The 31st Infantry Division was a division of the

Philippine Army The Philippine Army (PA) () is the main, oldest and largest branch of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), responsible for ground warfare. , it had an estimated strength of 143,100 soldiers The service branch was established on December ...

under the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE).

Organization

History

It was active from November 18, 1941 to April 9, 1942, whereupon it surrendered when Bataan fell. It was organized and trained in

Zambales Zambales, officially the Province of Zambales (; ; ; ; ), is a Provinces of the Philippines, province in the Philippines located in the Central Luzon Regions of the Philippines, region. Its capital is Iba, Zambales, Iba, which is located in t ...

Province of Northern Luzon. Col. (later BGen.) Clifford Bluemel (USA) was the division's commander. Col. Pastor C. Martelino (PA), a 1920 U.S. Military Academy graduate, was his chief of staff.

Combat Narrative

At the opening of hostilities, 8 December 1941, the 31st Division formed a part of BGen. (later LGen.) Jonathan M. Wainwright's North Luzon Force of the Philippine Army (later renamed I Philippine Corps), alongside the 11th and 21st Divisions, and the 26th Cavalry Regiment. The 31st was initially headquartered at San Mateo, Rizal, but most of its personnel were training at

San Marcelino, Zambales San Marcelino, officially the Municipality of San Marcelino (; ), is a municipality in the province of Zambales, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 37,719 people. Etymology The town got its name after the first ' ...

, near Subic Bay, when hostilities broke out.

Order of Battle

* 31st Infantry Regiment (PA) - (LCol. John W. Irwin) * 32nd Infantry Regiment (PA) (LCol. Edwin Johnson) * 33rd Infantry Regiment (PA) (Col. Edwin H. Johnson) (Major Stanley Holmes) ** 3rd Battalion: Captain Robert Chapin, USA * 31st Field Artillery Regiment (PA) (Col. Harry J. Haines) ** 31st FA Regt HQ Company ** 1st Bn/31st FA Regt (PA) (75mm guns, 16x) ** 2nd Bn/31st FA Regt (PA) (2.95-inch pack howitzers, 4x) ** 3rd Bn/31st FA Regt (PA) * 31st Engineer Battalion (PA) * 31st Division Units ** 31st Division Headquarters & HQ Company ** 31st Medical Battalion ** 31st Signal Company ** 31st Quartermaster Company (Motorized) ** 31st QM Transport Company (Truck)

Notable Members

* Rigoberto Atienza - became AFP Chief of Staff in 1965. * Luis Villa-real - became AFP Vice Chief of Staff.

Sources

* *

Bibliography

*Morton, Louis.
The Fall of the Philippines (Publication 5-2)
''. Retrieved on 14 Feb 2017.

References

* {{Philippine Army (1935–1946) Infantry divisions of the Philippines Military units and formations of the Philippine Army in World War II Military units and formations established in 1941 Military units and formations disestablished in 1942 Disbanded units and formations of the Philippines