Editing Philippine Division (United States) (section)

==Combat chronicle==
Source:<ref>These combat chronicles, current as of October 1948, are reproduced from The Army Almanac: A Book of Facts Concerning the Army of the United States, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1950, pp. 510–592.</ref>

Units of the Philippine Division were on security missions at [[Manila]], Fort William McKinley, and Bataan prior to the declaration of war in the Pacific, 8 December 1941. After undergoing 2 days of bombings, the Division moved into the field to cover the withdrawal of troops to Bataan and to resist the enemy in the [[Subic Bay]] area. From 11 December 1941 to 23 December 1941, positions were organized and strengthened and on 23 December 1941 the Division was assigned to the Bataan Defense Forces. While the [[31st Infantry Regiment (United States)|31st Infantry Regiment]] moved to the vicinity of [[Battle of Bataan (1945)#Struggle on Zig Zag Pass|Zig Zag Pass]] to cover the flanks of troops withdrawing from central and southern [[Luzon]], 30 December 1941, the rest of the Division organized the main and reserve positions on Bataan. The 31st Infantry Regiment moved to a defensive position on the west side of the [[Olongapo Road]] near [[Layac Junction]], 5 January 1942. This junction was lost on 6 January 1942, but the withdrawal to Bataan had been successfully concluded.

The Division was placed in reserve from 7 January 1942 to 14 January 1942. This period was largely one of reconnaissance and development by the Japanese in preparation for their attack on the main battle position on the [[Abucay line]]. Elements repulsed night attacks near [[Abucay]] on 10 January 1942 – 12 January 1942, and other elements of the Division counterattacked on 16 January 1942. Strong offensive and defensive action was not able to prevent enemy penetrations and the Division withdrew to the Reserve Battle Position in the [[Pilar, Bataan|Pilar]] – [[Bagac]] area, 2 February 1942. Until the latter part of March the enemy, made cautious by heavy losses, engaged in patrols and limited local attacks, and after a general retirement, 24 March 1942, did not undertake any serious activity on this front until 28 March 1942. During this period elements of the Division were shifted to assist in the defense of other sectors. The enemy attack on 28 March struck at a division weakened by malnutrition, sickness, and prolonged exposure to combat. The Division, no longer operating as a coordinated unit, was unable to counterattack against heavy enemy assaults.

On 8 April 1942, the [[57th Infantry Regiment (United States)|57th Infantry Regiment]] and the [[31st Infantry Regiment (United States)|31st Infantry Regiment]] were lost near the [[Alangan River]], and the [[45th Infantry Regiment (United States)|45th Infantry Regiment]] surrendered, 10 April 1942.

===Wartime assignments===
#U.S. Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) – 8 December 1941 – 24 December 1941.
#Bataan Defense Force – 24 December 1941 – 6 January 1942.
#U.S. Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) – 6 January 1942 – 26 January 1942.
#II Philippine Corps – 26 January 1942 – 7 April 1942.
#I Philippine Corps – 7 April 1942 – 10 April 1942.
# Prisoner of War Captivity – 10 April 1942 – 1945