Found Lolo's Service Records finally

[79thfoot]

It's always good to go back to the source documents as there's usually a lot of myth and misunderstanding that clouds one's family history.

My late grandfather was, in 1941, 1st Lieutenant Delfin D. Estolloso, ASN 022112, inducted at La Carlotta, Negros Occidental and at the time of the surrender, either battalion XO or A Company Commander of 1st Battalion, 75th Regiment of the Philippine Commonwealth Army 71st Division.

He was imprisoned at Capas (O'Donnell) and later at Los Banos. When MacArthur returned he served with the 8th Army in the 1st Replacement Battalion, 5th Replacement Company till the end of the war.

Thats what the war record says.

Now the weird thing is I can't find any record in Louis Morton of a 75th Regiment of the 71st Division - there was a 73rd Regiment but not a 75th.

There was however in the 61st Division, two provisional regiments, the 64th and 65th which were locally raised by Col.Christie to defend Panay as the 61st and 62nd were sent to Mindanao.

My questions would be... has anyone else heard of a 75th Regiment of Commonwealth troops in the Visayas (1) and what do you think my grandfather's uniform might have looked like given that it was probably a provisional regiment (2). Would he have been issued the same khaki or blue Commonwealth uniform? I'd like to try and get something together while I'm here in LA.

Okay, update... though coming from Wikipedia I'm taking this with a grain of salt...

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Department

71st Philippine Division:
71st Engineer Battalion................10
71st Field Artillery Regiment.........1
71st Infantry Regiment.................2
72nd Infantry Regiment.................6
73rd Infantry Regiment.................3
75th Infantry Regiment (Provisional).................1
74th Philippine Infantry Regiment (Provisional)......1

Apparently the 75th served in the Negros/Dumaguete area - Justice Aldecoa of the Aldecoa family singers was also a member according to his bio.

www.su.edu.ph/netnews/netnewsOSA.htm

Any further info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Tom

[legionnaire]

My questions would be... has anyone else heard of a 75th Regiment of Commonwealth troops in the Visayas (1) and what do you think my grandfather's uniform might have looked like given that it was probably a provisional regiment (2). Would he have been issued the same khaki or blue Commonwealth uniform? I'd like to try and get something together while I'm here in LA.

Your Grandfather either a battalion XO or a Company Commander being an high ranking officer in the PA would traditional have an officer's Gunit hat. And wore khaki long trousers and long sleeve shirt. Sam brown belt. leather two buckle leggings/cuffs or high laced boots.
hope this helps since there are no photos of your Grandfather in uniform.

Philip

[79thfoot]

Thanks very much Philip :-) Other than the guinit hat I think the others should be pretty easy to find at the Army-Navy stores here.

Salamat!
Tom

[legionnaire]

Hi Tom,

Unfortunately a lot of the "surplus" chain stores here in southern California sell mostly "modern" clothing and gear and are from foreign Armies rarely US issue, there are a few specializing in WWII US Army period I know of in the southern california area.

Best place to find bargains are gunshows and militaria shows.

other option are the online reproduction dealers for the boots and uniforms or ebay.

Philip