Post by legionnaire on Jul 27, 2006 23:54:00 GMT -5
Sgt. Filipino Scout, Jan. 16, 1942 ( dateline Philippine Islands)
A hurriedly organized charge of a Cavalry platoon of 27 members of the 26th Philippine Scouts firing pistols from the saddles in a headlong charge against an advance guard of startled Japanese infantry and artillery in the town of Morong, Bataan .
This Painting by renowned artist John Solie, commissioned by Readers Digest, is a depiction of the Last Cavalry Charge in United States Military history under the command of Lieutenant Edwin Price Ramsey for which Lt. Ramsey received the "Distinguished Service Cross" and "Purple Heart".
The elite troops, best trained and equipped of the USAFFE forces.
"We took the town after a fight and held it until the main body of our troops arrived. To them we must have seemed a vision from another century, wild-eyed horses pounding headlong; cheering, whopping men firing from the saddles."
- Lt. Edwin Ramsey Commanding Officer of the 26th Philippine Scouts who led the LAST US Cavalry charge in US Military history.
Near side, McClellan saddle
American led Filipino Horse cavalrymen fought Japanese Tank assaults near Lingayen gulf. The strongest resistance to the Japanese landings in Lingayen Gulf came from the tough 26th Philippine Scout Horse Cavalry Regiment composed of about 50 American officers and 872 Filipino horsemen.
The Filipino horsemen beat off four Japanese Regiments- the 4th Tank, 48th Reconnaisance, 48th Mountain Artillery and the 1st Formosa regiments at Damortis for six hours even though they were not equipped with anti-tank guns.
From Rosario the 26th Cavalry withdrew to Binalonan where they repulsed an armored assault led by the 4th Japanese Tank Regiment without anti-tank weapons throwing handgrenades into the tank hatches and firing into the gunports of the Japanese tanks. Two hours after the tank assault, the scouts launched a blistering counterattack. The Japanese had to call in more tanks and the 2nd Formosa Regiment to stop the frenzied Filipino cavalrymen. By dusk of December 24, 1941, the 26th Cavalry had withdrawn across the Agno river to Tayug after having been decimated to 450 men.
off side
In some ways it is too bad this incident isn't more widely known. Maybe it is a fitting response to the perennial re-hashing of the infamous Polish Pomeranian incedent that seems to be so permanently ingrained in the American perceptions of the opening stages of WW2. Think about it -- it is such a strong popular myth that those poor Poles were so backwards as to charge Panzers with horse cavalry in 1939 (an incident largely manufactured by German propoganda),
while in fact a horse cavalry unit of the U.S. army really did charge tanks two years later! And evidently with good effect, to boot.
- Mark A. Singer
The Philippine Scouts were the only Philippine units who were issued
M1-Garands at the outbreak of the war.
My tribute and contest entry to Weekend of Heroes 2005 1/6 WWII Category and I finally won 1st place in the WWII catergory! ;D
American Officers in the Philippines agreed the skills of the Philippine scouts were far better than the regular US troops. -
Odyssey of a Philippine Scout by Lt. Arthur Kendal Whitehead.
Letter below when I sent Lt. Col Ramsey this pictures.
January 30, 2005
Dear Mr. Garcia;
I was delighted to receive your message and photos of a 26th Cavalryman below. You obviously put a lot of work in this project and it was very well done.
It has been more than 63 years since I led that last charge in Morong, but I will never forget the occasion.
There are still a couple of old 26th Cavalrymen who were enlisted men during WWII, that I believe are still alive and if you would like me to I will try to get their opinion on these questions.
Regards,
Edwin P. Ramsey
Lt. Col. Cavalry (ret)
Col. Ramsey's website; www.edwinpriceramsey.com/
Philippine Scout website; www.philippine-scouts.org/
book signing link; pinoyhistory.proboards22.com/index.cgi?board=photos&action=display&thread=1152847642
A hurriedly organized charge of a Cavalry platoon of 27 members of the 26th Philippine Scouts firing pistols from the saddles in a headlong charge against an advance guard of startled Japanese infantry and artillery in the town of Morong, Bataan .
This Painting by renowned artist John Solie, commissioned by Readers Digest, is a depiction of the Last Cavalry Charge in United States Military history under the command of Lieutenant Edwin Price Ramsey for which Lt. Ramsey received the "Distinguished Service Cross" and "Purple Heart".
The elite troops, best trained and equipped of the USAFFE forces.
"We took the town after a fight and held it until the main body of our troops arrived. To them we must have seemed a vision from another century, wild-eyed horses pounding headlong; cheering, whopping men firing from the saddles."
- Lt. Edwin Ramsey Commanding Officer of the 26th Philippine Scouts who led the LAST US Cavalry charge in US Military history.
Near side, McClellan saddle
American led Filipino Horse cavalrymen fought Japanese Tank assaults near Lingayen gulf. The strongest resistance to the Japanese landings in Lingayen Gulf came from the tough 26th Philippine Scout Horse Cavalry Regiment composed of about 50 American officers and 872 Filipino horsemen.
The Filipino horsemen beat off four Japanese Regiments- the 4th Tank, 48th Reconnaisance, 48th Mountain Artillery and the 1st Formosa regiments at Damortis for six hours even though they were not equipped with anti-tank guns.
From Rosario the 26th Cavalry withdrew to Binalonan where they repulsed an armored assault led by the 4th Japanese Tank Regiment without anti-tank weapons throwing handgrenades into the tank hatches and firing into the gunports of the Japanese tanks. Two hours after the tank assault, the scouts launched a blistering counterattack. The Japanese had to call in more tanks and the 2nd Formosa Regiment to stop the frenzied Filipino cavalrymen. By dusk of December 24, 1941, the 26th Cavalry had withdrawn across the Agno river to Tayug after having been decimated to 450 men.
off side
In some ways it is too bad this incident isn't more widely known. Maybe it is a fitting response to the perennial re-hashing of the infamous Polish Pomeranian incedent that seems to be so permanently ingrained in the American perceptions of the opening stages of WW2. Think about it -- it is such a strong popular myth that those poor Poles were so backwards as to charge Panzers with horse cavalry in 1939 (an incident largely manufactured by German propoganda),
while in fact a horse cavalry unit of the U.S. army really did charge tanks two years later! And evidently with good effect, to boot.
- Mark A. Singer
The Philippine Scouts were the only Philippine units who were issued
M1-Garands at the outbreak of the war.
My tribute and contest entry to Weekend of Heroes 2005 1/6 WWII Category and I finally won 1st place in the WWII catergory! ;D
American Officers in the Philippines agreed the skills of the Philippine scouts were far better than the regular US troops. -
Odyssey of a Philippine Scout by Lt. Arthur Kendal Whitehead.
Letter below when I sent Lt. Col Ramsey this pictures.
January 30, 2005
Dear Mr. Garcia;
I was delighted to receive your message and photos of a 26th Cavalryman below. You obviously put a lot of work in this project and it was very well done.
It has been more than 63 years since I led that last charge in Morong, but I will never forget the occasion.
There are still a couple of old 26th Cavalrymen who were enlisted men during WWII, that I believe are still alive and if you would like me to I will try to get their opinion on these questions.
Regards,
Edwin P. Ramsey
Lt. Col. Cavalry (ret)
Col. Ramsey's website; www.edwinpriceramsey.com/
Philippine Scout website; www.philippine-scouts.org/
book signing link; pinoyhistory.proboards22.com/index.cgi?board=photos&action=display&thread=1152847642
