History of X Corps on Mindanao, 17 April '45-30 June '45

摘要

Following the official conclusion of the Leyte-Samar Operation, X Corps was relieved of further offensive missions on the two islands; however, minor garrison and police missions continued. In late January, the Americal Division arrived on Leyte and was assigned to X Corps. The Corps was directed to relieve the XXIV Corps of further mopping up operations. Information gleaned from prisoners and captured documents indicated that several thousand Japanese remained on Leyte, and that they were attempting to reach the hills near Villaba, from which point they hoped to be evacuated from the island by surface craft or submarine. The assembly of a portion of these forces near Villaba was effected, and small scale evacuation efforts were made; but these were disrupted by combined air and MTB patrols. The Americal Division, in a three- pronged offensive, encircled and destroyed the greater portion of the remaining hostile forces in the Villaba-Sulpa- Hibuluangan-Jinagnatan area, with the 164th Infantry advancing from the south; the 182d Infantry from the east; and the 132d Infantry from the north. Seizure of Capul Island on 19 February and Biri Island on 20 February, cleared the southern entrances to San Bernardino Strait (between Luzon and Samar), the first step in opening the shortest main shipping route from the United States to Manila. X Corps was relieved of its assigned missions and responsibilities 24 February 1945. Subsequent to this release, and prior to its departure from Leyte on Friday, 13 April 1945, the Corps was engaged in planning and preparing for the Victor Five Operation. The Victor Five Operation encompassed the Island of Mindinao, exclusive of the Zamboanga Peninsula, a total of 30,037 sq. miles, occupied by an estimated 35,000 to 40, 000 Japanese. Principal highways represented an approximate 790 miles. An abundance of short, fast-running streams necessitated the repair of construction of a large number of bridges initially, and then their maintenance.