Last Cavalry Charge PTO (id:#60699)

(BFP 3: Blood and Jungle ID: BFP-41)   [next]   [previous]

Morong, Luzon, Philippines 1942-01-16 (9 others)

Overview:

January 15th, 1942, Troop E, as advance guard, was heading toward the village of Morong. The town sat strategically on the west coast of Bataan and the South China Sea, so the US Army intended to take Morong and build a defense line. G Troop platoon leader Lieutenant Ramsey and Filipino soldiers had just returned from reconnaissance duty and they were scheduled for some “R&R.” Since no one knew the territory better than Ramsey, he offered to assist. Ramsey was quoted as saying, “I did the one thing they tell you never to do in the Army – volunteer.” On the morning of the 16th, General Jonathan M. Wainwright, North Luzon Forces commander, had ordered Ramsey to take the advance guard into Morong. Captain Wheeler, the Troop E commander told the General that Ramsey volunteered to assist him with the assault. “Nonsense … Ramsey, move out!” Wainwright ordered. And history was made. Ramsey led three mounted squadrons into the jungle consisting of a 27-man advance guard of Philippine Scouts, the 26th Cavalry, and the 1st Regular Division of the Philippine Army. Encountering a Japanese infantry and artillery force at Morong, Ramsey ordered the charge that would become famous as the final horse Cavalry charge in history. After a bitter battle, E Troop emerged from the Bataan jungles disheveled and dog-tired. They were able to fend off the Japanese and hold the city of Morong, with only three casualties.

Defender: Japanese (Elements of 122nd Infantry Regiment, 48th Division)  

Errata (source)