a baseball trophy that they’ve won. Lt. Marcelo Jomok, formerly of the 12th Signal Company (PS), clutches the award. (Courtesy of the Col. Aycock Collection)
Regimental Commanders [2]
Col. Edward M. Lewis
June 4, 1917 – August 5, 1917
Col. Melville S. Jarvis
August 5, 1917 – September 30, 1918
Col. Herman Glade
October 29, 1918 – July 1, 1920
Maj. Harry A. Wells
July 1, 1920 – September 20, 1920
Capt. Harry A. Twaddle
September 20, 1920 – October 9, 1920
Col. Thomas R. Harker
October 9, 1920 – January 16, 1923
Maj. Thomas C. Fain
January 16, 1923 – March 30, 1923
Col. Henry B. Eames
March 30, 1923 – January 30, 1925
Lt. Col. H. Clay M. Supplee
January 30, 1925 – April 18, 1925
Col. Earle W. Tanner
April 18, 1925 – May 5, 1927
Col. James B. Kemper
May 5, 1927 – April 10, 1929
Lt. Col. Corbit S. Hoffman
April 10, 1929 – June 15, 1929
Col. Charles A. Martin
June 15, 1929 – July 5, 1932
Col. Ralph McCoy
July 5, 1932 – October 4, 1933
Lt. Col. Hugh Straughn
October 4, 1933 – December 16, 1933
Col. Ralph H. Leavitt
December 16, 1933 – November 16, 1935
Col. Richard H. Kelley
November 16, 1935 – February 28, 1938
Col. Melvin G. Faris
March 1, 1938 – July 26, 1940
Col. Clifford Bluemel
July 26, 1940 – September 20, 1941
Col. Thomas W. Doyle
October 1, 1941 – April 9, 1942
Insignia and Coat of Arms [1]
Distinctive Unit Insignia
Crest: The insignia is the shield and motto of the coat of arms.
Approved: February 6, 1924
Coat of Arms
Shield: Azure, in sinister chief an abaca tree (Manila hemp plant) proper, in base a mullet of the field fimbriated argent, on a canton of the last Roman numeral “X” of the first paleways a Roman sword in sheath gules.
Crest: On a wreath of the colors, a demi-lion or grasping in his dexter paw a burning torch argent, fire proper.
Motto: “Strong to Endure”
Approved: April 10, 1922
Meaning: The shield is blue for Infantry. The regiment was organized in 1917 at Ft. Benjamin Harrison, Indiana, by the transfer of personnel from the 10th Infantry; therefore the canton represents them. The Abaca tree, which grows only in the Philippines, represents the regiment’s station. The star represents the blue star of the old 1st Philippine Infantry (Provisional) that was absorbed by the 45th Infantry (PS).
The crest of the Harrison family is a lion and the seal of the Philippines has the Sea Lion; therefore, a demi-lion represents these two . The torch is a device of the state of Indiana. Combined, these form the crest of the regiment.
Approved Distinctive Insignia of the 45th Infantry Regiment (PS) made by A.H. Dondero, 1924
A variation of the 45th Infantry’s (PS) Distinctive insignia with the motto at the bottom. Made by N.S. Meyer, 1930s.
Bibliography
[1] “Philippine Division (PS).” American Society of Military Insignia Collectors: Trading Post, April-June 1967, p. 31.
[2] “45th Infantry Regiment (PS).” US Army Order of Battle, 1919-1941, by Steven E. Clay, vol. 1, Combat Studies Institute Press, 2010, pp. 392-393.
[3] “45th Infantry (PS).” The Philippine Scouts, by John Olson, Philippine Scouts Heritage Society, 1996, p. 106.