Hanson's Bridge PTO (id:#62476)

(Grumble Jones ID: GJ023)   [next]   [previous]

Bago River, Negros, The Philippines 1945-03-29 (5 others)

Overview:

As the fighting to reclaim the Philippines continued, the US 40th Division sent elements to Negros, a rich island of sugar plantations between Panay and Cebu. The 14,000 Japanese defenders had pulled back in to the mountain jungles. Small parties of Japanese held the few bridges leading into the mountains. One such bridge, a 650 ft. span, crossed the Bago River.connecting Pandan Point from the Bacolod City itself, a vital link in supporting movement of heavy weapons and equipment. The Japanese had mined the bridge with two 1000 lb. aerial bombs. The bridge, crossing the deep ravine of the Bagos River was the only bridge leading to the main objective on Negros, the city of Bacolod. The Americans were determined to seize the bridge before the Japanese destroyed it. On March 29th, 2nd Lt. Aaron Hanson led a reinforced platoon of the US 185th Regimental Combat Team to take the bridge.

Defender: Japanese (102nd Infantry Division)  

Errata (source)