21st Division (Philippines)

21st Division
21st Philippine Division Emblem 1941-42
Active	1941 - 9 April 1942
Country	Commonwealth of the Philippines
Branch	Philippine Army
Type	Infantry Division
Size	Division
Part of	North Luzon Force; I Philippine Corps
Engagements	World War II Battle of Bataan Philippines Campaign (1941-1942)
Commanders
Notable commanders	BGen Mateo M. Capinpin

WWII Philippine Army Divisions
Previous	Next
11th Division (PA)	31st Division (PA)

The 21st Infantry Division was a division of the Philippine Army under the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE).

History

It was active from 1941 to April 9, 1942, whereupon it surrendered when Bataan fell. It was organized and trained in Northern Luzon. Col. (later BGen.) Mateo M. "Matty" Capinpin (PA) was the division's commander; he and his staff took command on 18 Nov 1941. The division's Senior Instructor was Col. Ray M. O'Day, and like all of his counterparts in other units, his training task was monumental.

Combat Narrative

At the opening of hostilities, 8 December 1941, the 21st Division formed a part of BGen. Jonathan M. Wainwright's North Luzon Force of the Philippine Army (later renamed I Philippine Corps), alongside the 11th and 31st Divisions, and the 26th Cavalry Regiment.

Order of battle

2
21st Philippine Division Emblem 1941-42, more common version

• 21st Infantry Regiment (PA) (LCol. Valentin Valasco) (transf. to 2nd Division (PA))
• 22nd Infantry Regiment (PA) (Maj. Joachin D. Esperitu) (transf. to 2nd Division (PA))
• 23rd Infantry Regiment (PA) (Maj. Liberato Littaua) (2/23 Hvy. Wpns. Co. C.O.: 1Lt. Avelino J. Battad) (transf. to 2nd Division (PA))
• 21st Field Artillery Regiment (PA) (Col. Richard C. Mallonee, FA; LCol. Nemisio Catalan, on c. 7 Jan 42) (transf. to 2nd Division (PA))
  • 21st FA Regt HQ Company (PA) (transf. to 2nd Division (PA))
  • 1st Bn/21st FA Regt (PA) (75mm guns, 16x) (transf. to 2nd Division (PA))
  • 2nd Bn/21st FA Regt (PA) (2.95-inch pack howitzers, 4x) (transf. to 2nd Division (PA))
  • 3rd Bn/21st FA Regt (PA) (transf. to 2nd Division (PA))
• 21st Engineer Battalion (PA) (transf. to 2nd Division (PA))
• 21st Division Units (PA) (transf. to 2nd Division (PA))
  • 21st Division Headquarters & HQ Company (PA) (transf. to 2nd Division (PA))
  • 21st Medical Battalion (PA) (transf. to 2nd Division (PA))
  • 21st Signal Company (PA) (transf. to 2nd Division (PA))
  • 21st Quartermaster Company (Motorized) (PA) (transf. to 2nd Division (PA))
  • 21st QM Transport Company (Truck) (PA) (transf. to 2nd Division (PA))

Sources

• Morton, Louis (1953). United States Army in World War II, The War in the Pacific: The Fall of the Philippines. Washington, D.C.: Center of Military History, United States Army. 
• Whitman, John W. (1990). Bataan: Our Last Ditch : The Bataan Campaign, 1942. Hippocrene Books. ISBN 0-87052-877-7. 

Bibliography

• Morton, Louis. The Fall of the Philippines (Publication 5-2). Retrieved on 14 Feb 2017.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.