History and Record of Achievements of the Batangas Town Battalion, AUSA

With the belief that it is heaven to live in a democracy and hell to suffer in a monarchy because in a monarchy, when the leader misrules, he changes the people, but in a democracy, when the leader misrules, the people change him, I invited in June 1942 Mayor Pedro M. Berberabe and Chief of Police Domingo E. Burog, both of whom refused to work under the Japanese administration, to help organize a guerrilla organization in this locality that would day by day instill in the hearts of the people the value of freedom which day by day also was being trampled by the Japanese tyrant. They did accept my invitation.

After constant campaign of the local population, a battalion of guerrillas was organized in September 1942, and since then has been known as the Batangas Town Battalion, AUSA (ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA), the organization which has never surrendered and will never surrender to the enemy at least for the very name that it carries. There is no God who can forgive a man who breaks the law of the sincerest signs of gratitude. We are grateful to America for what she has given us and will give us in the days to come is perhaps sufficient to say. The organization had adopted its name hereto mentioned acting upon the advice of Major Ramon Ruffy, Capt. Jose Garcia, Capt. Florencio Medina, and Capt. Francisco, superior officers of the guerrilla forces in Mindoro known as the AUSA, and with whom we had had constant contacts. Outstanding of all is our belief that we would be fighting for a very noble cause and that American would return to liberate the Philippines.

During all of those days of anxious waiting for our liberation and dreaming of [the] time to strike at the devilish foe

And there was another guerrilla organization, a very noble one in this locality under the command of Lieut. Colonel Anselmo Beredo, who during the month of October 1944, invited the undersigned to join forces with him. Believing that there would be strength in the union of our forces, much more when the time to strike at the enemy was at hand, I did and acted as his Executive Officer with the same rank as Major.

Together, we looted Japanese arms from the Batangas Trade School on 14 January 1945, captured two Japanese soldiers at the barrio of Binotbot-Haligue, Batangas, Batangas, and forwarded them to the Commanding Officer of the American Liberation Forces in Mindoro on January 27, 1945, fought in Verde Island against the Japs from 28 February 1945 to 15 March 1945 and were able to wipe out the enemy, on account of which I was awarded by Major DICKERSON OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY, 24^th INFANTRY DIVISION, a Major’s insignia and a silver star. Upon return to Batangas, Batangas, after the Verde Island campaign, maintained contact with Major SCHLOTH of the GUERRILLA HEADQUARTERS, 11^th AIRBORNE DIVISION, UNITED STATES ARMY, and knowing from this that only those with arms in our united regiment of guerrillas which was but a company, would be attached for duty with the 11^th Airborne Division and some other United States Army units, I broke relations with Lt. Col. Anselmo Beredo’s command on 30 March 1945 and resigned as his Executive Officer and S-1 and commanded again my battalion of guerrillas, AUSA, Batangas Town Battalion. I could not have myself processed and receive benefits alone, leaving my men behind me when they and we together had suffered the same hardships for the cause.

I then attached myself for duty with the Beach Labor Control Office, 522^nd Engineering Boat and Shore Regiment, under

UNTIL at present, the officers and men of the Batangas Town Battalion, AUSA, are doing their respective bit under the United States Army and the Commonwealth Government of the Philippines.

Hoping, then, for the recognition of our outfit, we beg to remain

FOR THE BATANGAS TOWN BATTALION, AUSA:

(SGD.) PABLO AGUILA

[Sgd.] PABLO AGUILA

1. Burning of two Japanese airplanes at Batangas Cadre, Batangas, Batangas on July 12, 1944.

2. Robbing enemy supplies (rice and gasoline) at Batangas Cadre, Batangas, Batangas on July 15, 1944.

3. Burning of Japanese barracks in Batangas, Batangas on September 2, 1944.

4. Robbing Japanese arms from the Batangas Trade School, Batangas, Batangas on January 14, 1945.

5. Killing two Japanese soldiers in barrio Bilogo, Batangas, Batangas on January 19, 1945.

6. Capturing two Japanese soldiers in barrio Binotbot-Haligue, Batangas, Batangas and forwarding them to the commanding officer, American Liberating Forces, in Mindoro on January 27, 1945.

7. Allocating Japanese positions, arms, and numbers, and sending the corresponding intelligence reports to Major General R. B. WOODRUFF, Commanding General of the 24^th Infantry Division, United States Army, Mindoro, February 1-28, 1945.

8. Fighting in Verde Island from 28 February 1945 to March 15, 1945 against the Japs thereat and wiping out the enemy.

9. Working with Major DAY of the 2^nd Battalion, 158^th Infantry Regiment, United States Army, in Batangas, Batangas in March, 1945.

10. Working with Lt. JOHN J. KENTZEL of Company “E,” 592^nd Engineering Shore and Boat Regiment, Beach Labor Control Office, from April 1 to April 30, 1945.

[Sgd.] PABLO AGUILA

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