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39-777: It was active from January 1, 1942 to June 30, 1946 and commanded by Col. Moses, followed by Russell W. Volckmann . Following the Japanese occupation of the Philippines through the campaign to liberate the country, the military and guerrilla operations from the units of USAFIP-NL operated in Northern Luzon , including the some provinces in Ilocos Norte , Ilocos Sur , La Union , Abra , Mountain Province , Cagayan , Isabela and Nueva Vizcaya . From November 1943

78-530: A U.S. Army infantry officer and a leader of the Philippine Commonwealth military and guerrilla resistance to the Japanese conquest of the Philippines during World War II . After the war, he remained in the U.S. Army and helped create the U.S. Army Special Forces . Volckmann, together with Colonels Aaron Bank and Wendell Fertig are considered the founders of the U.S. Army Special Forces (the "Green Berets"). He eventually retired as

117-618: A brigadier general . Russell Volckmann was born 23 October 1911, in Clinton, Iowa , to Hattie May (Dodds) and William J. C. Volckmann. He attended high school at Shattuck Military Academy , Fairbault, Minnesota . In 1930, he entered the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the infantry upon graduation in June 1934. Although he asked for assignment to

156-514: A company commander with the 2nd Infantry Division . In 1940, he finally received orders for duty in the Philippines. In the summer of 1940, 29-year-old Captain Volckmann loaded himself, his wife Nancy and their young son aboard a ship for duty in the Far East. Upon arrival in the Philippines, he became the commander of Company H, 31st Infantry Regiment . In July 1941, he was transferred to

195-528: A divorce, which was finalized in August 1947. On 28 August 1948, he married Helen Rich, and they had two sons. They remained married until Volckmann's death in 1982. His decorations include: Lingayen Gulf Lingayen Gulf is a large gulf on northwestern Luzon in the Philippines , stretching 56 km (35 mi). It is framed by the provinces of Pangasinan and La Union and sits between

234-694: A new writing assignment, and, in 1951, FM 31-21 Organization and Conduct of Guerrilla Warfare was released. Brigadier General Robert A. McClure , director of the Office of the Chief of Psychological Warfare (OCPW), asked Volckmann to become OCPW's Chief of Plans—Special Operations Division. Joining Volckman were Colonel Aaron Bank , a former OSS operative who served with the Jedburghs in Europe; Colonel Wendell Fertig , another major leader of guerrilla resistance in

273-517: A permanent promotion to captain on 12 June 1944 before receiving temporary promotions to lieutenant colonel on 9 October 1944 and colonel on 4 February 1945. However, he reverted to temporary lieutenant colonel on 1 July 1947, receiving his permanent promotions to major on 15 July 1948 and lieutenant colonel on 14 May 1951. Volckmann became a temporary colonel again on 29 June 1951. He received his final temporary promotion to brigadier general on 30 December 1956. In July 1957, Volckmann retired from

312-545: A son, Russell Jr., was born. Although both accompanied him to the Philippines in 1940, they were forced to return to the United States with other military dependents in August 1941. In March 1942, his wife received a letter from him before the surrender of Bataan, It would be the last his family would hear from him until January 1945. Upon Volckmann's second return to the United States in July 1946, his wife Nancy requested

351-508: A strategically important theatre of war between American and Japanese forces. On 22 December 1941, the Japanese 14th Army under Lieutenant General Masaharu Homma landed on the eastern part of the gulf at San Fernando City , Bauang , Santiago, Caba , Aringay , Agoo , and Santo Tomas , where they engaged in a number of relatively minor skirmishes with the defenders , a poorly equipped contingent of predominantly Filipino and American troops, and managed to successfully invade and occupy

390-404: A total of 24 ships were sunk and 67 damaged by kamikaze planes, including the battleships USS  Mississippi and Colorado (accidentally hit by friendly fire), the heavy cruiser USS Louisville , the light cruiser USS  Columbia , and the minesweepers USS  Long and Hovey . Following the amphibious landings, Lingayen Gulf was turned into a vast supply depot for

429-574: The Battle of Bacsil Ridge , Battle of Bessang Pass , and Battle of Mayoyao Ridge . During December 1945, Colonel Volckmann briefly returned to the United States to reunite with his family. After two months of leave and medical treatment due to his exposure to various diseases in the Philippines, he returned to the Philippines to assist in unfinished business related to his command as the guerrilla leader of North Luzon. This included investigation of war crimes , payments to civilians of vouchers issued during

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468-582: The North Koreans in June 1950. The North Koreans made extensive use of guerrillas and regular U.S. Army doctrine was ineffective against them. General MacArthur requested that Colonel Volckmann be immediately assigned to Eighth Army Headquarters, and he appointed Volckmann as Executive Office of the Special Activities Group (SAG)-Far East Command, a combination of U.S. Army Rangers , U.S. Marines and South Korean troops. The unit

507-773: The Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. ; Nick Nor Paynor Jr., aide to General Kanapi; and Mr Esperanto Curaming, representing the Philippine Consul General of Chicago. Also in attendance was his old comrade, Brigadier General Donald Blackburn, who was then living in McLean, Virginia . Volckmann is buried in his family's plot at Springdale Cemetery in Clinton, Iowa. After graduating from West Point, Volckmann married Nancy Sorley in 1934. In 1936,

546-563: The U.S. House of Representatives — the Filipino Veterans’ Equity Act of 2006 and the Filipino Veterans’ Equity of 2005 sponsored by former Senator Daniel Inouye . Fishing and salt -making are the primary industries on Lingayen Gulf. In fact, the name Pangasinan literally means "place where salt is made". Salt is collected from seawater through evaporation, leaving the crystalline salt behind. Lingayen Gulf

585-709: The USS Gar . After the start of the Battle of Leyte , Volckmann's forces eliminated those Second Philippine Republic Bureau of Constabulary units created by the Japanese who did not surrender. Volckmann organized the Commonwealth military and guerrilla resistance among the Ifugao 's 11th Infantry Battalion; they were led by 1st Lieutenants: Francisco Balanban, Alpha Company; Guinid Tuguinay, Bravo Company; Pedro Dulnuan Sr., Administration. Volckmann's forces operated in

624-718: The Zambales Mountains and the Cordillera Central . The Agno River and the Balili River drain into Lingayen Gulf. The gulf has numerous islands, the most famous of which are in the Hundred Islands National Park . This tourist attraction features 123 islands, the majority of which are small in size. The largest island is Cabarruyan Island, which constitutes the municipality of Anda, Pangasinan , followed by Santiago Island at

663-591: The 11th Infantry Regiment, 11th Infantry Division, Philippine Army , as the regimental executive officer. This was unusual duty for a company-grade officer , but political tensions in the Pacific resulted in accelerated expansion and training for the Philippine Commonwealth Army. In August 1941, Volckmann's wife and son, along with all other U.S. military dependents, were sent back to the United States due to war concerns. On 8 December 1941,

702-551: The 7th District under Volckmann and Blackburn. Volckmann's claim to command some of these units is questionable. For example, Robert Lapham rejected Volckmann's efforts to command his guerrilla group. In early 1944, Volckmann established USAFIP-NL headquarters in western Benguet, and in August 1944, received a radio set allowing direct contact with SWPA for the first time since March 1943. On 30 October 1944, Volckmann's forces rescued Mrs. Osmena and family from Baguio . In November, Volckmann's forces were first supplied by submarine,

741-735: The American advance to proceed at a much quicker pace. Volckmann's guerrillas numbered about 8,000 men at the start of the Battle of Luzon , but grew to 18,000 when supplied by the Sixth United States Army . They consisted of five infantry regiments: the 11th, 14th, 15th, 66th, and the 121st, with Volckmann as the Commander, United States Armed Forces in the Philippines—Northern Luzon or USAFIP-NL (Military and Guerrillas). His force played an instrumental role in

780-528: The Army after 27 years of military service, including his four years as a cadet at West Point. The Special Forces Association lists Volckmann one of three men who "used their wartime experience to formulate the doctrine of unconventional warfare that became the cornerstone of SF [Special Forces]," Bank often receives credit for being the true founder, but this is because he created the Table of Organization for

819-540: The Army's first official counterinsurgency doctrine. During 1948–1949, Volckmann was busy writing this new technical manual, based on his experiences in the Philippines. He also graduated from the Armed Forces Staff College in 1949. In September 1950, FM 31-20 Operations Against Guerrilla Forces was released. This was just in time, as the Korean War began when South Korea was invaded by

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858-568: The Japanese attacked the Philippines. The 11th fought a delaying retreat from Lingayen Gulf to Bataan. At the fall of Bataan in 1942, Volckmann refused to surrender and, accompanied by Donald Blackburn , began a trek to northern Luzon before the fall of Corregidor . Sometimes in the company of other fleeing American and Filipino soldiers, Volckmann and Blackburn headed to the cordillera in Northern Luzon. Once there, they hoped to assist in establishing an organized resistance against

897-880: The Japanese garrisons in the Sanhiglo and Balatoc area. Volckmann then established a new camp in Kiangan, Ifugao on 8 December 1942. After being notified on 9 June 1943 of the capture of Colonels Moses and Noble, Volckmann took command of the two thousand man strong USAFIP-NL . His orders from Douglas MacArthur 's SWPA , were to "...limit hostilities and contact with the enemy to the minimum...your present mission as intelligence units can be of utmost value". On 24 November 1943, Volckmann organized his army into seven districts: 1st District under Major Parker Calvert, 2nd and 3rd Districts under Major George Barnett, 4th District under Major Ralph Praeger, 5th District under Major Romulo Manriquez, 6th District under Major Robert Lapham , and

936-1305: The Japanese. Volckmann strongly credits the assistance of Filipino civilians in making their journey a success, especially during their periods of illness, and time recovering at the American Fassoth Camp. On 20 August 1942, they reached Colonel Thorp 's camp west of Fort Stotsenburg in the Zambales Mountains . Thorp had been sent out from Bataan in January to organize guerrillas. On 24 August, they were guided to Hukbalahap headquarters on Mount Arayat , which then had them guided north to La Paz, Tarlac . They made their way north to Robert Lapham 's camp, who then guided them further north to Charlie Cushing 's camp, where Herb Swick joined them. On 9 September, they met Colonels Noble and Moses , Captain Parker Calvert, and Lieutenant Arthur P. Murphy in North Luzon. Colonel Moses assumed command of guerrilla forces in North Luzon on 1 October 1942, and ordered coordinated attacks on Japanese forces starting on 15 October. Volckmann and Blackburn joined Lieutenant Rufino Baldwin, Philippine Army, in attacks on

975-575: The Philippines, a choice duty station requested by many officers, his below average performance at West Point resulted in assignment elsewhere. Volckmann received orders to Fort Snelling , Minnesota, where he was a rifle platoon leader and later a company executive officer with the 3rd Infantry Division . In 1937, he received orders to attend the Infantry Officer Advanced Course at Fort Benning , Georgia. After completing this school, he served at Fort Sam Houston , Texas, as

1014-654: The Philippines; and Colonel Melvin Blair, a veteran of " Merrill's Marauders ". After attending the National War College , in Washington, D.C., during 1953–1954, Volckmann served as Chief of Special Operations Division, U.S. European Command, from 1954–1956. In 1956, Volckmann completed the Basic Airborne Course at Fort Benning, Georgia. At that time, he was 45 years old and one of the oldest soldiers to take and complete that course. The course

1053-584: The Special Forces and commanded the first units. In a letter dated 23 February 1969, Bank gives credit to Volckmann for "the development of position, planning and policy papers that helped see the establishment of Special Forces units in the active Army". Volckmann and Fertig both commanded corps-sized guerrilla units in World War II and organized them from the ground up. They had developed the doctrine of U.S. military guerrilla insurgency that guides

1092-454: The Special Forces today. After retiring from the U.S. Army, Volckmann was president of Volckmann Furniture Manufacturing Company in Morrison, Illinois . He was also president of Zeffyr Industries and president of Volckmann Division of Ethan Allen Inc. , from 1970 until his retirement in 1977. Volckmann remained active in military matters following his retirement. For example, in 1962, he

1131-541: The first day alone, and a total of 203,608 in following landings along a 20 mi (32 km) beachhead, stretching from Sual , Lingayen , and Dagupan (XIV Corps) in the west, and San Fabian (I Corps) into the east. Despite the Americans' success in driving out the Japanese army encamped at the gulf, the Americans suffered relatively heavy losses, particularly on their convoys due to Japanese kamikaze suicide attacks. From 13 December 1944 through 13 January 1945,

1170-537: The forces were organized as districts. Following the Japanese surrender, an in preparation for Philippine independence , the USAFIP, NL, was reorganized as a regular division. It was designated the 2nd Division Philippine Army . Russell W. Volckmann Russell William Volckmann (October 23, 1911 – June 30, 1982) was a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point,

1209-635: The gulf's coast such as Dagupan and Alaminos in Pangasinan, and San Fernando City , the capital of La Union. Lingayen , the capital of Pangasinan, also lies on the shores of the gulf. The gulf has five major river sources. Flowing from the province of Pangasinan in the south are the Agno , Dagupan and Angalacan-Bued rivers. From the east in the province of La Union flow the Aringay and Bauang rivers. During World War II , Lingayen Gulf proved

United States Army Forces in the Philippines – Northern Luzon - Misplaced Pages Continue

1248-474: The gulf. Following the defeat, the next day General MacArthur issued the order to retreat from Luzon and withdraw to Bataan . For the next three years, the gulf remained under Japanese occupation prior to the Lingayen Gulf landings . At 09:30 on 9 January 1945, the U.S. 6th Army conducted an amphibious landing on the gulf, following a devastating naval bombardment, with 68,000 troops landing on

1287-590: The mouth of the Gulf. The shore from Labrador to San Fabian is characterized by a long grey-sand beach. Other well-known beaches are at Bonuan-Tondaligan , Bolinao and San Fernando City . The waters of Lingayen Gulf are murky due to its sandy bottom. Coral reefs were all but destroyed by dynamite fishing , although efforts are made to restore some, especially inside the Hundred Islands National Park. A number of cities are found along

1326-586: The rest of the war to support the American and Filipino assaults on Manila and the rest of Luzon , and from there to Okinawa . On January 9, 2008, Gov. Amado Espino Jr. and Vice Gov. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas established an annual commemoration to honor the war veterans. The resolution named January 9 as Pangasinan Veterans' Day. On the 63rd anniversary of the Lingayen Gulf landings , President Fidel Ramos (a West Point graduate) appealed to U.S. President George W. Bush on behalf of 24,000 surviving war veterans to pass two legislative bills pending since 1968 in

1365-413: The war, and confirmation of pay to local soldiers and guerrilla fighters. He did not return again to the United States until July 1946. Due to his illnesses and the stress of continual combat, Volckmann would not be released as a medical patient until early 1948. After his official release as a patient, General Dwight D. Eisenhower , now Army Chief of Staff , ordered Volckmann to write what would become

1404-421: The western and northern coasts of Luzon , launching attacks against the Japanese occupiers. During the U.S. and Filipino invasion of the Philippines in January 1945, Volckmann's guerrillas cut key communication lines, bridges, and isolated enemy barracks . Once the invasion forces had landed, he led attacks against the retreating Japanese forces far behind the lines, capturing bases and air fields, thereby allowing

1443-530: Was asked by the U.S. Air Force to lead a Rand Corporation study panel on the feasibility of air support in counterinsurgency operations. Volckmann moved to Harlingen, Texas in 1977. He was diagnosed with cancer in 1981 and died on 30 June 1982 in Iowa City, Iowa . Attending his funeral were several officials representing the Philippine government: Brigadier General Angel G. Kanapi, defense attache of

1482-463: Was commanded by Colonel Louis B. Ely, a veteran of the OSS . As executive officer, Volvkmann's duties were to plan and conduct guerrilla activities behind North Korean lines. Less than six months into this new position, Volckmann was evacuated to the United States due to a relapse of a medical condition, most likely a severe stomach ulcer, he had incurred in the Philippines. Upon his return, Volckmann began

1521-474: Was required since he then served as assistant division commander, 82nd Airborne Division , at Fort Bragg , North Carolina, during 1956–1957. Due to his service with irregular troops in the Philippines and loss of contact with the U.S. Army, Volckmann's promotions were also irregular. Though only a first lieutenant at the outbreak of hostilities, he had been made a temporary captain on 9 September 1940 and temporary major on 19 December 1941. Volckmann received

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