57th Infantry Regiment, Philippine Scouts
Organized
May 27, 1917 at Camp Wilson, Ft. Sam Houston, Texas from the personnel of the 19th Infantry [1]
Reorganized
December 3, 1920 as the 57th Infantry Regiment, Philippine Scouts, from the personnel and equipment of the 2nd Philippine Infantry Regiment (Provisional)
Reorganized again in March 1946 (less 1st Bn., redesignated as the 78th Infantry (PS))
Disbanded
October 10, 1951
Regimental Day
June 1
Campaigns
Philippine Islands 1941-1942
Citations
(3) Distinguished Unit Citations
Philippine Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation [3]
Members of the rifle team, Company E,, 57th Infantry (PS), 1938. (Photo colored by Sean Conejos)
The 57th 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 2nd Philippine Infantry Regiment (Provisional) were transferred to the 57th Infantry (PS). [1] The 2nd Philippine Infantry (Prov.) can trace its lineage back to seven companies that were formed in 1901. [2]
In peacetime, a number of officers served in the 57th Infantry (PS) and would become famous generals, such as Col. (later Lt. General) Robert Sink, commanding officer of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division of Band of Brothers fame. The regiment’s accomplishments in marksmanship and field exercises ranked it high among the pre-war infantry regiments.
During World War II, the 57th Infantry (PS) repelled the Japanese all throughout the Bataan Peninsula (the Abucay Line, Battle of Mabatang, and Battle of the Points). The regiment earned three Distinguished Unit Citations and one Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. The Army awarded 95 decorations for valor to the officers and enlistedmen of the regiment, including 1 Congressional Medal of Honor, 21 Distinguished Service Crosses, 68 Silver Star Medals, and 5 Bronze Star Medals. The regiment surrendered on April 9, 1942 to the Japanese, but their Regimental Colors were hidden and saved.
The Army reorganized the regiment in 1946 (less the 1st Battalion, which was redesignated as the 78th Infantry (PS)). The regiment was disbanded completely in 1951.
History
Lineage [2]
| 1901 Designation |
1905 |
1906 |
1917 |
Early 1918 |
Late 1918 |
1920 Designation |
| 57th Infantry Regt. |
→ |
→ |
57th Infantry Regt. (PS) |
|||
| 4th Bn. (PS) |
→ |
→ |
→ |
1st Bn,, 2nd Phil. Inf. (PS) |
1st Bn., 57th Inf. (PS) |
|
| 12th Co. (PS) |
→ |
→ |
→ |
→ |
A Co. 2nd Phil. Inf. (PS) | A Co., 57th Inf. (PS) |
| 14th Co. (PS) |
→ |
→ |
→ |
→ |
B Co. 2nd Phil. Inf. (PS) | B Co., 57th Inf. (PS) |
| 15th Co. (PS) |
→ |
→ |
→ |
→ |
C Co. 2nd Phil. Inf. (PS) | C Co., 57th Inf. (PS) |
| 18th Co. (PS) |
→ |
→ |
→ |
→ |
D Co. 2nd Phil. Inf. (PS) | D Co., 57th Inf. (PS)) |
| 10th Bn. (PS) | → |
→ |
2nd Bn,, 2nd Phil. Inf. (PS) | 2nd Bn., 57th Inf. (PS) | ||
| 38th Co. (PS) |
→ |
→ |
→ |
→ |
E Co. 2nd Phil. Inf. (PS) | E Co., 57th Inf. (PS) |
| 39th Co. (PS) |
→ |
→ |
→ |
→ |
F Co. 2nd Phil. Inf. (PS) | F Co., 57th Inf. (PS) |
| 40th Co. (PS) |
→ |
→ |
→ |
→ |
G Co. 2nd Phil. Inf. (PS) | G Co., 57th Inf. (PS) |
| 57th Co. (PS) | H Co. 2nd Phil. Inf. (PS) | H Co., 57th Inf. (PS) | ||||
| 3rd Bn,, 2nd Phil. Inf. (PS) | 3rd Bn., 57th Inf. (PS) | |||||
| 58th Co. (PS) |
I Co. 2nd Phil. Inf. (PS) | I Co., 57th Inf. (PS) | ||||
| 59th Co. (PS) |
K Co. 2nd Phil. Inf. (PS) | K Co., 57th Inf. (PS) | ||||
| 60th Co. (PS) |
L Co. 2nd Phil. Inf. (PS) | L Co., 57th Inf. (PS) | ||||
| 72nd Co. (PS) |
M Co. 2nd Phil. Inf. (PS) | M Co., 57th Inf. (PS) | ||||
| 73rd Co. (PS) |
HQ Co., 2nd Phil. Inf. (PS) |
HQ Co., 57th Inf. (PS) |
||||
| 74th Co. (PS) |
MG Co., 2nd Phil. Inf. (PS) |
MG Co., 57th Inf. (PS) |
||||
| 75th Co. (PS) |
Supply Co., 2nd Phil. Inf. (PS) | Supply Co., 57th Inf. (PS) |
Interwar
A 57th Infantryman (PS) with a pack mule, 1925.
Sergeant (later Lieutenant) Teofilo Yldefonso (center) during a Philippine Department athletic meet, 1930. He won the Olympic Bronze Medal in the 1928 and 1932 Summer Olympic Games in the 200-meter breaststroke.
Company A, 57th Infantry (PS), 1931.
A panorama of the 57th Infantry (PS), 1937.
Corporal Mariano Rayray of the 57th Infantry (PS). Note his 9 reenlistment stripes, meaning he had served for at least 27 years when this photo was taken in 1937.
The officers of the 57th Infantry (PS) ca. 1940.
The Anti-Tank Company of the 57th Infantry (PS) during practice, 1940. (U.S. Signal Corps Photograph/National Archives)
The officers of the 57th Infantry Regiment (PS) in August 1941. Compare to the 1940 photo of the regimental officers. (Lt. Col. Mills Collection)
World War II
Lt. Alexander Nininger, K Company, 57th Infantry (PS) was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for Valor for his actions on January 12, 1942.
Members of the 57th Infantry, Philippine Scouts, capture a Japanese officer’s sword after the Battle of the Points on the west coast of the Bataan Peninsula, January 1942. The soldier in the foreground on the left is Pvt. Celestino Velez.
A letter from Maj. Gen. Jonathan Wainwright, CO of the I Philippine Corps, to the 57th Infantry (PS) awarding them his personal Springfield rifle for the regiment’s gallantry.
The Anti-Tank Company of the 57th Infantry (PS) at “B” Range, Ft. William McKinley, Spring 1941. This photo was featured on the cover of the April 1942 edition of the Infantry Journal.
Post-WWII
Lt. Fermin Ascense (right), former sergeant major of the 57th Infantry (PS) during WWII, delivers the recovered 57th Infantry (PS) regimental colors to Col. J. W. Boone of the Philippine-Ryukyus Command, 1947.
Lieutenant Frank Francone of I Company, 57th Infantry (PS) holds up his helmet as the other officers and non-commissioned officers pose with him, 1947.
Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 57th Infantry (PS) in 1948. (Courtesy of the Col. Aycock Collection)
Regimental Commanders [1][4]
Col. Charles S. Farnsworth
June 1, 1917 – August 5, 1917
Col. David J. Baker, Jr.
August 5, 1917 – April 14, 1921
Lt. Col. G. Arthur Hadsell
April 14, 1921 – September 1, 1921
Col. Hubert A. Allen
September 1, 1921 – December 14, 1921
Col. Charles H. Barth
December 14, 1921 – October 12, 1922
Col. Hubert A. Allen
October 20, 1922 – October 24, 1923
Col. George L. Byroade
October 24, 1923 – September 9, 1925
Maj. Thomas C. Fain
September 9, 1925 – September 30, 1925
Col. Charles C. Todd
September 30, 1925 – August 26, 1927
Maj. Pedro D. Dulay
August 26, 1927 – September 13, 1927
Col. Harry A. Eaton
September 13, 1927 – April 10, 1929
Col. Edgar A. Myer
April 10, 1929 – March 2, 1931
Maj. Gunnar J. Mortenson
March 2, 1931 – April 17, 1931
Lt. Col. Henry Hossfeld
April 17, 1931 – October 3, 1931
Col. Howard C. Price
October 3, 1931 – June 23, 1934
Lt. Col. Merrill E. Spalding
June 23, 1934 – October 1, 1934
Lt. Col. Francis C. Endicott
October 1, 1934 – May 10, 1935
Lt. Col. Matthew J. Gunner
May 10, 1935 – March 5, 1936
Col. Charles W. Mason
March 5, 1936 – May 2, 1936
Col. Lloyd R. Fredendall
May 2, 1936 – May 16, 1938
Lt. Col. Thomas K. Collins
May 16, 1938 – July 15, 1938
Col. James G. Ord
July 15, 1938 – May 31, 1940
Col. William E. Brougher
May 31, 1940 – September 1941
Col. George S. Clarke
September 1941 – January 15, 1942
Col. Arnold J. Funk
January 15, 1942 - January 21, 1942
Col. Philip T. Fry
January 21, 1942 - January 29, 1942
Col. Edmund J. Lilly, Jr.
January 29, 1942 - April 9, 1942
Insignia and Coat of Arms
Distinctive Unit Insignia
Crest: The insignia is the shield and motto of the coat of arms.
Approved: March 24, 1924
Coat of Arms
Shield: Parti per fess argent and azure, in chief a sea lion holding in his dexter paw a musket with bayonet gules, in a base a mullet within a wreath of the first, on a canton of the second a rock of the first charged with a shoulder strap of a 2d Lieutenant of Infantry of 1863 proper.
Crest: None
Motto: “Anywhere, Anytime”
Approved: June 5, 1922
Meaning: The regiment was organized in 1917 at Ft. Sam Houston, Texas by transfer of men from the 19th Infantry. The shield is the old and present Infantry colors. The station of the regiment is indicated by the by the sea lion of the Philippines holding a musket. The star within a wreath is from the seal of Texas.
In the canton is from the crest of the 19th Infantry. It symbolizes the great achievement of the regiment at the Battle of Chickamauga in 1863 while it was part of General Thomas' command, which earned the nickname of the "Rock of Chickamauga." At the end of the second day, September 20, there were only four officers and fifty-one men in the entire regiment, commanded by a second lieutenant. This is represented by the strap of a second lieutenant superimposed on a rock.
Distinctive Insignia of the 57th Infantry Regiment (PS)
The redrawn regimental colors of the 57th Infantry Regiment (PS) (Courtesy of Sean Conejos)
Bibliography
[1] “57th Infantry Regiment (PS).” US Army Order of Battle, 1919-1941, by Steven E. Clay, vol. 1, Combat Studies Institute Press, 2010, pp. 398-399.
[2] “57th Infantry (PS).” The Philippine Scouts, by John Olson, Philippine Scouts Heritage Society, 1996, p. 106.
[3] “Anywhere, Anytime: the History of the Fifty-Seventh Infantry (PS).” Anywhere, Anytime: the History of the Fifty-Seventh Infantry (PS), by John E. Olson and Frank O. Anders, J.E. Olson, 1991, p. 208.