On the wall of the mountain behind the Colonnade. This is the last among the seven plaques on the wall.

Plaque

A rectangular bronze plaque commemorating the 200^th and 515^th Coast Artillery (AA). Featured on the center of the plaque is the 200^th and 515^th Coast Artillery coat of arms then a message. Unfortunately, the current status of the inscriptions is almost unreadable.

Brief History of the 200^th and 515^th Coast Artillery in the Philippines:

Approximately 1,800 men from the 200th and 515th Coast Artillery Regiment – also known as the “New Mexico Brigade” were deployed to the Philippines in September 1941. When the Regiment reached the Philippines they immediately moved to Fort Stotsenberg, 75 miles north of Manila. Over the coming months, they would train under simulated war conditions. By December things would change drastically.

On December 8, 1941, Japanese bombers made their appearance and the war was on. It was the 200th Coast Artillery (Anti-aircraft) — the original full Regiment — that was credited as being the “First to Fire” on December 8, 1941. That night, the 515th Coast Artillery (Anti-aircraft) was formed from the ranks of the 200th. The Japanese landings on Luzon began on December 10, 1941, with more Japanese forces landing on December 12, 1941.

The 200th and later the 515th could not do much damage as their powder train fuses only had a range of 20,000 feet and the bombers were flying at 23,000 feet. The main Japanese invasion forces landed on December 22, 1941, and the decision was made to withdraw the forces into Bataan. The 200th covered the retreat of the Northern Luzon Force into Bataan and the 515th for the South Luzon Force. They were able to hold the Japanese air and ground attacks back, thus saving the bridges – and the North and South Luzon Forces found a clear, safe passage to the Bataan peninsula.

For months the American and Filipino troops fought bravely as the war situation worsened. By April 3, 1942, the Japanese received sufficient reinforcements and began to drive down the Bataan peninsula. Four days later, the Japanese broke through Allied lines. After holding off the Japanese from December to April – four long months – the battle for Bataan ended on April 9^th.

Following the fall of the Bataan Peninsula, on April 9, 1942, the United States surrendered to the Japanese and instantly, more than 75,000 U.S. and Filipino soldiers were forced to become Prisoners of War. It wasn’t until the late summer of 1945 that these prisoners of war would see freedom. Of the 1,816 men 200th & 515th Coast Artillery men identified, 829 died in battle, while prisoners, or immediately after liberation. There were 987 survivors.

Source of information: taoscountyhistoricalsociety.org

NEW MEXICO NATIONAL GUARD

200th & 515th Coast Artillery (AA)

The New Mexico Brigade each brought home with them

Three Distinguished Unit Citations and the

Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.