80th ANNIVERSARY OF LIBERATION, 1945 – 2025
TARLAQUENO USAFFE GUERRILLAS AT STA. IGNACIA, TARLAC; MID-JANUARY 1945
One of the earliest photographs taken by American liberating forces in January 1945 before they entered the capital town of Tarlac, Tarlac. The image shows the Filipino guerrillas present arms, as the first American soldiers, most probably from the 40th Division U.S. Army, entered the town of Sta. Ignacia.
The Tarlaqueno USAFFE guerrillas were members of the Tarlac Military Area, under the command of Captain Albert A. Hendrickson, and operating the area of Sta. Ignacia – Gerona which were covered by the sphere of combat operations of the Flying Squadron (Squadron 401 and 402).
Other guerrilla forces operating in the area was the Aglipay Battalion, General Antonio Luna Regiment, under Colonel Eusebio Aquino’s 3rd Regional Command, HUKBALAHAP.
Most of the Tarlaqueno guerrillas appearing in this image are barefooted, with civilian clothing with many of them wearing shorts but all are armed with rifles (Enfield, M1 Carbine and perhaps a few M1 Garand).
The Tarlac Military Area, Luzon Guerrilla Army Forces (LGAF under Major Robert Lapham) was one of the most active guerrilla forces in Luzon in WWII.
As we commemorate the 80th Anniversary of Liberation, let us not forget these unsung heroes from Tarlac, the Tarlac Military Area for their role in WWII.
Citation:
(1) HQ Tarlac Military Area TMA Luzon Guerrilla Army Forces LGAF, US National Archives NARA, College Park, MD.
(2) HUKBALAHAP (Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa Hapon), File No. 118-1, Folder 2, US National Archives NARA.
