Letter to Colonel Pedro Pasia Re Non-Revision of Recognition Dates, January 1948
The Fil-American Irregular Troops (FAIT) was a large guerrilla organization formed by the retired American officer Hugh Straughn. It had many units operating around Luzon, including Batangas. Among this was the Maculot Battalion which operated in the town of Cuenca, Batangas. The unit was among those that were officially recognized as elements of the Philippine Army in the service of the Armed Forces of the United States in the Western Pacific during World War II. In this document1, one Captain R. E. Cantrell of the Adjutant General’s Office of the Philippines-Ryukyus Command wrote to Colonel Pedro Pasia to inform him of the non-favorable decision on the latter’s request for the revision of recognition dates.
[p. 1]
HEADQUARTERS
PHILIPPINE-RYUKYUS COMMAND
OFFICE OF THE COMMANDING GENERAL
| GSCPU 091 PI |
APO 707 8 JAN 1948 |
Mr. Pedro Pasia
Cuenca, Batangas
Philippines
Dear Mr. Pasia:
The Commanding General has commanded that you be informed that the Maculot Battalion, a guerrilla unit under your nominal control, recognized by letter dated 6 January 1948, Headquarters PHILRYCOM, has not been favorably considered for revision of its present recognition dates.
A thorough and detailed examination of all supporting papers submitted by your unit and an exhaustive study of the history of your unit, together with a careful analysis of all available information of the military activities of your unit from its inception, scrutinized in relation to the overall resistance movement, has failed to justify sufficiently the establishment of dates of recognition other than those presently published.
This letter constitutes the final determination of and action upon the period of official recognition of the Maculot Battalion.
Capt, AGD
Asst. Adj. Gen.
Lt Col Wallace M Hanes:
1. The Maculot Battalion, consisting of 512 members, under the command of Pedro Pasia, recognized by letter, Hq PHILRYCOM dated 6 January 48, has not been favorably considered for revision of its present recognition dates. The unit was recognized between the period 4 March 1945 - 26 Sept 1945.
2. Prior to its present recognition dates, this unit does not fulfill the requirements of the five basic points for recognition. The period granted constitutes just and adequate acknowledgment of its services to the U. S. Armed Forces against the Japanese. See attached report.
3. 62 recognized casualties of the 5th Bn, 1st Regt, Folsom’s Fil-American Guerrillas which were, in fact, casualties of the Maculot Bn, have been redesignated by ltr, Hq PHILRYCOM dated 6 January 48. It is recommended that any additional casualty claims of the Maculot Bn be not favorably considered for recognition.
over
[p. 2]
[Sgd.] 1stLt. Kenneth H Heubauer
Concur: Capt J O Keider, Chief, Revision Section
Concur: Maj R V Sloan, Chief, Individual Branch
Concur: Capt E R Curtis, Chief, Unit Branch