61st Field Artillery Regiment (Philippines)

61st Field Artillery Regiment of the Philippine Commonwealth Army was activated in August 1941and fought in Mindanao island during World War II. The regiment was composed of reservists from Panay island in the Visayas with few officers from Luzon and American army officers and key non-commissioned officers. It was transferred to Mindanao in January 1942 and fought the Japanese in Cagayan sector retreating inland to Bukidnon until it was ordered to surrender on May 10, 1942.

Background
Captain John L. Lewis along with 2 Lieutenants was sent to Panay island to organize the regiment in September 1941. In November Lieutenant Colonel Hiram Tarkington arrived in Panay to take command of the regiment and now Major Lewis became the regimental executive officer. Captain Walter Wald was the regimental operations officer S3, 1Lt. Laspatora, Supply Officer S4. HQ & HQ Battery under Lieutenant Miranda. Lt. Arthur Murphy was assigned as CO of 1st Battalion, Captain Jacinto Gavino CO of 2nd Battalion, and Captain Albert Price, CO 3rd Battalion.

Regiment shifted its training to infantry after it failed to receive its guns (QF 2.95inch Mountain Guns) when SS Corregidor sunk on December 10, 1941, off Manila Bay. Another supply vessel S.S Panay carrying ammunition, rifles and artillery was sunk off Negros island while hiding in the day was spotted by Japanese airplanes. It was sunk along with gas masks, various supplies along with 2 10inch Coastal Artillery guns. The regiment moved to Cabatuan Barracks and designated as reserve force of 61st Infantry Division.

Transfer to Mindanao
In January 1942, General William F. Sharp, the Visayas-Mindanao Force Commander issued order to General Bradford Chynoweth then commander 61st Infantry Division, to have the 61st FA regiment transfer to Mindanao. Lieutenant Colonel Tarkington was informed of the order and prepared his regiment for its journey to Mindanao. On January 5, 1942, it boarded a vessel from Iloilo to Pulupandan, Negros. They then travelled via motor transports provided by forces in Negros force to port city of Dumaguete at the southeastern part of Negros island. It boarded again another inter-island vessel to its final destination to Bugo, Misamis Oriental at the northern part of Mindanao.

After offloading all its men, supplies, and ammunition, there was a change of order, instead of linking with 101st Infantry Division, the regiment was to stay in Cagayan sector and defend Bugo area from any Japanese invasion. It is now under the command of newly organized 102nd Infantry regiment under Colonel William P. Morse. There were no guns available for the regiment and the training now intensify as Infantry but with lack of ammunition and rifles Filipino soldiers still has not fired their rifles.

Japanese invasion in Cagayan Sector
After securing Panay Island on April 26, 1942, Kawamura detachment was relieved by 10th Independent Garrison to started to land in Cagayan sector. 102nd Infantry Division has to fight with no artillery, tanks, and air support. 61st FA did not saw action but the regiment was forced to pull back as 62nd Infantry Regiment who was at their left flank pulled back after it incurred heavy casualties and risking 61st FA will be cut off. The 61st FA was then posted in Alae to cover the retreat of 103rd Infantry Regiment.

The regiment is now posted in Dalirig sector part of Colonel William F. Dalton reserve force. Japanese infiltrated the line just as Colonel Tarkington left to meet with Colonel Dalton for conference, leaving Lieutenant Colonel John L. Lewis the regimental executive officer in command. The infiltration was repulsed but with heavy casualty including Lewis, news reached Tarkington that Lewis is dead but found him just severely wounded when he returned to Regimental CP. Lewis earned US Distinguished Service Cross and Silver Star of his actions in this engagements.

Surrender
After receiving Lieutenant Colonel Jesse Traywick, General Wainwright's representative at his CP in Camp Casisang. General Sharp the Mindanao Force commander ordered all units under him to surrender at daybreak of May 10, 1942. The regiment was dissolved but not all soldiers surrendered, majority went to the hills and waited for the guerilla units organized for them to join.

Post war
The regiment was not reactivated again after the war by the Philippine Army, regimental level unit was no longer in their order of battle after its reestablishment in 1945.

American soldiers in the regiment

 * Hiram Tarkington, Colonel, CO Regiment, POW, released in Mukden, Manchuria 1945
 * John L. Lewis, Lieutenant Colonel, XO Regiment, POW, died in Brazil Maru January 1945.
 * Paul Woolman, Ordinance Corporal, got battlefield commission of 2Lieutenant. POW
 * Arthur Murphy, 1Lt., CO 1st Battalion
 * Albert Price, Captain, CO 3rd Battalion
 * Adams, 1Lt., USAAC, Pilot of shutdown B17 Flying Fortress
 * Bill Railling, 1Lt., USAAC, Co-Pilot of shutdown B17 Flying Fortress
 * Harry Schreiber, 1Lt., USAAC, Navigator of shutdown B17 Flying Fortress
 * Sgt. Bill Manner, USAAC, Crew of shutdown B17 Boeing Flying Fortress
 * Sgt. McLean, USAAC, Crew, B17 Boeing Flying Fortress
 * Sgt. Paul Raimer, USAAC, Crew, B17 Boeing Flying Fortress
 * Sgt. John Fleming, USAAC, Crew, B17 Boeing Flying Fortress