Investigating History:
THE BAMBAN WWII MEMORIAL
(バンバン大東亜戦争記念碑)
Aside from the Bamban WWII Museum, we decided to establish the WWII Memorial in 2005 at the base of the former Hill 500 (Bantiti) that became the first battlefield of the Bamban Hills in 1945. Lately, we rehabilitated the war memorial in time for the 80th anniversary of the Liberation and end of WWII; as shown in the photos.
Defense of Hoshino Butai at Hill 500, Bamban
(バンバン丘陵における星野陸軍大隊の戦闘記録)
The Hoshino Battalion (reinforced) defended this hill at the beginning of the Battle of Bamban Hills in late January 1945 against the American forces from the 3rd Bn, 160th Regiment 40th Division U.S. Army.
With the fortified hills and ridges of Bamban Hills spanning a front of 16 kilometers and a depth of 30 kilometers, every single hill-mass to be captured by the 40th Division from the Japanese Kembu Group composite division was already a campaign; the Japanese utilizing tunnel defense and warfare.
Casualties of War
(バンバン山の日本人とアメリカ人の戦死者)
Thousands became casualties on both sides, the Japanese Kembu Shudan suffered more than 30,000 men while the Americans reached about 10,000 dead and wounded. During the campaign, Filipino soldiers and guerrillas were deployed in the area, including the guerrillas and Aetas from Bamban, northwest Pampanga and Tarlac in support of American operations.
Visit our Bamban WWII Memorial, aside from our WWII Museum and travel in time to learn the war of our uncles and grandfathers.
(バンバン ダイトア戦争博物館とバンバン ダイトア戦争平和記念碑を訪れてください)
Copyright Rhonie Dela Cruz
2024 Bamban Historical Society
Bamban WWII Museum
Center for Pacific War Studies
Provincial Government of Tarlac –
Tarlac Provincial Tourism Office
Hi Rhonie! It was so nice to stumble upon this page! My great grandfather was Corporal Guy Clayton Cumbo. I was reading a bit about his Division and their impact during WWII, and it’s truly fascinating. I’ve never had the opportunity to visit this memorial in person, but I hope to one day. It’s an honor knowing that statue was created in his likeness. If you happen to have more information about Corporal Cumbo that I can share with my family, I would love to connect and learn more. Thanks so much for keeping the stories of these men and women alive.
Hello there Ms. Dannielle!
We are so glad to have been connected with the descendants of our war hero Corporal Guy Clayton Cumbo.
In 2005, I decided in my own capacity as a private ordinary citizen, to put up a memorial to the
American soldiers who fought and some gave the ultimate sacrifice in WWII, particularly the American
Liberators in our town. In this rationale, I decided to make a statue of the American soldier in
the likeness of your great grandfather, and was connected with the Cumbo Family, particularly
Karon Thomas and her sisters, who provided me some information and photographs of your great grandfather.
Last year, as the American Soldier’s WWII Memorial and statue was deteriorating after about 20 years
standing and establishment, again I decided to conduct a full rehabilitation, using my own resources.
As our gratitude to the American soldiers who had made a great deal of sacrifices, we are now
conducting weekly maintenance and cleaning and periodic re-painting.
I am just an ordinary citizen of my Country, and forgive me if the memorial is not at par with’
international standards on war memorial. The rifle of the statue, which was an M1 Garand, made
of Philippine hardwood, went missing. Therefore, to protect the memorial and the statue, we
decided to put up security fence and only authorized personnel and during visitors’ trip for
WWII tours are given necessary permit. I usually bring at the site Australians, British, Filipino,
Americans and even Japanese guests to the site of the memorial.
We just hope we can arrange to order a new M1 Garand rifle in the future to complete the historical
authenticity of Corporal Guy Clayton Cumbo’s American WWII soldier statue.
We are glad and most joyful if you can make a visit to Bamban in the near future, so we can
bring you to the WWII sites that we developed and maintain for our WWII Tours and educational
visits.
Several months ago, I was also have the opportunity to meet one of the members of the Cumbo
Family, who visited Bamban, our museum and the battle sites and memorial. He was in the active-duty service
in the American Armed Forces.
Sending our warm regards to you and your family.
Rhonie Dela Cruz