Battle of Basil Ridge Marker
Details:
On the high side of the road; up the steps to the top of the ridge with a view of San Fernando Marker
A Philippine Historical Marker; black base with white inscription.
The marker remembers the March 1945 Battle of Basil Ridge.
From the Philippine Historical Society:
On March 19, 1945, the Filipino-American forces won in the Battle of Bacsil Ridge near San Fernando, La Union. It enabled the Allied forces to secure a flank that they would use as one of their staging points on their assault of the Japanese-held Cordillera region.
Anticipating the Allied offensive, the 5,000-strong Hayashi Detachment of the Imperial Japanese Army started to fortify San Fernando, including Bacsil Ridge in January 1945. It was to deny the usage of the town's port facilities and block the route leading to Baguio City. In response, in February 1945, Colonel Russell Volckmann of the U.S. Armed Forces in the Philippines - North Luzon (USAFIP-NL) sent units from their 121st Infantry to secure the town. Assisting them were the Allied Air Forces, who conducted aerial bombings to soften the enemy's defenses.
After weeks of concerted attacks, the assault to Bacsil Ridge formally started on March 16, 1945, as the 121st Infantry's 1st Battalion attacked the area. After three days of intensive fighting, the USAFIP-NL captured the ridge alongside the nearby Reservoir Hill. It enabled them to liberate San Fernando on March 21, 1945, and secure the province of La Union by the end of the week. Weeks later, the Allies based in northwest Luzon started their ascent to Baguio. To commemorate this event, the Philippines Historical Committee (now the National Historical Commission of the Philippines) installed a historical marker at the Bacsil Ridge Monument in 1959.
Monument Text:
CONVERTED INTO A MOUNTAIN BASTION BACSIL RIDGE CONSTITUTED THE EAST FLANK OF THE JAPANESE LINE ESTABLISHED IN MID-JANUARY 1945 AT THE NORTH SIDE OF SAN FERNANDO , LA UNION. SUBJECTED TO SEVERAL CONCERTED ATTACKS BY ELEMENTS OF THE 121ST INFANTRY, UASAFIP, NL. BACSIL WAS FINALLY TAKEN ON 21 MARCH 1945, AND THREE DAYS LATER THE TOWN-PORT OF SAN FERNANDO, LA UNION WAS LIBERATED.
Commemorates:
People:
Units:
121st Infantry Regiment, U.S. Army Forces in the Philippines, North Luzon (USAFIP, NL)
308th Bombardment Group
308th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
Filipino Guerillas
Filipino- American Irregular Troops
Philippine Army
United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE)
United States Army Forces of Northern Luzon (USAFIP-NL)
Wars:
WWII
Battles:
Luzon (1944-1945)
Pacific Theater
Philippines Campaign (1944–1945)
Other images :
