Memo on the Cooperation of the 1st Regiment Nasugbu FAIT with the 11th Airborne, April 1945
The Fil-American Irregular Troops or FAIT was a guerrilla organization founded in 1942 by the retired American Colonel Hugh Straughn, who would unfortunately be captured and executed by the Japanese. The FAIT had many units operating in Batangas, including Nasugbu, where its 1st Regiment would be attached to the 11th Airborne Division of the United States Army after the Nasugbu Landing of 31 January 1945. In this April 1945 document1, Lt. Colonel Joseph M. Pensack of the 11th Airborne Division certified to the cooperation of the 1st and 2nd Regiments of the Nasugbu FAIT with the 11th Airborne and his recognition of its two commanding officers.
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11th AIRBORNE DIVISION
DISCOM U. S. A.
April 29, 1945
|
SUBJECT TO |
: Guerrilla Cooperation, Nasugbu Fil-Americans : Guerrilla Affairs Section, U. S. Army |
1. This is to certify that the Nasugbu Fil-American Guerrillas, consisting of two regiments, has cooperated with the American Landing operations in Nasugbu, Batangas, by furnishing Guerrilla Labor Battalions which unloaded the vast military supplies of the landing forces, day and night, from January 31, 1945 up to April 29, 1945.
2. The said guerrilla organization has also undertaken the repair of roads, bridges and culverts to facilitate the advance and transportation of the supplies of the landing party, and constructed the American cemetery and the landing field in Nasugbu.
3. The Nasugbu Fil-American Guerrillas were also responsible for the construction of the watch tower on the beach, fencing of the restricted areas and building of refugee camps for the civilian population.
4. I further certify that I recognize Col. Marcelino Enriquez and Col. Juan M. Villegas as the commanding officers of the two regiments aforementioned, who supplied me with thousands of manpower in the big job, without which the fast advance of the 11th Airborne Division towards its objective would have been greatly delayed.
Commanding