Philippine Department

Patch of the Philippine Department

All units of the Department wore the Philippine Department shoulder sleeve insignia, with the exception of the Philippine Division, which wore their own patch: a golden carabao on a red shield.

Officially, the Philippine Department’s insignia featured the Philippine Sea Lion, in white, superimposed on a blue oval with a height of 2.5 inches. The Sea Lion is derived from the coat of arms of Manila. The Philippine Department and Philippine Division insignia were both approved on July 8, 1922.

Commanders of the Philippine Department

January 13, 1911 – March 5, 1914 – Major General J. Franklin Bell

March 5, 1914 – April, 1916 – Major General Thomas H. Barry

April, 1916 – April, 1917 – Major General Hunter Liggett

April, 1917 – August 5, 1917 – Major General Charles J. Bailey

August 5, 1917 – August 5, 1918—Brigadier General Robert K. Evans

1919 – 1922—Major General Francis J. Kernan

1922-1923-Major General William M. Wright

1923 – 1924—Major General George W. Read

1924 – 1925—Major General James H. McRae

1925 – 1926—Major General William Weigel

1926 – Major General Frederick W. Sladen

1926 – April 26, 1927—Major General William Weigel

April 26, 1927 – March, 1928—Major General Johnson Hagood

March, 1928 – September, 1928—Major General William Lassiter

September, 1928 – October 1, 1930 – Major General Douglas MacArthur

October 1, 1930 – March, 1932 – Major General John L. Hines

March, 1932 – February 28, 1934—Major General E.E. Booth

February 28, 1934 – December 11, 1935—Major General Frank Parker

January 22, 1936 – February, 1938 – Major General Lucius Roy Holbrook

February, 1938 – July, 1939—Major General John H. Hughes

July, 1939 – May 31, 1940—Major General Walter Grant

May 31, 1940 – October 23, 1941 – Major General George Grunert

October 23, 1941 – December 30, 1941 – Lieutenant General Douglas MacArthur

December 30, 1941 – April 9, 1942—Brigadier General Allan C. McBride

USAFFE

This unit was formally organized in 1913 and, on July 26, 1941, was attached to US Army Forces – Far East (USAFFE). Following the creation of USAFFE, the Philippine Department became, in effect, a corps area service command. Tactical command was thenceforth under USAFFE's control.

At the time of USAFFE's formation the unit consisted of 22,532 troops. Of the 1,340 officers, 775 were reservists. 7,293 troops were assigned to the infantry and 4,967 were assigned to the Harbor Defenses of Manila and Subic Bays. ~2,500 troops served in a service or supply position, mainly quartermaster or medical units. The majority of the department's troops were stationed on Luzon.

US Army Troops – Philippines – July 31, 1941

Total Strength: 22,532 (1,434 officers, 21,098 enlisted, including 11,937 Philippine Scouts)

USAFFE Headquarters (5)

Manila

Philippine Department Headquarters (289)

Fort William McKinley

Philippine Division (10,473)

26th Cavalry Regiment (PS) (838)

43d Infantry Regiment (PS) (329)

86th Field Artillery Regiment (PS) (388)

88th Field Artillery Regiment (PS) (518)

808th Military Police Company (69)

Harbor Defenses of Manila and Subic Bays (5,360)

Philippine Army Air Corps (2,407)

Service Detachments (1,836)

Other (20)

The Philippine Department in 1914

General Headquarters:

Fort Santiago, Manila, Luzon

Troops:

Field Hospital and Ambulance Company Number 4

Headquarters Company K, 3d Engineers

Headquarters Company L, 3d Engineers

Company F, Signal Corps

Company L, Signal Corps

7th Cavalry Brigade

8th Cavalry Brigade

2nd Field Artillery Regiment (United States)

Coast Defenses of Manila and Subic Bays

8th Infantry Regiment

13th Infantry Regiment

24th Infantry Regiment

China Expedition (15th Infantry)

Casualty count

Ref: American Battlefield Monuments Commission

{For reference only. PS=Philippine Scouts}

US forces

Note: Marines were 4th Marines

US Merchant Marine casualties – Philippines 1941)

See Chronological List of U.S. Ships Sunk or Damaged 1939 to 1941, usmm.org